TwinTurbo.NET: Nissan 300ZX forum - Accolades (i.e. Props) to Bernie's Garage
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Subject Accolades (i.e. Props) to Bernie's Garage
     
Posted by robo (sebring1970) on May 27, 2008 at 3:10 PM
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Message Much thanks to Bernie, Spencer, and Ashley. Great work, great team.

I had been collecting and waiting on parts for over two years to install on my Z, including Mike Smith’s manifolds and for Greg’s Dupree’s downpipes to morph into their most recent form.

I lacked the time, space, tools, and most importantly the skills to do all the work myself.

There is a handful of people to whom I would entrust my Z for this job. Bernie Bilksi in Alexandria, VA, is one of them. The kind of work Bernie does is hard to find at any price. He obsessed on details, used a torque wrench to excess, die-cut any old fastener that had less than perfect threads, and added many improvements that I had not thought of. He also had every conceivable OEM nut and bolt already on hand. Bernie was also great at selling and shipping any old parts off my car that were no longer needed.

Always take your car to a Z specialist for this kind of job. I would not trust most Nissan dealers as these cars have been off their showroom floors for too long.

If you’re ever lucky enough to spend some time at Bernie’s garage, you might want to bring a book cuz you will spend most of your time waiting as various peeps stop by with their Z issues, or while Bernie tries to juggle three jobs at the same time.

The performance upgrade highlights included my new Jet Hot coated MS manifolds, JWT 530 BB turbos, Dupree’s expansion DP’s, and LaBree 3-inch midpipes. Also a new cryo treated Southbend clutch, new timing belt, and of course a new engine harness. New seals and gaskets everywhere. EGR was deleted, alternator was rebuilt, and too much more to list here.

Separate thanks to Ashley for her detailed degunking of my engine bay. Also, props to Spence for his under car muscle and expertise. Extra thanks to Bernie for his hospitality.

Turbo lag is a thing of the past. The power comes on so smooth now, almost like a V-8. The exhaust note is sweet. The clutch feels great, still breaking it in, took a few tries for my foot to learn the grabbiness of it.




"Straight-line acceleration is probably the first aspect of automotive performance that any intelligent driver gets bored with." Peter Gregg


"We owe a lot to the dragsters. They always break something, figure out a way to beef up the part and the benefit trickles down." Robo


"Not everything that can be counted counts. Not everything that counts can be counted." Einstein


"And now my friend, the first-a rule of Italian driving, [Franco rips off his rear-view mirror and throws it out of the car] what's-a behind me is not important." Raul Julia, playing Franco Bertollini while driving a Ferrari Daytona in the movie Gumball Rally


     
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