At Z Car Garage we specialize in performance modifications and tuning for the Nissan/Infiniti sports cars. Dyno tuning with UPREV or EcuTek software can maximize power gains from individual modifications like intake/exhaust upgrades. Josh M visited Z Car Garage for a dyno tuning session on his Nissan 350Z following an engine swap and we were happy to help him.  Let’s hear about his Z-car story…

Josh’s 350Z V.2

“I bought my car back in 2007 after graduating high school. I first heard about the shop shortly after I joined my350z.com back in 2008. After a few years and acquiring a full set of Motordyne bolt ons I finally called up the shop and met with Rob in 2013 to get it tuned. He wisely advised against it with how much oil I was consuming back then and suggested I come back with a fresh motor or rebuild (I’m thankful for his honesty and integrity).”

“Last year when that motor finally gave up around 200k it was time to swap all my mods to a new engine and call Rob for a dyno tuning session. My car made great power and surpassed my own expectations when it made 288whp and 274wtq on this swap from an ’04 G35. It’s always felt like a strong DE with a solid powerband and the dyno tune proved it. My main goal for the car is overall balance between drivability on the streets and performance on the track, and using our beautiful Santa Cruz mountain roads as testing grounds has helped me kind of find that happy spot.”

 

“As far as the exterior, a mix of KH3 super black and seibon carbon keeps it stealthy but also distinguished in the right light. I’m serious about the overall balance thing and reducing this 2 seater cars weight is a top priority, currently sitting at ~3100lbs and ideally want to be under 3k lbs.”

Dyno Tuning at Z Car Garage

A typical dyno session begins with a road test and full inspection before hitting the roller. We found a failed inlet hose and loose plenum bolts so we tightened everything up to ensure a successful dyno pass.

We dyno tuned the Z with UPREV and ARC license. Z Car Garage offers this ARC (Advanced Racing Controls) license add-on service to the existing UPREV Flash, allowing adjustable launch control, burnout mode, and flat-foot shifting for $150. This is for cars with manual transmission, VDC/cruise control. Call Rob for more details! Josh’s Z made 288hp/272tq to the wheels, a significant gain over baseline of 274hp/261tq:

Turn up the volume and enjoy this video of Josh’s 350Z on the dyno. Thanks for your support Josh and LONG LIVE THE Z!

Interested in dyno tuning your Nissan/Infiniti sports car? Contact Rob at the shop for more information and scheduling 408-452-0350 or e-mail Rob: robATzcargarage.com

Paul K is a local enthusiast out of Campbell, Ca and he visited Z Car Garage for basic performance upgrades on his 2011 Nismo 370z:

 

“I had always wanted a V1 Nismo and in 2018 searching online I found one at a dealer in Sunnyvale. One owner with 26k miles and garage kept. Rob has helped install Stillen dual intakes, Fast Intentions dual exhaust, and Ecutek tune. Other mods mods include Tein S Sport lowering springs and Stillen crossed drilled and slotted rotors. Many more mods planned with Rob!”

 

Dyno tuning and Stillen intakes are a great way to start the modding process and Z Car Garage is here to help! We intalled the Stillen Gen3 intakes which are CARB-legal and work wonderfully on the HR engines:

 

Before/After

 

To maximize gains from bolt-on modifications we dyno tuned the Z with Ecutek software making 315hp/260tq to the wheels:

 

We also installed a Fast Intentions cat-back dual exhaust system:

Enjoying The Ride

 

Photo by Henning Tretau

Paul can be seen all over the Bay Area Enjoying the Ride in his Z34:

“I’ve noticed a gain in performance and enjoyment in driving the car. Feels much more aggressive and responsive. Every time I’m at ZCG, it’s always an enthusiastic experience dealing with Rob and his passion for Z’s.”

 

You can see more of his Z on his Instagram. Paul was referred to us in 2019 by long-time customer Chris R, owner of this soon-to-be featured 240Z formerly known as “Skittles”:

 

Thanks for your support Paul and LONG LIVE THE Z!

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Khang D is from Modesto and we first met him in 2012 when he visited Z Car Garage with a green 1975 Datsun 280z. We serviced the car, fixed several items and he enjoyed it for a few years before selling. In 2017, Khang purchased this white 1973 240z from our client Brent B, and returned to ZCG for full suspension upgrades including Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, new OEM mirrors, Panasport wheels and a complete tuneup.

It wasn’t long before Khang came back to ZCG with a request for more power to match the excellent chassis improvements. Let’s take a closer look at this fantastic daily driver+canyon carver showcasing our  Z Car Garage CV Axles, Z Car Garage Heat Shield, Jenvey ITB fuel injection, CD009 Six-speed transmission and more.

