Having nearly every tuning resource available to him, Tran decided that the HKS F-Con V Pro would be the way to go in tuning the forced induced VQ. A plethora of HKS goods were wired in at the same time including a Knock Amp, F-Con Navigator and boost controller. The result is 667whp on a proven dyno, can we argue with that? I don’t think so! Let me assure you all that this car is easily driven on the street. It idles like it came from the factory but once the boost kicks in, its rabid side gets released. Now at this point we’ve only proved that the 350Z has a powerful engine setup, how much can a tuner do to the exterior? Unless you’ve been underneath a rock the last couple of years, you are well aware that there are plenty of aesthetic modifications out for the 350Z. And as you’ve probably noticed this 350Z has a kit that is the first of its kind in the US! Razo Styling sent over their complete aero package – making this 350Z’s looks match its underhood abilities. The aggressive front bumper, side skirts and rear bumper match the flowing lines perfectly and look like something the factory should have offered Z buyers. But let’s face it, if it came like this – why would we even be modifying it? With the body kit installed, Mangafas decided that the stock color just didn’t fit the car anymore.
Off to the body shop it went where a custom House of Kolor paint was mixed and laid on. The headlight housing was also pulled apart to receive its fair treatment of matching paint. The result is an exterior that any 350Z owner, or enthusiast for that matter, should be envious of. It’s obvious Mangafas is serious about driving a true performance vehicle and we had to inquire what else was done to the car. Having driven the car all the way from the Northeast to Texas, Mangafas knew the stock suspension had to go and a set of Tein Flex coilovers along with its EDFC unit was exactly what he wanted. Buckling down the rest of the suspension is a set of Hotchkis sway bars and a JIC carbon fiber upper strut brace. Now that the suspension met Mangafas’ needs, a perfect set of wheels and tires had to be bolted on to complement the rest of the exterior package. Searching high and low for something he and his wallet could agree on, Mangafas decided on the Volk Racing’s 20-inch GT-C. With a staggered setup of 20x8.5-inch in the front and 20x9.5-inch in the rear, Mangafas decided to pull apart the wheels to have the lip of the multi-piece wheels chromed: “The high polished lip was nice and all, but having the lip chromed really sets off the car and is a lot easier to maintain than the polished finish.” No arguments here, as Nitto NT555 rubber wraps the chromed lips for a perfect package. Residing behind each gigantic 20-inch wheel is an equally upgraded brake kit from Rotora. Up front, massive 6 piston calipers with 14-inch brake rotors help bring the car to a screeching halt. If that isn’t enough however, the rear brakes have been upgraded with a 4 piston caliper with 14-inch rotors as well. Stainless steel brake lines ensure the brakes perform each and every time.
Mangafas then switched his attention to the interior modifications for the 350Z. Starting with a pair of black Bride Ergo II seats, a set of Takata harnesses attached to a BCR harness bar makes for a perfect package for any seasoned driver. A series of DEFi gauges helps Mangafas monitor the VQ’s vitals. Lastly, a couple of goods from Razo in the form of a suede shift knob and upgraded sports pedals round out the interior. The fun didn’t stop there though, the geniuses at Wicked C.A.S. managed to deck the 350Z out in car audio. It may look cramped from the outside-in, but this 350Z has plenty of room to customize the audio as well. In the trunk is a clear installation consisting of a pair of JL Audio amplifiers and four JL Audio 10-inch subwoofers. Mangafas told us that Wicked C.A.S. originally only wanted to do two, but Mangafas wanted four. Sometimes it’s all about doing what you want, not what they want to do! In the cabin, a Kenwood DBX7015 DVD/Navigation unit helps Mangafas go from state to state while JL Audio mids and tweeters fills the cabin with tunes.
This Jotech Motorsports-built 350Z is the perfect example of why Nissan’s stateside flag- ship was voted Modified’s Tuner Car of the Year. We’ve seen drift-spec 350Zs, show-built 350Zs and drag-oriented 350Zs, but Mangafas’ 350Z is the perfect example of a street-driven 350Z. The foundation is given to us from Nissan; it’s now all up to us enthusiasts out there to show them what modifying really is all about! Here’s to the 2006 Tuner Car of the Year!