But what really makes this Z so special is the striking Do-Luck bodykit and the fact that Mike and two friends, Donald James and Mark Sanders, built it in two and a half weeks, working late nights to get the car ready in time for the Import Alliance show in Nashville, where tire sponsor Falken wanted it on display. "When we started, the Z was completely bare. The bodykit needed to be installed and painted, the interior was completely gutted, no dash, nothing inside except the steering wheel, and somehow in two and a half weeks we got it built in time for the 700-mile drive from Indy to Nashville." In fact, the eight-hour drive was literally the engine's break-in trip, with less than 100 miles on the odometer before they left for the show.
It was in Nashville at the Import Alliance show that our photographer, Jeff Creech, spotted Mike's unique widebody Z wearing a stunning set of Extreme Gold 19-inch Work VS-XX wheels. The nine-piece Do-Luck bodykit, imported by sponsor X Level-which provided all of the parts for the build, either through sponsorship arrangements with the parts makers or by selling them to Mike at cost-took six months to arrive and is one of the only ones in America. But this super-rare JDM bodykit wasn't enough for Mike, he went the extra mile by also installing Do-Luck's distinctive carbon-fiber rear spoiler as well as a VIS Racing carbon-fiber rear hatch as well as shaving the door handles and antenna. Rather than going with a predictably flashy paint scheme, Mike very tastefully decided to offset the bold aero mods with a subtle coat of DuPont Flat Black paint, shot by his buddy Donald James in his garage.
To Mike's credit, his masterpiece of a Z didn't just catch our eye, it also took home quite a few trophies since that eventful trip to Nashville. Quite an accomplishment for a family man and truck driver from Indianapolis, but as Mike will tell you himself, none of it would have been possible without the support of his wife of 17 years and his three kids, the tremendous local help he's had from guys like J.T. Cocherell from X Level, and the motivation provided by that unexpected engine failure he chose to turn into an opportunity. And so it would seem that you really do make your own luck in life, and Mike's hard work and dedication make him the lucky owner of the hottest 350Z Indiana and Nashville have ever seen.
Specifications & Details
'04 Nissan 350Z
Engine
3.5-liter VQ35DE V-6
Engine Modifications
Wiseco 11:1 pistons, Eagle rods, JWT S1 camshafts, valvesprings and shim, and oil pan spacer; ARP main studs and head studs; ported and polished cylinder heads, Cometic 0.03" head gasket, Kinetix Racing SSV Extreme Flow intake manifold and custom painted engine cover; Injen SP Series Mega Ram intake, Unorthodox Racing Ultra SS underdrive pulley set, Stillen headers, Invidia stainless steel test pipe, GReddy TiC True Dual exhaust, Cyber Speed Hyper Force ignition system, grounding kit, and GT voltage system; Koyo radiator, Samco hoses, Titek carbon-fiber cooling panel
Drivetrain
JWT clutch kit and lightweight aluminum flywheel
Suspension
Tein Basic coilovers
Wheels, Tires And Brakes
Work VS-XX 19x9.5" (f) and 19x12" (r) wheels, Falken FK-452 235/35-19 (f) and 315/25-19 (r) tires
Exterior
Do-Luck 9-piece widebody kit, carbon-fiber diffuser, and carbon-fiber wing; VIS Racing carbon-fiber rear hatch and fusion-style rear spoiler; shaved door handles and antenna; DuPont Flat Black paint, Lamin-X headlight film, smoked taillights and rear turn signals, X Level graphics
Interior
NRG quick release hub, Auto Meter carbon-fiber Volt and Fuel Pressure gauges, Black suede covered seats, headliner, and shift boot; Pioneer head unit
Sponsors
Falken Tire, NRG, Sun Auto, X Level, Donald James Paint
Special Thanks
My wife and three kids, J.T. from X Level, Donald James, Mark the Nissan Tech, and the Indy Z Club