This is Graham's second 2003 G35 Coupe. His first G was totaled after narrowly avoiding a head-on collision with a pickup truck at ZDayZ 2008. On the morning of Saturday, May 17th 2008 a white pickup truck crossed the double yellow lines as Graham was traveling southbound on US Hwy 129 just south of Deal's Gap. He was presented with two equally undesireable options: Hit the truck head-on or take his chances with the side of the mountain. Not wishing to cause harm to the other driver, Graham chose to avoid the truck. In doing so, the G was forced off the road and into a ditch. The passenger front corner impacted the rock wall, deploying the passenger airbag, pushing the passenger front wheel and suspension aft approximately 8 inches, and bending the frame of the car enough to buckle the roof. Thankfully Mr. Hobbs was not hurt in the wreck. However, Graham was not deterred and three weeks later he found a new G35 (this time silver with a 6 speed manual) and has begun construction on the new car with parts pulled off the first one so he can make a return to track days. A link to Graham's old G35 can be found here: Graham's First G
Specs:
Year: 2003
Color: Desert Platinum Metallic
Engine: VQ35DE 3.5 Litre V6
Trim Level: Sports Trim
Transmission: 6 Speed Manual
Horsepower: 271 HP @ 6300 RPM
Torque: 282 ft-lbs @ 4800 RPM
Modifications
Engine and Drivetrain:
- Stillen Aluminum & Finned Oil Pan
- Stillen Cold Air Intake & Custom SS Polished Z-Tube
- Motordyne Engineering MREV2 Lower Plenum
- Motordyne Engineering 5/16” Copper Iso-Thermal Plenum Spacer
- Unorthodox Lightweight Pulleys
- Fluidampr Harmonic Dampening Balanced Main Crank Pulley
- Stillen Oil Cooler Assy.
- Stillen Power Steering Cooler Assy.
- Optima Red Top 34R Battery 800/1000 CA
- NISMO Low Temp Thermostat
- Cusco HP Radiator Cap
- Borla Headers
- Kinetix High Flow Cats
- Borla Cat-Back Dual Exhaust
- Stillen Grounding Kit
- Stillen Engine Brace
- B&M SS Short Shifter
- Billet Aluminum Oil Catch can
- Cobb Tuning Stage 2+ ECU reflash
- Fidanza 225mm x 24T x 25.4 "Four-Three" 6-Puck (Ceramic) Performance Clutch w/ SS Clutch Line
- Fidanza 6061 T6 Aluminum Flywheel w/ 1045 steel friction surface @ 14.45 LB wt,
- Quafe ATB LS Differential
- NISMO Finned Differential Cover
Braking and Suspension:
- Track Wheels: SSR GT2-H Semi-Solid Forged or steel "Saleen" style Mustang 5-spoke black or silver, 18x9” with 275/35/18 NITTO NT-01 DOT R-compound Tires or Hoosier "Wets"
- ARP 8740 M12x1.25 Chrome-Moly wheel studs
- TiTek 7075 Aluminum alloy [long] speed lug nuts (black)
- StopTech BBK with 335x32 Slotted AeroRotors, 6-Piston Front & 4-Piston Rear Calipers
- CarboTech Pads: Street (1521) & Track (XP10 F & R)
- Stainless Steel Hardware & Motul RBF600 Fluid
- Dual late model-short track racing brake cooling fans & duct work w/ flow nozzles
- Stillen Master Cylinder Stiffener
- Stillen Sway Bars (F&R)
- Front Strut Tower Stiffener
- Rear Strut Tower Stiffener
- Cusco Adjustable Upper A Arms
- SPC Performance Rear Toe/Camber Arms
- BCRacing ER Series Coilovers with 16Kg/mm (896 lb/in)/14Kg/mm (784 lb/in) Linear Springs (Compression/Rebound adjustable)
Interior:
- Chrome-Moly SCCA Solo series compliant roll bar assembly ("Gun Metal" powder coating)
- Custom fabricated aluminum "LaJoie" Rolex/ALMS series GT class driver seat (black upholstery)
- Sparco Pro2000 passenger seat (black upholstery)
- SafeCraft SFI 16.5 6-point Cam-Lock restraint system - Driver & Passenger (black)
- Pro-Sport Premium 2" gauges - Oil Pressure, Oil Temperature & Volt in A-Pillar gauge pod
- VDC & ABS null switching
- H3R Performance billet aluminum fire extinguisher bracket
- Chrome 2.5LB fire extinguisher
- Momentum Performance aluminum billet shifter handle
Show:
- Street Wheels & Tires: Volk Racing RE30 Forged Wheels; Mercury Silver - 18x9.5” (F) & 18x10.5” (R) Wheels with 285/30/18W Front & 295/30/18W Rear Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 Tires
- Project Kics R40 NEO-Chrome lug nuts
- OEM Front Lip Spoiler ’06 model year
- 2007 HID Projector Head lamps
- Black Metallic powder coated plenum cover, StopTech brake calipers, and rotor hats
- JDM Clear Side Marker Lenses
- Ultimate Pedals Forged Aluminum Pedals
- XM Satellite Radio
- 3M Clear Bra paint mask
- Lower Valance NISMO HID Fog Lamps from 2003-2005 model JDM 350GT Skyline
Future Mods:
- Full Roll Cage
- Major weight loss program
- Possible engine modifications for additional HP or torque without going FI
- The “No Replacement for Displacement” Program – LS1/2 Swap, Built VQ35DE or VK45 V8 Engine and 6MT transmission improvements (350 to 400 RWHP & oodles of torque without blow dryers)
Awards:
- Motor Trend Car of the Year - 2003
- Carolina Z Club's Z Jam - 2008 - 1st Place, Open Class
- Z Nationals - 2009 - 2nd Place, Modified G35 class
My Thanks:
To the folks at JCR3 Racing (Charlotte) for their help and the use of their facilities, and to Bobby Young at CIN Motorsports (Charlotte) for his good work and advice. Infiniti of Charlotte for their unique and steadfast support, and then, there is all that hard work on this car by Bryan Settle. Thanks B!
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