Turning Sports to Touring: Patrick Ng’s 350Z

People often think that building a proper street car is a straightforward recipe – you take all the best parts, all the fanciest aftermarket bits, put them all together and voila! You now ‘supposedly’ have the ‘perfect street car’. Anyone who’s had their fair share of modifying a car would tell you however that this ethos for building modified street cars could not be farther from the truth.

That aggressive wheel fitment will just curb on ruts, those high spring rates on those expensive custom-valved coilovers will just rattle you on Manila’s roads, and can you just imagine running a heavy triple-plate clutch in traffic with a lightened flywheel? If you think those warnings on parts that say ‘for racing use only’ is only a marketing spiel, you ought to think twice.

Patrick Ng, the owner of this Ultra Yellow 350Z, knows the workings – and consequences – of running a racecar on the street all too well. Having his fair share of seat time in several drift cars and rally cars does that to you apparently. That said, this particular build has something that none of his other cars will get: restraint.

The key to building a proper street car is to be able to distinguish the things that the car needs improving on from the things that should be left alone. In Pat’s case, he got the 350Z with its exterior pieces pretty much sorted out. Key pieces like the Mine’s Carbon Chin, Nismo skirts, the Esprit Wing, and a staggered set of 19’s RAYS TE37s do more than enough to get the Z to stand out. The only thing changed for the exterior was returning the side mirrors to stock – you can’t see squat out of a Craft Square Mirror despite how cool it looks after all.

After having driven the car since getting it, Pat’s made very few changes that improve the overall feel of the 350Z from the driver’s perspective. The clutch for example has been replaced with an Exedy Hyper Single unit that wouldn’t make your leg ache over a long drive out of town. In order to address a faulty throttle sensor issue, the entire drive-by-wire system of the VQ35 has been done away in favor of a cable throttle conversion for direct throttle response. These are two very small details that nobody but the driver will notice – but they make the car all that more driveable. And really, isn’t that the entire point?

The VQ35 3.5L V6 in this 350Z has been left in its naturally-aspirated state, that’s not to say it doesn’t have its fair share of work done to it however. A full engine rebuild performed by Takeda, a reputable local engine builder, with Arias high comp pistons, Eagle Forged Con-rods, a port-and-polished head, and a host of other parts means the motor itself could withstand any beating in the Z’s current state. One of the few things that were changed since acquiring the Z was the HKS Hi-Power twin exhaust system. A custom X-Pipe was installed somewhere along the midpipe to improve the V6’s tone while improving overall torque.

Footwork for this Z is taken care of by a set of Tein Monoflex coils, while a handy Tein Electronic Damping Force Controller (EDFC) ensures Pat can adjust ride stiffness from inside the Z on the fly. While the caliper and rotor setup remains stock, GoodRidge Stainless Lines, Project Mu SCR-PRO pads up front, and Project Mu SCR pads at the rear help augment stopping power.

The interior has but a few choice goodies from Nismo to distinguish itself from other Zs. A titanium shift knob and a gauge cluster were both sourced from the Nissan aftermarket specialist to improve input and feedback for the driver. Originally the car came with a Nardi Deep Corn steering wheel, a Works Bell quick release, and Bride seats, but these units were again traded in for stock pieces for better comfort. If you know just how cumbersome it is to get in and out of a bucket seat, I’m sure you’ll understand the logic behind this move.

Following all these small changes, Pat has been enjoying the 350Z as a proper no-frills street bruiser. The 350Z has become a stand-out coupe with all the personality you’ll ever want from a modified street car - all while taking you around and out of town reliably without ever breaking. And if this recipe of his is anything to go by, restraint goes a long way towards properly enjoying the streets.

Words by Aurick Go

Photos by Jaime Miguel Echavez, Jose Altoveros

2005 Nissan 350z 35th Anniversary edition

Engine:

• VQ35DE revup
• JWT S7R 264 camshafts
• JWT springs and shims
• Ported and Polished Head
• Cometic 98mm MLS Head Gasket
• ARP Head Studs
• Eagle Forged Connecting Rods
• Arias Extreme 96mm 12:5 Compression Pistons
• ARP Main Studs
• ACL Thrust Bearing
• ACL Main Bearing
• ACL Connecting Rod Bearing
• Koyo 52mm Radiator
• Mishimoto Fan Shroud
• NTC Thermostat
• Samco Radiator Hose
• ARC Aluminium Oil Pan
• ARC Cooling Plate
• ARC Intake Suction Pipe
• ARC Oil Cap
• ARC Radiator Cap
• ARC Super Induction Box
• Carbing Oil Catch Tank
• Haltech Platinum Pro
• COBB Access Port
• NWP 75mm Throttle Body Kit
• GTM 3 inch MAF Housing
• JDM Wire Cover
• Custom Test Pipe
• HKS Hi-Power Exhaust
• Custom X-Pipe
• HKS Oil Cooler
• HKS Twin Power DLI 2
• Motordyne Mrev2 Lower Plenum
• Skunk2 Plenun Spacer
• PPE Long Tube Headers
• Unorthodox Racing Pulley Set
• APS Tough Boy Strut Bar

Drivetrain:

• Exedy Hyper Single Clutch
• Agency Power Clutch Line
• Quaife Helical LSD
• Tomei 3.9 Final Drive

Exterior:

• Nismo Carbon Pillar Garnish
• Nismo Rear Skirt
• Nismo Side Skirt
• Mine’s Carbon Fibre Chin
• Varis Air Intake Duct
• Esprit Rear Spoiler
• Vis Racing Terminator GT Hood
• Takata x Speedhunters Tow Strap

Interior:

• Carbon Fibre center console
• Nismo Shift Knob
• Nismo JDM Gauge Cluster
• Nismo Horn Button
• B&M Short Shift

Wheels/Suspension/Brake:

• 19” Volk Racing TE37 L.E.
• Bridgestone RE11
• Tein Monoflex Coilovers
• Tein EDFC
• Project Mu SCR-PRO (front)
• Project Mu SCR (rear)
• GoodRidge Brake Lines