Dwane has been customer since the opening of Z Car Garage in 2004. We installed one of Vortech’s earliest supercharger kits on his ultra low-mileage ’03 Brickyard 350z circa 2005 and he has been enjoying it ever since.  Almost a decade later forced-induction tuning and support has tremendously advanced and many boosted applications are abandoning the old Split-Second and FMU-based systems.

 

At ZCG we love the UPREV tuning platform and it allowed us to maximize gains from a new GT MAF, larger injectors and upgraded fuel pump.  We also installed ART pipes on the exhaust side and nice cosmetic addition of LED-based headlights:

 

 

On the dyno we picked up 9hp/13tq with smoother delivery throughout the rev range. Mid-to-high gains were significant:

Stay tuned for more power!

 

Robert C had such a good time driving his G35 at Laguna Seca that he came back to ZCG for more track preparation!  Since adding almost 200whp with a Vortech supercharger, it would prudent to upgrade the braking system. We are big fans of Stoptech’s brake kits and lucky for Robert one of our customers was willing to part with a lightly used ST60 (front) and ST45 (rear) caliper setup:

  

Stainless steel lines and larger cross-drilled/vented rotors (355mm) were installed at all four corners:

 

 

More shots of the front/rear calipers vs OEM:

 

The obvious difference in rotor/caliper size results in increased heat capacity and pedal feel. More importantly these big-brakes will ensure repeated, fade-free braking while running on the track!

They do look stunning behind the spokes as well:

 

We also installed a JWT flywheel and clutch:

With fresh brakes and clutch Robert attended his 2nd track day, this time at Sonoma Raceway:

“Hey Rob,
Track day at Sonoma was incredible. Car was great and ran perfectly the whole time. She just loved sweeping up the hill to turn one and running through the esses. Powering and tracking out of the carousel then running her all the way from there to the brake zone for turn 11 is just…all I can think of to describe it is the word “happy”.
I was only doing 2:23 as a best lap but seeing as this is my second track day ever and my first time driving Sonoma, I’ll take it!”

 

Great work, Robert. We are happy that you can enjoy track days with confidence. The G looks superb out there!

Last year we helped Ruben enjoy the merits of boost with a full Vortech supercharger install install on his LeMans Sunset 350z:

 

The high-flow catalytic convertors had failed so we replaced them ART pipes from Motordyne:

 

HFCs vs ART pipes:

We also re-tuned the Z and it picked up 18hp/6tq for a total of 385hp/330tq to the wheels:

 

Enjoy The Ride Ruben!

 

Scott C has been with Z Car Garage since our opening in 2004.  Over the years we have worked with Scott to build his G35 coupe into a formidable sportscar while maintaing its stock-ish looks. With 49k miles on his G35 he visited us in 2010 to discuss Forced Induction options.  We did a full Vortech supercharger installation with supporting mods including a Bassani cat-back exhaust system, JWT cams, headers, ZCG oil cooler and DEFI gauges.

 

Scott throughly enjoyed his boosted G for a year and in 2011 came back to us for a KarumaZ front fascia to allow more airflow to the intercooler. In 2014 Scott wanted more power so we built a low-compression VQ with forged internals and a host of speed parts. Here is the engine coming out and a few shots of the new internals:

 

We added 1000cc injectors, GT MAF, Aeromotive 340 fuel pump and a SI blower wheel upgrade:

 

An even larger front mount intercooler:

Berk Hi-Flow cats:

 

With the built engine and supporting mods in place we UPREV tuned the G35 making 429hp/361tq to the wheels. Significant improvements over the stock-block based setup at 375hp/311tq for this automatic-equipped VQ:

 

With the added power upgrading the stock braking system naturally was a prudent idea.   Scott’s G was treated to a full Stoptech Big-Brake Kit up front using their 332mm rotors and ST-40 calipers in red. Rear brakes were upgraded with a Stoptech Sport Kit and OEM calipers were color matched. We love the 309 pads as they are a sweet compound for aggressive driving. 

 

OEM vs Stoptech up front:

 

Thick, vented rotors and huge calipers help shed heat for repeated fade-free braking:

 

Rear calipers were color-matched and grab Stoptech rotors:

 

The new calipers look great behind the OEM wheels:

 

Finally, GT-spec braces add some rigidity to the chassis:

We are happy to see Scott’s G35 evolve into a well-rounded 400hp+ street sleeper, Enjoy The Ride!

 

George M built his Vortech-supercharged G35 coupe to participate in Hill Climb events while remaining an adept street car.  To ensure he could come back down the mountain we upgraded his brakes with a Stoptech big-brake kit:

 

Up front, the OEM Brembo calipers and rotors were replaced with Stoptech’s 380mm rotors 6-piston calipers:

At the rear, 355mm rotors and ST22 calipers. Note how everything still fit nicely behind the factory wheels:

 

Stay tuned as George will visit us later for power upgrades including a new MAF/injectors followed by dyno tuning.