Suspension

In September 2017 we overhauled the suspension. The Z received coil-overs from Techno Toy Tuning including T/C rods and rear control arms. The entire front suspension was re-done with new bushings, wheel bearings, rack bushings, steering coupler, etc.

Struts, OEM T/C rods replaced with coil-overs:

  

T3 Rear lower control arms replace OEM units:

ZCG Big-Brakes

“WOW, what a difference. The feel, modulation, power, sharpness was amazing. Hands down the best brakes I had ever driven on a Z car” -Glenn

As fellow racer Glenn C mentioned in his review, on top of braking performance, pedal feel is extremely important and our Big-Brakes deliver. This is a direct result of working with Stoptech to create a totally bolt-in solution requiring no master cylinder change or additional proportioning valve/adjustments, etc. All fitting behind a 15″ Watanabe or Panasport wheel (and some 14″ wheels) and retaining factory emergency brake lever! A few details below:

 

Calipers: Stoptech ST42 4-piston front & rear race calipers (Alum 6061 mil-spec Type III anodized)

Rotors: 280mm x 20.6 with Alum 7075 hats

Pads: Stoptech 309 sport street pads

Blog posts documenting all of our customers running the ZCG Big-Brakes can be found HERE.

A few closer detail shots of the calipers, rotors and hardware:

 

Khang’s S30 got the full 4-wheel brake kit with new OEM Master Cylinder:

We also installed the fully functioning parking brake that works with factory linkage/handle:

 

 

Khang loves the ZCG Big-Brakes:

“They are a must have and definitely allows the bigger power. Kind of spoiled actually. I’ve recently checked out another 240z and drove it and then hit the brakes and forgot that they were stock and almost ran through a stop sign.”

Engine Bay Services

Khang’s engine bay was painted black so we took this opportunity to paint it body color and perform re-installing the new engine. As usual William worked his magic to apply the white paint while we zinc’d or powdercoated all parts in the engine bay. The before/after is dramatic, no doubt from the new engine discussed below!

    

New hydraulic lines/plumbing and wiring harness with general cleanup made this engine bay pop:

 

Engine

 

After a year of enjoyment Khang desired more power. We installed a Rebello 3.2L engine with upgraded cam, Harada intake and Jenvey fuel injection. The old SU-fed L-series was removed:

 

We knew the car would be stopping and handling better than before, so we installed a Moroso oil pan and Koyo aluminum radiator to keep temperatures in check. We are using Pacesetter 3 into 2 header ( to clear six-speed) leading to our ZCG exhaust system with stainless resonator and slash-cut tip.

  

Jenvey Fuel Injection

We are huge fans of modern fuel injection on the L-series for it ease of operation, excellent hot/cold start behavior, tuning abilities and all-around driver-friendliness. Khang’s 3.2L engine uses an individual throttle-body induction setup from Jenvey. We have used this setup on several builds, including Scott’s 260Z with stellar results.

 

In-progress shots of the throttle body wiring. We mounted the ignition coil on the firewall to minimize clutter. The valve cover was also changed.

 

The fuel injection system is run by a Haltech Elite 750.  The ECU was mounted in the passenger side footwell:

 

Topping the ITBs off are custom, merged mesh air filters. The sound from the Jenvey EFI is intoxicating. More pictures in the photo gallery!

 

We also installed what every L-series needs: a Z Car Garage Heat Shield!

 

Fueling mods to support fuel injection including in-tank fuel pump. The tank was pulled and boiled out/refurbished before adding EFI:

 

Dyno Tuning

Rob dyno tuned the 3.2L via Haltech.  Baseline was 129hp/131tq with the old engine and with Rob’s tuning the 3.2L made 264hp/231tq at the wheels. Watch the dyno run and listen to those Jenvey ITBs scream in the video below!

 

Beyond performance, Khang is very happy with the Jenvey EFI:

“Best thing I can say is I don’t plan to ever go back to a carb setup again. Knowing that it’ll turn on every time and can be on the road for prolong periods of time without feeling like I need a gas mask on. Carbs were tolerable when I was younger but now a days I like the comfort features of EFI.

