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Sick Set-Up.

Z34 sporting some BBS rollers and a Central20 big brake kit.

JDMphasis… Innovation over Imitation

Amusing Photography...

My affinity for the parts of the Japanese Domestic Market is not based on a personal assessment of performance superiority. It is about design, quality, and attention to detail. Likely my biggest obsession of the industry, Power House Amuse is quite possibly the superlative of JDM parts. Hardly boring or run-of-the-mill, the products that come out of their facility in Chiba are not simply functional components to be admired momentarily pre-installation only to be forsaken shortly after brusque acknowledgment of any performance benefit or gain. Every Amuse part contains an all-too-real element of genuine automotive artistry.
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Justin's Z34 One-Off

Perhaps you have already seen this piece. It is making the rounds on the interwebz of late. This is Justin Ellwood's one-off Amuse exhaust system. There is no project more fitting for this piece of art to be featured than Justin's Z34. Enduring the long delays is one of the few downsides of buying Japanese parts, however, seeing the final product, one would assume that an 8-month wait for this system was surely worth it for Mr. Ellwood. A man who has not cut any corners with his build and refuses to adorn his pride and joy Z project with anything other than legitimate, authentic parts, this exhaust system will be right at home on the 800+ horsepower beast. Well done, sir. Keep up the good work!

 

'A' Body and 'B' Tails...

Gold Ring and R1 Titan logo on top...

Justin's Z will SING!

Attention to detail...

JDMphasis… Innovation over Imitation

Varis Kamikaze-Z

Just a small photographic collection of the awesome Z34 built by Varis. Perhaps a little over-the-top for some, but I am definitely a fan.

Oh, and a shot with the big guy… Street dreams are made of these.

JDMphasis… Innovation over Imitation

Happy Thanksgiving from JDMphasis...

This post is a day late, but I just want to wish all the readers/followers of JDMphasis a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your families, friends, and loved ones. Enjoy the day. Enjoy the season.

A random shot of the sick Varis Kamikaze-Z to get you going…

Though I often struggle to keep this blog updated, I am thankful for my readers and followers. There are a select few of you guys who have been around since day 1. I truly appreciate all the support. That said, anyone who would like a JDMphasis sticker, please shoot me a message at JDMphasis@gmail.com (include a mailing address). I am happy to send you some free of charge.

JDMphasis… Innovation over Imitation

Another replica rant...

About a week ago I came across a post on Facebook from a Z enthusiast page with which I agreed wholeheartedly and genuinely respected. It was urging consumers to support innovation by purchasing authentic parts, as opposed to the imitation.  The post:

Hey Fam, It's Come To My Attention That There Is Now Imitators Trying to Replicate Our Louvers. Thank you for supporting the one & ONLY Official @Louvergang Family!

Okay. I respect that. I am not particularly fond of the recent louver craze myself, but if these guys are, in fact, bringing a new, desired product to the market for Z guys, then I am on board and like the fact that they are encouraging support for innovation and originality. The complete message:

Some highlights of the post:

When you purchase a new part from the group who innovated the technology, you are supporting further innovation in the community we all love. It takes more than blood sweat and tears to truly innovate in our culture. It takes comparatively nothing to make a cheap low quality copy of that innovation, yet it stunts community growth by rewarding those who steal and do not innovate. 

Just as you worked hard for your money, real parts manufacturers and small businesses alike have broken their backs and made huge sacrifices to innovate new products for us.

…this is still a direct attack on our livelihood and a genuine crime. This is a theft of our intellectual property, and a mockery of our hard work. As a community, we cannot tolerate this blatant plagiarism. Please do your part to keep our community thriving. Educate yourself, know what you're buying. Think about sustainability and what your build reflects upon you.

PREACH!

Oh… Wait… Just a few days later, I see this post from the same Z enthusiast page:

A shot of a slammed Z34 with Nismo aero, right?

No. Replica aero with a link to the hack company that makes it.

So, let me get this straight… It is okay to rip off Nismo, but it is not okay to replicate the parts that this page produces? Is that not a bit hypocritical? If one is going to make the strong, assertive statements that are posted above, should that mentality not apply across the board?

By not only posting, featuring, and praising builds with fake parts, but by linking the marauding companies that produce those parts, this page is doing the exact opposite of what they preach above. This page is "[stunting] community growth by rewarding (ahem…advertising) for those who steal and do not innovate."

Come on!

BE THE FUNK. DON'T FAKE IT.

JDMphasis… Innovation over Imitation

Top Secret Engine Bay Swag

Just a few random shots of some Top Secret Z34 beauty…

JDMphasis… Innovation over Imitation

GaleForce Z34...

I love Nissan cars. Yes, I am biased. I will not apologize for it. Though the Z33 is the car that made me fall in love with Nissan and the JDM culture, as well as the car that I have chosen as my next project (My second Z33, at that...), I fall more and more in love with the Z34 the more I see those that are modified properly. By "properly" I mean with quality, authentic parts. This is another prime example.

The GaleForce Z34, much like Gene's Z34, is all over the internet. My friends at Bulletproof Automotive took on this project with, as I understand it, a great client from our North American neighbor to the north. From the absolutely beautiful paintwork to the monoblock Japanese wheels - Volk Racing TE37 Ultras, to the stunning Varis Arising II aero and the Boosted Performance turbo set-up, this Z34 is one of the nicest in North America. No, dare I say, perhaps the world.

Very well done, Mr. Gale. Again, Z enthusiasts, take note. Take note…

(Capture Credit: Diego Perri)

 Pretty cool shot here...

(Capture Credit: George Bucur)

JDMphasis… Innovation over Imitation

Project Z33: This Color!

As I have blogged in the past, once my aero arrives from Japan (It will be 6 months in less than two weeks!), the plan is to wrap the car in a matte blue finish. I really like the factory Daytona Blue of Nissan, so I do not want to stray too far from that, but I do want to do a matte finish. Plus, keeping the color a similar blue to factory will not make the door jambs, sills, and engine bay look too awkward or 'unfinished.'

I have been searching the web for good examples of the blue that I want and have found the following pictures. Some of these pictures are not the best quality and, in others, the lighting seems a bit off, but I think this shade and finish is the basic idea of what I would like to do. I am looking forward to this part of the project.

Sharp S2K with some Voltex aero and TE37SL rollers...

 This appears to be a bit too teal for my taste, but I am not sure if that is just the light...

A closer look at a matte blue finish on an Audi… I really like this.

I love this beast!

JDMphasis… Innovation over Imitation