Recognize the Real

Tired of seeing "features" all over the internet (and print media) with builds riddled with knock-off and replica parts? Me too... I've seen three in the past week.

Below you can find a few shots of a 370Z project done by my good friends at Bulletproof Automotive. This is the breed of build that should be displayed, highlighted, featured, praised, glamorized, shared, pinned, and LIKEd all over social and print media. With parts sourced from some of the best tuning companies in Japan, skimping and corner-cutting are words and methods you certainly cannot associate with this fairlady build.

JDMphasis... Innovation over Imitation

Project G37S: Exhausted

First, a big 'Thank You' goes out to my pal, Ben (Bulletproof Automotive), and the artists of titanium at Power House Amuse for making this beautiful exhaust possible. Secondly, this entire project, going back almost three years, would not be nearly what it is today without the help, guidance, and patience of my good friend, Brian, and the other guys at JT Motoring. Constant communication as well as daily picture updates made this most recent stage of upgrades quite an enjoyable experience, where I was in-the-know, being consulted with every decision. I'm sure I drive both of these guys nuts sometimes, but I hope they know their efforts are profoundly appreciated.
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Rules? Here are my rules: What can be done with one substance must never be done with another. No two materials are alike. No two sites on earth are alike. No two buildings have the same purpose. The purpose, the site, the material determine the shape. Nothing can be reasonable or beautiful unless it's made by one central idea, and the idea sets every detail. A building is alive, like a man. Its integrity is to follow its own truth, its one single theme, and to serve its own single purpose. A man doesn't borrow pieces of his body. A building doesn't borrow hunks of its soul. Its maker gives it the soul and every wall, window and stairway to express it.

 Rand, Ayn. (1943). The Fountainhead

This passage from one of my favorite books, Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead, is a commentary on individual expression and beauty of form. I believe it applies to so much more than architecture. In many ways, the project of an automotive enthusiast provides an opportunity to give it the soul. That project becomes an expression of that enthusiast and, ultimately, finds its own truth; its theme. 

It has been quite some time since I have posted any sort of update on the G. That is, in large part, due to the fact that, for the better part of the past year, I have been awaiting the arrival of the new exhaust system. As many of the followers of JDMphasis know, Amuse is my biggest obsession of the Japanese Domestic Market. Put simply, everything Amuse is automotive art. This V36 coupe had the honor of sporting the first Amuse exhaust system to hit the United States (for a V36, of course). I would rather not get into the details of why I felt it necessary to change things up, but I did. (Satisfaction with the product played absolutely zero part in the decision.) That said, I am more than extremely happy with the new system. 

To give some background, the conception of this exhaust occurred in October of 2011, when I initiated the first discussion with my friend, Ben of Bulletproof Automotive, of having Power House Amuse build a 'one-off' system for this car. A brief conversation with Amuse took place at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show in which they confirmed this could be done. At that point, it took weeks to iron out exactly what we wanted to do. On the surface, this may look like a run-of-the-mill R1-Titan system with two extra tips, but that is hardly the case. (We all know there is no such thing as a "run-of-the-mill" Amuse exhaust system.) Every consideration was taken into account during the planning stages of this design, including the vehicle's suspension modifications and acknowledgement of the vehicle's Zele Performance rear bumper. Likewise, every detail was addressed in the initial diagraming of the actual system, from volume desired, to piping diameter, to the degree to which the tips were to be staggered, to the length and diameter of the tips, to the muffler and tip finishes, etc...

When the planning was completed, we had to relate everything accurately to Amuse so they could then begin the prototyping. To my understanding, finding a V36 coupe on which to design and test this system proved a rather noteworthy challenge. Ultimately, Amuse had to resort to renting a vehicle. This whole process, from start to finish, took close to 11 months. Enduring the wait proved to be trying, tedious, and arduous at times. However, I can honestly say, now that I have the exhaust in my possession, it was absolutely worth it to possess a completely custom, 'one-off' system built for me by one of the best, if not the best, exhaust manufacturers in the world.