Driveline Upgrades

We built Khang an R180 rear diff with 4.11 OS Giken LSD, a perfect upgrade for anyone doing spirited driving. All built in-house with new bearings/hardware by our very own Joshua Corwin:

       

The clutch hydraulics were replaced to work with new aluminum flywheel/JWT HD clutch combo:

 

Six Speed Transmission

Next on the update list, we were really excited to install a Nissan 350z 6-speed manual transmission behind the L-series in Khang’s Z. You read that right! S30 owners can now bolt-in this robust, 6-speed manual behind their L-series engine! You might remember our first application of Austin Hoke’s custom 6-speed adapter kit on the OS Giken TC24B1Z-powered 240z, Trevor’s 280Z and Frank’s 240Z:

  

Using the 6-speed conversion kit from Hoke Performance we installed a new CD009a transmission from the 2003 -2008 Z33 in Khang’s 240Z:

  

Here is the brand-new transmission from Nissan being unboxed:

 

 

The kit necessitated exhaust header changes and after testing a variety of headers we found the Pacesetter 3-2 unit provided enough clearance. Serial 9 provided the shifter relocation assembly and we are really happy with its performance. Also shown is the aluminum driveshaft.

  

It fits! More installation pictures in the gallery.

 

It’s a very discreet look from the cockpit…until you feel the amazingly direct and precise feel of the CD009a!

 

Khang is in love with the six-speed, we are as well:

“The CD009 Gives the Z such a more modern feel but still plenty of fun at the same time. Retains the rawness but then put it into 6th gear and it cruises like a modern day car. Love the shift knob.”

Enjoy this video of the Z in action with dyno runs, engine and exhaust revs, freeway cruising and acceleration:

Z Car Garage CV Axles

Our Z Car Garage CV Axles help transmit power to the ground and ensure smoother operation compared to your standard half shafts. We have over 140 CV axle kits on customer cars and we are stoked with all of the positive feedback.

  

Stock half shafts (L) and ZCG units:

 

ZCG CV Axles installed on Khang’s 240Z shown below with more pictures in the gallery:

  

Panasport Wheels

We are an authorized Panasport dealer and lover. Khang’s meshies were replaced with 16×7 Panasports and 225/50/16  Yokohama S-drive tires followed by a full alignment:

 

Details

  

We sorted out little things for Khang that make a huge improvement in Enjoying The Ride. One item we are particularly proud of is this custom, OEM-like shift knob displaying a 6-speed shift pattern. Khang is one of the first customers (other than the Behemoth and Butters) to receive this cool shift knob that emulates the factory 4-speed shift pattern and font:

 

The speedo and tach are functional with a GPS box and tach adapter:

 

The interior was treated to a new set of Recaro Specialist seats and our ZCG sound deadening program to eliminate that “tinny” sound.

 

More small details like replacing all coolant and fuel hoses, breather, new battery and cables:

 

Driving is Believing

 

When Khang picked up car earlier this year, he was blown away:

“I’ve had several Z’s over the years. I had a green ’75 280z for about 10 years throughout college and had it worked on by Rob at one point. Sold the car and then just missed it too much and literally bought my current 73 240z about 6 months later in May of 26, 2017 as shown in the picture when I went to pick it up. I knew from my previous experience with Z Car Garage that I wanted Rob to build this new one for me.”

 Thank you Khang for allowing us to build you a 50 year old supercar.  We are so fortunate to work with owners that appreciate the Z and believe in our ability to make them better! LONG LIVE THE Z!

 

More pictures in the gallery below:
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We met Gordon in 2013 when he came to Z Car Garage for Stillen Gen 3 intakes on his 2010 V1 Nismo Z34. He had 13k miles on the clock and that same summer we also installed a Fast Intentions exhaust system.

Here is the Fast Intentions TDX cat-back exhaust system and Stillen intakes:

The exhaust looks great from the rear:

Stock single muffler vs the TDX dual muffler setup:

The Z is Gordon’s fun car so very little daily driving…in 2015 he came in for minor paint work and an inspection with only 27k miles.

   

With 33k miles no won the odometer we performed a full 30k service. The diff bushings were replaced with Whiteline units and CV axles lubed.

Dyno Tuning

 

We specialize in UPREV and EcuTek Tuning to maximize power gains from individual modifications like intake and exhaust upgrades. It had been 6-7 years since Gordon’s last UPREV tune. On the dyno, Rob re-tuned the Z with gains throughout the rev range. Peak gains of 22hp/15tq for a total of 309hp/254tq at the wheels:

 

Gordon is thrilled with the power gains:

“The final piece was an Up-Rev tune. So Rob worked his magic with the tune and the results were amazing on the dyno. The car was just awesome. Rob and the team have done some regular maintenance work on the car over the years, including a recent replacement of the factory clutch with a higher performance clutch w/ a lighter flywheel. We also added a new set of Continental Xtreme Sports. It feels like a new car. I can’t say enough about Rob and his team. They truly are Z best…”

 

Thanks for your support Gordon, Long Live The Z!

Contact us for tuning!

