Modifying cars in Southern California is no easy task. Many would argue the sport compact scene originated from here, so it’s only natural to know that the competition is top notch and people are always bringing out new cars with plenty of modifications unique to their own. Quan Nguyen represents Team Ar-Kan in Southern California, one of the biggest car crews known for their quality in cars. Knowing that Southern California offers some of the stiffest competition on the show scene, Quan also had the task of modifying a 350Z, a chassis that’s almost become commonplace at every show. So Quan knew that to stay on the top and continue representing Ar-Kan with the same quality and uniqueness, he would himself have to find a unique combination of parts for his 350Z.
Starting with the engine modifications, Quan was pleased with the performance the 3.5L VQ motor had to offer from the factory, so he didn’t want to sacrifice too much reliability by going a route of forced induction. Staying naturally aspirated, Quan started with the bolt-ons of a Fujita Air cold air intake, Strup headers and a Blitz Nur-Spec custom single exit exhaust system. While that might be enough for the every day enthusiast, Quan wanted more. So he went back to modify the rest of the exhaust components to help flow more air in and out of his motor. Helix test pipes in combination with a Fujitsubo Y-Pipe really opened up the VQ motor and Quan’s exhaust note is now something truly unique. An ARC oil cooler sits menacingly in the front bumper while a Koyo Racing radiator keeps things cool. Cusco came into the mix with their oil catch can and air diversion panel while Buddy Club Racing’s Spec Condenser gives Quan just a little bit more horsepower. All these modifications were fine tuned with an A’PEXi S-AFCII, adjusting for additional fuel to balance out the extra air now being fed into the motor. Quan can now enjoy driving his 350Z with plenty of more power from the factory but knowing well that he can continue stockpiling those miles onto the car as a daily driver without worrying about something going awry.
Now that the engine modifications were complete, Quan focused on the exterior of the Z to help his crew represent at the car shows across California. Ever since its introduction back into the market, the new Z chassis has become one of the favorites for any sport compact enthusiast. The aftermarket jumped onto the car quickly, developing not just go-fast bolt on parts but plenty of body kits and exterior modifications. The aesthetics on this Z has been slightly customized to help stand out from the rest of the Zs. Up front is a INGs +1 front bumper that has been slightly modified to flow with the Nismo side skirts and rear valence. The exterior silver shade has been contrasted with a trio of carbon fiber modifications. Vision’s carbon fiber Type DC mirrors found their way onto the side of the vehicle while a TS style carbon fiber hood equipped with Aerocatch hood pins replaces the stock, bulky hood. To give the car a truly unique look, Quan had the roof of the car painted black to match the carbon fiber hood and rear carbon fiber hatch. From a birds-eye perspective, the top of the car is a carbon fiber/black shade, while the lower chassis is a nice mixture of silver. Amenities on the exterior that are like icing on the cake are Varis carbon fiber B pillars and euro-spec rear fog lights.
The car gets its menacing stance thanks to a set of A’PEXi’s N1 coilovers. These give Quan the adjustability he needs to ride in style on the street and to lower it for all the shows he contends at. Once the suspension was installed and the car was to the ground, Quan decided to bolt some new wheels onto his 350Z. After several different sets of wheels, Quan finally decided on an aggressive set of 19-inch Volk Racing TE-37 wheels. These lightweight TE-37 wheels aren’t your standard ones from Volk Racing however; they came in a custom Mag Blue finish, quite possibly the only set in the States! Up front is a 19×9.5 with 245/35/19 Dunlop Sport Max tires while the rear is now equipped with a wider 19×10.5 with 275/35/19 Dunlop tires. It’s without a doubt in anyone’s mind that these wheels really make the car. Finishing off the suspension modifications is a set of Battle Version control arms, Cusco front upper strut bar and a pair of front and rear lower tie bars from GT Spec.
We then got the chance to open up the doors to Quan’s 350Z machine and climb inside the cockpit. The stock 350Z interior is geared towards any spirited driver, so we knew the upgrades wouldn’t be plentiful, but tastefully done. We quickly noticed the Cusco 6-point roll cage that helps stiffen up the chassis while a pair of Tommy Kaira Edition Recaro seats in their traditional red finish greeted driver and passenger. Takata 4-point harnesses with gel pads keep Quan and his passenger comfortable while the stock steering wheel has been replaced with a Nardi Classic 330mm unit. The stock shift knob was also tossed out for a Nismo GT style piece. The interior modifications are just the perfect amount to make Quan’s daily drive even more fun and comfortable.
While Quan’s list of modifications aren’t pages and pages long, his decision to use the modifications that he has had made his 350Z what it is today. It’s without a doubt one of a kind, even in the oversaturated sea of 350Zs in Southern California. And with sponsors such as Dunlop Tires, M2Motoring, Meguiar’s, Auto Fashion, Endless Graphics and Fujita, it’s no doubt that Quan will continue developing his 350Z into a more unique show contender. We can’t wait to see what Quan has coming up next on his list, but if it’s any sign of what he’s already done and what his Ar-Kan team holds as their standard, it should be top quality!
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