We like the VQ35 engine. Nissan's ubiquitous V-6 was our choice for the Castrol Syntec Top Shop Challenge. We thought it would be nice to build a fire breathing and single atmosphere inhaling naturally aspirated big bore VQ. But Cheston Chiu had another idea with his engine. He decided to strap two exhaust-driven Power Enterprise turbines to it instead. Did we mention he's also an engineer for Raytheon, one of the largest aerospace companies in the world? Rocket scientist-go figure.
Those two boost makers push Cheston's VQ to a nice round 500whp figure. But this Gran Turismo re-creation before you (Cheston confesses he first got hooked on speed from the famous racing game) took a lot of investment, time, and otherwise to reach where it is now. The Z spent most of its existence at Technosquare, where it was a guinea pig for the torturous dyno runs that Technosquare performed in pursuit of the perfect tune. Almost eight months and 17 psi later, the Z was boosting into outer space.
When he isn't busy messing around with things that fly, Cheston is out playing race car driver with his creation. The extensive suspension modifications, including KW coilovers, Cusco front and rear antiroll bars and SBC rear camber arms, are sure to have been tweaked to perfection. He's entered the Z in High Performance Driving Events (HPDE) put on by NASA, as well as several drift days. He has even loaned the car out to hot shoe buddies in the past, and is planning on bringing one with him to the USCC for the performance tests. But perhaps one of the biggest chip in Cheston's corner is his setup time. While other USCC competitors are scrambling to finish building their cars, Cheston is fine-tuning his alignment settings and refining his setup for the USCC's multiple tests.
The car may have been built to shine on the track, but road duty is another matter. Sure, the Z sports a full interior, A/C, a stereo, and stock sound deadening. The only modifications Cheston implemented (like the Sparco EVO L seats, Defi gauges, and Works Bell quick release steering wheel) help out on the track while maintaining stock commuter comfort. But you can bet not much will be heard over the GReddy EVO TT exhaust blaring out the back. Plus, any kind of curb will call for extreme maneuvers. Even the owner admits the coilovers ride "a little harsh".
Cheston's list of influences includes JGTC cars and The Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, both of which show up in the expensive body lines. Assured high placement in the Car Show and Guru Panel (engineers love it when you can speak their language) tests should help smooth over any faults with ride quality on the street.
Immaculate build quality, track proven reliability, monster power, and a shiny (but functional) exterior rank this Z as a safe bet. However, if the Z finishes with less than stellar positions in the performance tests (road course, quarter-mile mile, dyno, skidpad, and so on), it will have a hard time taking home the win. The drivability categories are much more hit or miss with this competitor, putting it at a disadvantage should a more balanced street car post similar performance numbers.