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Fire & Ice
2005 & 2003 NISSAN 350Z
Seeing these two lovely Z's side by side makes me conflicted. It's almost like the feeling I get when I'm waiting in line before boarding "The Sasquatch" at Six Flags. I feel my blood run cold while my palms get hot and sweaty. Depending on your driving mood wit you might choose the fiery burn of our lady in red or you might opt for the cool stealth of our boy in blue. Either way you can't lose.
"When I first bought the car I didn't really intend on doing so much work to it" said owner Andy Kim when I asked him about the origins of his red dragon. "I really just wanted to put some wheels and tires on it" he said "but because of my job, I almost had no choice" he joked. As the Internet Parts Manager at Performance Nissan in Duarte, California Andy has the luxury of working with some very cool brands.
"I wasn't overly keen about the whole twin turbo thing but when HKS offered me the opportunity to sport one of their GT-RS kits, how could I refuse?" Good question. "I've had to make some personal sacrifices with this car (like the fact it's not longer a daily), but I'm really proud of what it's done for our business" Andy confessed. "It's been such a high profile build that it's attracted a lot of business for us that we might not otherwise have had."
Not everyone is afforded the same opportunities as Andy given his most envious career. However for those of us not as connected in the industry as Andy, there are other ways to attract the attention of killer sponsors when it comes to building a car.
Meet Cheston Chiu, the owner of the blue starlet in this icy hot feature. He and Andy got acquainted on the infamous 350Z forum site, My350Z.com. "Cheston and I got to talking about his car on the site and I really liked what he was doing" Andy told me. "You can usually tell those guys who know what they're doing from those that don't very quickly."
It's true that forums offer both enthusiasts and potential sponsors the opportunity to communicate and even collaborate on projects. They provide a new platform for attracting attention to your efforts and documenting your builds on a good forum site can often pay off as they offer sponsors a great "hands on" promotional tool for their products. Sponsors like nothing more than demonstrating the advantages of their gear through real life applications.
"I think if you're really serious about your ride, it's a good idea to make yourself and your work visible on forums. They've changed the game and can greatly assist your cause for getting sponsor support" said Andy. "Even though sponsors may not always be visible on forum sites themselves, they're definitely watching."
SPECIFICATIONS
2005 NISSAN 350Z 35th Anniversary Super Black 6MT w/NAV
Engine
HKS Set up Twin Turbo Kit - GT-RS; HKS R-Type Front Mount Intercooler; HKS Super SSQV Racing Single BOV; HKS SSQV 60mm Flange; HKS Twin Power DLI 2; HKS Head Gasket; HKS Super Mega Flow Filters; HKS High Capacity Oil Pan; HKS M-Series Super Racing Spark Plugs; HKS Hi-Power Ti. Exhaust; HKS F-Con V-Pro; HKS CAMP2; ARC Oil catch Can Ver. 2; ARC Aluminum Underpanel; ARC Water Pulley; ARC Radiator; Sun Automobile Hyper Force; Sun Automobile Hyper Voltage; Sun Automobile Hyper; rounding Kit; Motordyne 5/16 Iso Thermal Plenum Spacer; Motordyne MREV2; TiTek Test Pipes; UR Crank Pulley; SAMCO Radiator hose Kit; Stillen Engine Dampener; RC 440cc Injectors Walboro Fuel Pump; NISMO Thermostat; NISMO Radiator Cap; NISMO Oil Filler Cap; Gallery Engine Dress Up Kit
Drivetrain
CUSCO Twin Carbon Clutch; CUSCO type-RS 1.5 LSD @ 60% Lock; NISSAN 4.083 Ring & Pinion (Stock Final Drive 3.538); NISMO SS Clutch Line; NISMO Finned Diff Cover
Interior