Truly one of the most alluring specimens of automotive artistry, this exhaust is something that should be on display,  hanging on a wall somewhere, and not hiding under a car. Along those lines, I understand many people will be of the opinion that spending the amount of money this system cost on something that mounts under the car is borderline insane, but to each his own. Whenever I hear those criticisms, I consider a quote across which I came a while back by Apple founder, Steve Jobs.

When you're a carpenter making a beautiful chest of drawers, you're not going to use a piece of plywood on the back, even though it faces the wall and nobody will ever see it. You'll know it's there, so you're going to use a beautiful piece of wood on the back.

I acknowledge that there are maybe a handful of people across whom I will come that will actually recognize and appreciate those purple and gold tips peeking out from underneath my rear bumper, but that is not important. I am not building this car for anyone but myself. The quality, attention to detail, and exclusivity are the factors that made the decision to build this system an easy one for me. These are the aspects of this build that, as alluded to in the above Rand passage, contribute to the one central idea; the one single theme, of this project as a whole. I know what has gone into this build. In the end, that is all that matters.

Enjoy a few pictures of this 'one-off' exhaust by Power House Amuse.

• Custom Power House Amuse Quad-Tipped Exhaust System
• Power House Amuse R1 Silent Front Pipe

COMPARE - 'Old' top/'One-off' bottom

Notice the piping going into the front muffler of the new exhaust system versus the older system. The piping on the older system protrudes just a bit more as it rounds its way toward the mid pipe, where the newer system is more "squared" coming back around the mufflers and into the midpipe. When I ordered the first Amuse exhaust I was warned that I may have to do some minor modification to make it fit due to the fact that it would be the first V36 exhaust to come into the United States and they had not tested the exhaust on a US-spec G37. Due to emissions controls present in the US, as opposed to Japan, US-spec vehicles are equipped with a "charcoal canister" (evap canister) that does not come on the JDM vehicles. That canister needed to be removed to make the first Amuse system mount up properly, as that rounded piping would not clear it. With the new system, that issue was addressed with the piping being more direct and not making quite as big of a loop around the muffler body.

Of course, this custom quad-tipped Amuse exhaust is not something that Zele Performance anticipated when they created their rear bumper, so it had to be modified to accommodate the two extra exhaust tips. I wanted the end result to appear clean, as if it came from the factory that way, so simply trimming the rear bumper was not going to be good enough. We decided to create new "tunnels" in the rear bumper. This took some work. The body shop fabricated a mold and designed the two outlets for the exhaust tips using a metal template that was later fiberglassed once positioned properly and then sprayed.

IN PROGRESS...

COMPLETED...

With the rear bumper in the body shop's possession, I decided now might be the right time to address some paint issues with my front bumper. A few imperfections were confronted. Namely, a couple tiny chips spawned from shoddy removal of the bumper by a previous shop; chips that were disreputably covered with the ink of a Sharpie marker. I also used this opportunity to add some matte black accenting to both the front and rear bumpers. I think the contrasting blacks allow the lines of the Zele bumpers to become a bit more apparent. We also added some aggression to the front bumper with a set of First Molding carbon fiber winglets and finally mounted the (functional) Top Secret titanium tow hook.

A couple shots of the contrast between gloss and flat...

The First Molding Japan carbon fiber winglets were painted black on the bottom and edges and then re-clearcoated. It's all in the details...

Some other changes during this stage of modification:

• Swapping of anti-sway bars from Stillen to Cusco 
• Swapping the front strut bar from Stillen to Cusco (powdercoating the mounts Wrinkle Red) 
• Installing the Limited Edition Personal Top Secret steering wheel 
• Painting the exterior Mount Fuji Infiniti emblems to flat black
• Installing Samco hose kit
• Swapping out all engine bay bolts and washers for stainless steel

There were a few minor hiccups while the G was in the shop that will be addressed next month. We will be swapping out the brake pads, doing a bit more with the engine bay, swapping out the lug nuts, and maybe something else special (and perhaps a bit unexpected). I will also clean the car up a bit. At that point, we will likely do a full photoshoot of the G, which will allow for seeing better these changes to the car as a whole. 