Z Car Garage offers the ARC (Advanced Racing Controls) license. This add-on service to the existing UPREV Flash allows you to have adjustable launch control, burnout mode, and flat-foot shifting. This is for cars with manual transmission, VDC/cruise control. Call Rob for more details and to schedule your Z/G tuning appointment.

This is Ed B’s 1971 Datsun 240Z in Sunshine Yellow. No, it does not have many performance parts such as our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, Z Car Garage CV Axles or a triple-carb’d high-power engine. In fact, this Z is mostly original, just the way Ed has kept it since ordering it new 51 years ago!

We have known Ed for a long time, actually preceding the opening of Z Car Garage. A young 26 year-old Rob Fuller was helping maintain this “no frills” Z and that continued to present day. Simply put, Ed is a passionate owner who takes care of his Z so he can drive it regularly. When it was time, we handled his SU carbs. If a fuel pump failed we replaced it. Suspension issue? We took care of it to ensure he was always Enjoying The Ride. Let’s take a look at how Ed became a Z car enthusiast.

Time Machine

In 1970 just one year out of College, Ed was looking for new car. As a designer, a photographer and a race car fan he wanted a 2-seat sports car. There wasn’t much to choose from. The Triumph and the MG were too cramped. The Porsche and the Jaguar were too expensive. Then Road and Track ran a cover story on the New Datsun 240Z. It had everything, style, performance and it was affordable:

“I ordered one in late 1970 from Camino Datsun in Sunnyvale for $3500. There was a waiting list due to a dock strike in San Francisco and most of the cars were going to LA. When a truckload arrived, you could choose from 4 or 5 available. The only options were the color and I passed on several until I saw the Sunshine Yellow… the first one in San Jose. It was a one-year color and matched the cover photo on Road and Track. I took delivery in June of ’71 after just loosing my job at Ampex in the ’71 tech recession. I had little money but plenty of time to enjoy my summer in a new Z.”

Since purchasing new in 1970, Ed got to know his S30 and take it on many adventures.

“Learning to drive the Z in ‘71 and I found out I’m more of a cruiser than a racer. Early on I couldn’t afford expensive modifications. I added cast aluminum wheels, lowered the car with shorter springs, much stiffer anti sway bars rather than air dams, Talbot racing mirrors and custom exhaust headers. I stopped there and kept the original body profile unchanged thereafter. I kept it close to original for 50 years”

Below (L) Three  Z’s in his family at one time and (R) SAE car show at the University of Santa Clara:

The Z has been in several car shows over the years and was even photographed by the famed Ron Kimball for Car Calendars and print material. The Ron Kimball Studio photo shoot was on the 17-mile drive in Carmel and one of these images appeared in the Newsweek article on the introduction of the new Nissan 350Z.

Keeping Ed On The Road

“In 50 years nearly everything has had maintenance issues from interior seat covers and carpet kits to a replaced cracked dash. Rob Fuller has been my go-to Z car expert since even before he opened the Z Car Garage.”

We happily obliged to maintain the Z with Ed’s blessing. Here are a few things we’ve done over the years:

2009- replaced leaking hoses in engine bay, new battery, clutch hydraulics repaired, replaced broken broken bolts in lower timing cover, maintenance work

2012- standard ignition failed and replaced with Pertronix, upgraded coil, new T/C rod bushings, front control arm bushings, rack bushings, new tie-rods, ball joints, rebuilt suspension, major service tune, adjusted his carbs and valves for best performance and lubed his choke cables

2014- differential rebuilt, gas tank re-lined/sealed and all recovery lines replaced, new Tokico shocks

 

The engine was rebuilt at 130K miles (Techcraft) including 5 angle cut on hardened valves and 280z piston rods. It now has 250K miles. The SU carbs were recently rebuilt. On the dyno the L24 made 137hp/142tq to the wheels:

 

Enjoy the dyno video!

Ed’s 240Z has been hit three times in the rear end at stop lights with only minor body damage that never took out the tail lights but resulted in three full body paint jobs. For the latest incident we had our man  William re-paint the car in #919 Sunshine Yellow. He also repaired the right front fender and blended existing paint work and it turned out great.

On his most recent visit we repaired the transmission shift boot and performed a tune-up… and he’s off.

 

Now the car looks as good as it runs and Ed just drives while staying on top of maintenance.

Enjoying The Ride

We love when Ed sends us pictures of his drives in the Z:

“Still looks and drives good after 50 years. As Rob would say “Long live the Z”. Rob even introduced me to Peter Bock and John Morton and I now feel like I’m even more a part of the Z car family.”

Thanks to Ed for trusting us with your Z. We look forward to many more years of smiles behind the wheel! Your Z is a great example of how to Enjoy The Ride without all of the hot rod parts and we admire your efforts to keep it close to stock!

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