The transmission that makes use of all that is the standard Nissan automatic, rebuilt and blueprinted by Specialty-Z, supported by a lightweight flex plate and a Precision Industries 4000 rpm stall speed torque converter. That in turn feeds a set of 4.10:1 gears in the rear-end.
From outside, the only hint that there's anything except a well-worn Z-car here are the Volk TE-37 wheels inside P235/40ZR-17 front and P275/40ZR-17 rear Toyo Proxes RA-1 tires. In fact, the only modification to the body panels is a switch from the original red to Ferrari Tour de France blue. Inside there are generously proportioned Corbeau Legacy seats and a rollcage fabricated by Reb's Specialties of Reseda, California. The instrumentation is stock and, surprisingly, so are the steering wheel and shifter.
Except for a Suspension Techniques anti-roll bar and Powertrix adjustable A-arms, the suspension is relatively stock, right down to the shocks. Brake Man brakes with 13.0-inch rotors up front and 11.8s in the back bring everything to a stop.
That the car rides well is no surprise since the suspension is virtually stock. That the car handles well is no surprise since Z32s are naturally great handling cars (even with the HICAS rear steering system disabled as here). What is shocking is how pleasant this car is just puttering around with the throttle cracked about an eighth open. This car could be a daily commuter, even though it's used virtually only for drag racing by the guys at Specialty-Z. And on Mickey Thompson E.T. street radials, this car has run deep, deep, deep into the 10s while sniffing NOS.
It's also testament to the Z32's impregnability how solid this car feels, despite hundreds of hard launches and more the 100K on the odometer. There are new cars that should feel this tight.
The Z32 will continue to be a center of enthusiasm into the foreseeable future because it's a plain-ass tough car that is also scaldingly quick. Even though hardly anyone can remember any of its competitors.
Specialty Z Nissan 300ZX TurboEngineEngine Code:VG30 Dett
Type: V6, iron block, aluminum heads, twin turbocharged and intercooled
Internal Mods: Overbored 0.5mm, Eagle H-beam connecting rods, Ross forged pistons, ARP rod bolts, stock crankshaft, Seal Power rings, ported and polished cylinder heads with ST oversize valves and JWT cams.
External Mods: JWT Sport 700 turbos, NOS nitrous twin-nozzle nitrous system, modified Stillen side-mount intercoolers, Nismo 740cc injectors, Fast Intentions cat-back exhaust system, all plumbed and routed by Specialty-Z.
Engine Management Mods: Blitz SBC-id Boost controller,
DrivetrainLayout: Front engine, rear drive
Drivetrain Mods: Blueprinted four-speed automatic transmission, lightweight flexplate, Precision Industries torque converter, B&M trans cooler, 4.10:1 final drive
SuspensionFront: Suspension Techniques anti-roll bar, Powertrix upper control arms.
Rear: Suspension Techniques anti-roll bar, Powertrix upper control arms
BrakesFront:13-inch vented floating rotors with 4-piston Brake Man calipers
Rear: 11.8-in. vented floating rotors with 4-piston Brake Man calipers
Wheels And TiresWheels: Volk TE-37, 17x8.5-in. front and 17x9.5-in. rear
Tires: Proxes RA-1, 235/40ZR-17 front and 275/40ZR-17 rear
Build the perfect 300ZX Twin Turbo, and the driver should be able to touch the face of God in less than 10-seconds.
Whomping out 22 pounds of boost, the Specialty-Z Z32 walloped the dyno rollers to the tune of 567 horsepower
By John Pearley Huffman
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