Stay tuned... 

Vendor Hypocrisy? Or just par for the course?

I will preface the story I am about to relay by stating that the tone of this post is purely inquisitive in nature. My interest in the JDM parts industry is the motivation behind my questions. I am the first to admit that I do not know everything there is to know about the inner workings of this industry. However, I do know, at the most basic level, it is still a business.


I recently stumbled upon something that piqued my interest...

A thread was created on a forum that included instructions on how to create one's own "Stillen-Quality" grounding kit. (This thread has since been deleted.) The member who created it provided a list of parts used to build these grounding kits and even stated that the instructions included in the Stillen kit could be used to install this newly-created, homemade kit. After investigating this member's forum activity, I found that another thread had been created in the classified section where a "brand new" Stillen grounding kit was for sale, leading me to believe that a kit was purchased from Stillen, analyzed and examined yet never installed, only to be sold later as new.

A representative from Stillen, being a forum sponsor, responded to the member's DIY thread with a post expressing some disapproval at the less-than-tactful approach to advertising these homemade grounding kits. Citing the fact that this garage DIY'er made claims of parallel quality to Stillen's product and boldly included a link to Stillen's installation instructions, Stillen was, understandably, not amused. The terms "copying" and "knock-off" were used by the representative from Stillen in the expression of displeasure.

I find no issue with Stillen being peeved by the creation of the thread. There is no crime in the creation of a DIY tutorial by a forum member for reference by other members. However, by the creator making direct reference to the Stillen kit along with some brazen claims, there is a possibility that a potential consumer reading the thread would opt for the Do-It-Yourself grounding kit over the pre-constructed Stillen product, possibly resulting in a loss of a sale for Stillen.

I have no qualms with Stillen - a few of their parts are featured on my G. This query of mine stems mainly from the intrigue I maintain into this industry and not to any disdain it may appear that I harbor towards Stillen.

To me, this situation seems a bit peculiar for a couple reasons. I can visit Stillen's website and purchase Seibon parts. Seibon copies, replicates, and 'knocks off' the designs of other companies. Stillen puts money in their pockets when people purchase these knock-off parts. It seems to me that there may be a bit of a double standard here. Stillen is perturbed when a forum member shows other people how to build their own "Stillen-Quality" grounding kit and accuse the member of 'knocking off' their product, but they have no problem selling parts from a company who has stolen designs from some of the pioneers of the aftermarket industry. An ironic paradox.

It is somewhat interesting to ponder what the response from Stillen might be if a representative from, say, Top Secret or Veilside contacted them and requested that they cease the sales of Seibon parts because they are copying, replicating, and 'knocking off' their designs. (Granted, the issues of Top Secret, Veilside, and every other company whose designs are stolen should be with Seibon directly. Nonetheless, Stillen is certainly not doing these companies any favors by supporting Seibon.)

Just food for thought, I suppose...

Project G37S: Stillen Short Shifter

When I owned my Z, I had a short shifter from another company, but, after hearing some unfavorable anecdotes of issues with the shifters, I decided not to install it. Thus, I spent considerable time debating the install of Stillen's Short Shifter in the G. I had some hesitations, but, as a result of Brian's experience with the product and his assurance of its quality, I took a chance...

Coupled with my 515+ gram Tommy Kaira Hebi Bebi shift knob, ripping through the gears has never been more enjoyable. With this aftermarket addition to the G, I do not foresee any regret. This is a modification (along with sway bars, a good set of tires, and upgraded brakes) where I cannot pinpoint a downside. Stillen's short shifter is solid, sturdy, and confidence-inspiring. The shifts are tight and concise. With about fifty miles under my belt with the new shifter, I am extremely impressed.

