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GoverningNick

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Posts: 504

Location: United States
Occupation: Doing Virtual Speedhunters articles.
Age: 25
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#104779   2016-08-08 23:59          

Trans-ocean Transplant: A JDM 350z

When I first heard of this Z, I nearly dropped my coffee. Not because of the body, not because of it's 2UZ swap, not because of anything visible on the car at all. I nearly dropped my coffee that morning because I heard of the story behind this car.

So, you know how there is a rather good business of importing JDM specific parts, badges, and such so people in North American borders can have their cars closer to the 'real' thing? Well, circa 2011, the previous owner of this car bought this JDM Z33, imported it, and took nearly every panel, interior bit, and driveline bit off and put it in his USDM Z33 to make it more JDM-spec while still having a left hand drive layout. So, what do you do with a rolling shell of a RHD Z33 that's missing every panel but the doors, hood, trunk, doesn't have a motor, and has the stock running gear? Sell it to Nic (A.K.A. DriftPhantom) of course.



Today, the car stands a bit differently from the bright yellow shell it was bought as.

As there's a lot to go over with this car, I'm going to go category by category, like I did with Martin's Legacy.

So, on the outside, I can't even blame Z or Nismo fans for not being able to name that bodykit. Why? Well, it's a rare one first of all. It's also a relatively uncommon brand in general, let alone the kit. Nic's Z wears a full Fabulous GT Sports kit, and also sports the accompanying spoiler. Additionally, Nic has swapped out the pre-facelift headlights and taillights from 2003, and put post 2008 facelift headlights and taillights there in return. It doesn't take a detective to spot the D-Max roof spoiler, either; another hard to find piece of work on this car. Finally, the OE hood has been swapped out for an authentic Top Secret hood, I don't even want to think about how long it took to find that hood, let alone half the parts on this car. Also, consider me a fan of the minty color the Z is today, it just pops all the right lines and angles in all the right ways.



Moving on, some wheel nuts might be able to spot the make and model of the rather rare alloys on this Z. If you're not a wheel nut, don't worry, your buddy ol' pal Nick (with a K!) is here to help. Nic's 350z wears the rare, or uncommon if you ask the certain person, Racingheart M5 wheels all around. To be more specific, the Racingheart M5 in 18 x 10 specs. Now that's a big wheel! Also spotted are the OE Nissan brakes which apparently are decent enough to handle a heavier chassis like the Z33, and the Tein coilovers that the car proudly displays in all four corners.



One of the biggest notes of this car (besides the rare body kit, the rare wheels, and the caged interior) has definitely got to be the engine under the hood. It's not a LS, it's not a VQ, it's not a RB, it's not a 2J, and (unfortunately) it's not a 13B. So, what is it?

Well, it's got eight cylinders, and it's mainly used to power larger trucks and SUVs.

If you thought the 2UZ-FE, you win!

Nic told me that he initially had thoughts of mating the beefy Toyota V8 to the stock VQ35 transmission, but instead bought a R154 transmission that had been scooped out of a JDM Toyota by Garage Nine. As far as I know, the 2UZ is completely stock, which is enough, considering the near 400HP the eight-cylinder makes.



All in all, I'm a huge fan of what's been done, and I'll be sure to try to see this car in action at the several drift events Nic has planned (as long as they're in America, that is).

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# Bigg Boss93 : Ahahah that's sick, well done dude! :D