Bride Zeta III in Gradation (Driver Side); Bride Brix II in Gradation (Passenger Side); SPARCO Harness Bar paint to match Takata Green; Takata Harness MPH341w; Personal Neo Grinta 330mm Steering Wheel; Works Bell Rapfix II Quick Release; ARC Round Polished Ti. Shift Knob; NISMO Floor Mats
Exterior
Re-Painted Nogaro Red (A41) by DTM Autobody; NISSAN Kouki Bi-Xenon Headlamps - Custom Painted; NISSAN Kouki LED Tail Lights; NISMO CF Pillar Garnish; ings+1 Type-E Long Nose Aero Kit - Full Carbon (1 of 1); ings+1 Front Carbon Canards; ings+1 Type II Carbon Aero Bonnet; ings+1 Z Power Type II Carbon GT Wing 1480mm; ings+1 LX Fenders
I.C.E
Pioneer AVIC-D3 A/V Navigation system; Pioneer TS-C160R 6.5-inch Component Speakers; Pioneer TS-D161R 6.5-inch Co Ax Speakers; Pioneer GM-3300T (X2) - 2-Channel Amp; Pioneer GM-5300T - 2 Channel Amp; Pioneer TS-SW2541D (X2) - 10-Inch Slim Subwoofer; Installed & Tuned by Creative Car Audio
Suspension
HKS Hipermax III; CUSCO Front Adjustable Camber Arms; NISMO S-Tune Sway Bars; GT Spec Front Tie Bar; GT Spec Rear Tie Bar; GT Spec Fender Braces
Brakes
Project Mu Racing 6 Caliper Kit - 355mmx28mm; Project Mu Racing 4 Caliper Kit - 345mmx28mm; Project Mu B-Force Pads; Project Mu Teflon Coated SS Lines
Wheels / Tires
VOLK Racing Formula Limited RE30 - Formula Silver; 19x10 +22 / 19x11 +25; Yokohama ADVAN Sport; 255/35/19 - 285/35/19; VOLK Racing Formula Lug Nuts
Sponsors
MyNISMO / Performance; issan of Duarte; HKS USA; RAYS Engineering; ings+1; Project Mu ; Yokohama Tire Corp; MOTUL; DTM Autobody; TiTek USA Pioneer Electronics; GT Spec
2003 NISSAN 350Z Track Edition Daytona Blue
Engine
Power Enterprise PE1420 Twin Turbo Kit; JE Low Compression Pistons - 8.5:1; Carillo "A" Beam Connecting Rods; Greddy EVO TT Cat-Back Exhaust; ARP Head Bolts; NGK LFR6A-11 Spark Plugs; JDM Subaru STI 550cc Injectors; Walboro 255lph Fuel Pump; SARD Fuel Pressure Regulator; Cosworth Intake Plenum; Cosworth High-Volum Fuel Rail; HKS Head Gasket; HKS SSQV BOV; HKS EVC 5; Technosquare Custom Oil Cooler; Technosquare Custom High-Flow Cats; Technosquare Custom Water Lines; Technosquare Custom Wastegate Springs; Technosquare Custom Power Steering Oil Cooler; Technosquare Custom MAF Intake Tube; Technosquare Custom ECM Reflash; Power Enterprise Radiator Cap
Drivetrain
OS Giken Super Lock LSD 1.5 Way; OS Giken Twin Plate Racing Clutch Kit; B&M Short Throw Shifter; NISMO Finned Diff Cooler Cover
Interior
SPARCO EVO L Seats; Scroth 5 point Harness; Personal Neo Grinta 330mm Steering Wheel; Works Bell Rapfix II Quick Release; Autometer Dual A-Pillar Gauge Pod; Technosquare Custom Low Mount Seat Rails; I/O In-Car Camer Mount
Exterior
C-West Type-E Long Front Bumper; C-West Side Skirts; Top Secret Rear Carbon Diffuser w/Vortex Generators; Fiber Images Vented Wide Fenders; Fiber Images Carbon Hatch; ASUKA Designs Vented Carbon Hood; Voltex Type II GT Wing; Ganador Aero Mirrors
In-Car Electronics
PDEFI BF Boost Gauge; DEFI BF Fuel Pressure Gauge; DEFI BF Oil Temperature Gauge; DEFI VSD Concept Heads-Up Display; Innovate XD-1 AFR Gauge; Techtom CMX-100 Multi-Gauge; OEM NISSAN Navigation
Suspension
KW Club Sport Coilovers; CUSCO Front + Rear Sway Bars; CUSCO Front Strut Tower Bar; CUSCO Front Adjustable Canber Arms; GT Spec Fender Braces; GT Spec Front Tie Bar; GT Spec Rear Tie bar; SPC Rear Camber Arms; Technosquare Custom 5 Point Rollbar
Brakes
STOPTECH ST 60 Caliper Kit - 355mmx28mm; STOPTECH ST 45 Caliper Kit - 355mmx28mm; Hawk DTC-70 Pads; Goodrich SS Brake Lines
Wheels / Tires
VOLK Racing RE30 - Matte Black; 18x9.5 +15 / 18x10.5 +18
TOYO R888; 265/35 - 275/35; RAYS Duralumin Lug Nuts - 35mm
Sponsors
Technosquare Inc.; MyNISMO/Performance NISSAN of Duarte; RAYS Engineering; STOPTECH; TOYO TIRES; Finish Line; Autocraft; Cosworth USA; KW Suspensions; GT Spec MOTUL; OS Giken USA
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