BEFORE

 AFTER

Project G37S: Coming Together

I dropped the G off with Brian late Thursday afternoon. I hadn't been to JT in a couple months, so I asked to look at my new wheels, which had been occupying a corner of the shop for weeks at that point. I had seen pictures of them, but had yet to see them in person. In addition to the pictures of my own set that have been sent via phone camera and text messages, I have seen quite a few images of these wheels on the internet and the forums and not one of them has done them justice. These wheels are beautiful in person...


I had to snap a few pictures for myself:

Volk Racing TE37SL

Not even an hour after I had left the car with Brian, he sent me a picture...

GT-R Start Button Installed

The tires arrived in less than 24 hours. The wheels were mounted and Brian did a test-fit. He was nervous upon mounting the rear wheels, as they poked quite a bit. He sent me an e-mail with a subject line of "Close Call" and the following picture attached. (Excuse the poor quality camera phone picture...)

Once lowered off the lift, the wheels tucked a bit more, easing some of Brian's nerves. However, it looks as though we will be raising the car up a bit and installing a camber kit at some point in the near future, as running more negative camber than initially expected is in order.

You will have to stay tuned for better pictures of the TE's mounted...


The only snag we have encountered thus far is a minor issue with a vendor on the G forums over the authenticity of a set of Rays extended lugs. So, I am now trying to get my hands on a set of those to accentuate these wheels. Other than that, the projects that were set to take place today are:


1) Replacement of brake bleeder valves
2) Swapping of Tein EDFC Controller
3) Powdercoating of front brake rotor hats
4) Installation of the Stillen short shifter

Project G37S: Piecemeal

Currently in week three of a fourteen week waiting period for my exhaust components to arrive from The Land of the Rising Sun, Brian and I have decided to get started on the next stage of the project now, leaving the exhaust portion of the build for the end.

So, tomorrow I will be placing the G in Brian's custody for the weekend. The weekend's To-Do List includes:

1) Replacing the bleeder valves on the Project Mu brake calipers
2) Powdercoating the front Project Mu rotor hats
3) Some trouble-shooting on the Tein EDFC
4) Installation of the Stillen short shifter
5) Installation of the GT-R start button

A shot of the front Project Mu rotor hats (the teal will be black)

Much more to come. Stay tuned...

Project G37S: Winter Makeover 2011

The Project Mu brakes are on! With all the snow over the past couple weeks, I have not really had a chance to get a feel for them, but they did perform nicely on the short ride home from the shop after the install. I'm looking forward to a nice day that will allow for a ride in the G to test them out a bit more. An interesting fact: I received confirmation a few days ago that these Project Mu brakes are the only set of their kind on a G37. So, in that sense, we have pioneered an installation of a truly unique, one-off set of brakes. JDM Rarity. (I would not have been able to pull this off without Brian's efforts and assistance. So, BIG 'Thank You' to him, as well as JT Motoring.)

Brian and I have been e-mailing daily for the past couple weeks discussing the path this project is taking. I have a certain theme in mind for this car; one that is not always easy to convey to others. Rarity and quality of parts is a substantial element to that theme, but having the rarest parts does not always mean the best end result. I try to be cautious in the decisions I make in regards to parts for this car. "Clean" is a priority. The challenge is tying everything together smoothly.

Brian offers his advice and opinions, all of which are greatly appreciated. Every useful piece of knowledge, as well as every suggestion of his, is taken into consideration, but, ultimately, the decisions are mine. That can be good or bad. I sometimes second-guess myself or question my judgment, but overall, the car is coming together. It is a project, as well as a learning experience. We're having fun...

That said, we have come up with some ideas set to be put into motion at some point over the next few weeks. These modifications will likely elicit mixed reactions. Some will like the changes, some will not. Nonetheless, the G will certainly be unique... We are going to outline these one-of-a-kind big brakes with a new set of wheels that have never seen a G37S. We will be downsizing from the current 20" so as to provide a bit more sidewall rubber, while losing a few pounds in weight. I will not reveal the make and model of these new JDM wheels, but I can say that the offsets will be a bit more aggressive than the current (+25, +35) set-up, although hardly in line with the recently hallowed Herrafrush trend.

We are also going for a more aggressive exhaust note. I am going to swap out the current Fujitsubo Legalis-R set-up for another JDM system that will truly provide a more aesthetic appeal to the undercarriage of the G. I don't think I'm going out on a limb when I say that it will be gorgeous! We will mate that system with a set of MXP Double-Resonated Test Pipes, and possibly a new Y-Pipe (brand undecided at the moment). The tame, mild note of the G's exhaust of today will be exchanged for a far more mean and aggressive growl, although far from obnoxious in nature.

MXP Double-Resonated Test Pipes

Other than that, a Stillen short shifter will be installed, as well as a start button from a Nissan GT-R. I think that will flow nicely with my interior.

GT-R Start Button

Updates to follow.

Project G37S: Suspension Upgrades

Coming from a 350Z, one of my first observations upon driving the G37 was a desire for tighter, more responsive handling qualities. After a set of 20" Advan RS-D wheels outfitted with 275/30 and 245/35 Yokohama S.drive XL rubber, my first purchase was a set of Eibach Pro-Kit springs and Stillen sway bars.  Here are a few pictures of the drop the Eibach springs provided:

Although the handling was improved over stock, I was not completely satisfied. I do not track or race this car, but I did not think that was a reason to limit myself, or settle for less than content, in terms of the performance characteristics of my suspension. So, I contacted someone who has not only come to be an extremely helpful and reliable resource in terms of my inquiries into aftermarket parts for the car, but a good friend as well, Brian Hung, over at JT Motoring in Hyde Park, Massachusetts. The advice and opinion offered by Brian stem from his personal experience, as well as his industry insider knowledge and expertise. Not simply out to make a dollar off of me and my project, Brian maintains a genuine and sincere interest in the project and the customer. Thus, he has most certainly secured me as a future customer with him, and with JT Motoring.

I related to Brian my desires and where I thought the current suspension set-up was falling short and disappointing me. He offered me a few opinions. Together, we decided to go with a coilover set-up that we have not seen on too many G's, as well as some frame bracing from GT Spec. We chose some Tein Flex coilovers and decided to utilize their Electronic Damping Force Controller technology, EDFC. We then got our hands on some GT Spec parts, to which I decided to powdercoat wrinkle red. Here are a few pictures of the undercarriage of the G with the braces and coilovers installed:

The end result, with all suspension work completed, is a drastic/radical improvement over the previous Eibach Pro-Kit set-up. The G sits considerably lower now, and handles worlds better. With tighter handling qualities, body roll has been virtually eliminated, I notice this most when entering or exiting the expressway. I do not feel every bump as much as I did with the spring set-up and the EDFC has proved to be quite a convenient feature. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this equipment, it allows the driver to control the damping force from inside the cabin. With EDFC, there are 16 levels of adjustability (0 being the 'hardest' setting and 16 being the 'softest'). You control the damping of the front, as well as the damping of the rear. So, hypothetically, one could have the front set to the hardest setting and the rear set to the softest, and vice versa. On top of that, there are three presets. They act much like radio presets, in that one does not have to adjust the control every time the car is started. Just simply push the preset for whatever you're feeling at that moment. And it can be adjusted on the fly, if so desired. Personally, I have one setting for a firm ride, or spirited driving on windy/country roads or something of that nature, one setting for highway driving - softer so I do not feel every bump, and one setting for "daily driving," a nice mix between the two (8 in the front, 10 in the rear is my personal preference).

Here are a couple pictures of the G, displaying the ride height after the coilover install: