To compliment the amazing body work, the car was then lowered with a TEIN Flex suspension that can be adjusted for a firmer or softer ride from the cockpit using TEIN's EDFC (Electronic Damping Control Unit). And finally, the stock rollers were trashed in favor of something a tad bit bigger and wider in order to fill up those monster wheel wells. Veilside Andrew wheels in 19x10 and 19x13 (not a typo-I said 19X13) shod with Dunlop SP 9000s were respectively mounted in the front and back. Peeking out behind those massive rims is an upgraded Wilwood big brake kit, which is strong enough to stop time itself.
Next on the to-do list was to ship the car to Tom Bostic at Excessive Audio and Beyond where they gave the audio and interior a massive extreme makeover. As soon as Tom and his demented crew got their feet wet by redoing the entire cabin in black suede and fiberglass, and then color matching the entire center console, they lost all inhibitions and dove into this project head first. With a bevy of audio equipment supplied by Kim's newest sponsor, Polk Momo, Tom and company proved once and for all why the name of the store ends with: "and Beyond." Six Polk Momo MM104 10-inch woofers were flanked in a fiberglass trunk enclosure powered by an Alpine V12 MRD-M1000 mono amp. Mids and highs were also compliments of Polk Momo and powered by even more Alpine amps. One of the key visual delights of the system is a motorized amp rack that sits/raises behind the rear strut bar. Other eye candy includes: Bride seats, fiberglass audio pods and monitors by the steering column. If you pay close attention, you'll notice the glass of the side mirrors was removed and replaced with rear-facing video cameras. The camera feed is relayed to the guage cluster. (Ideal for catching a "Rodney King" moment with five-o should you get pulled over for a 5-mph-over violation.)
Now when a car looks this bad ass, you definitely need something real under the hood, because otherwise, it would be a scam-like the Miracle bra. Y'all know what I'm talking about. It looks good from the outside, but when you get down and dirty, you realize you've been bamboozled and there's nothing underneath. Where's the miracle in that? Pop the hood of Kim's Z and you won't find a Miracle bra-Jeff Shi at Evolution Autosports made sure of that. An Invidia exhaust system and a newly released Vortech supercharger kit were installed to make the motor scream. And just in case that wasn't enough, Nitrous Express supplied an EFI nitrous kit, which was installed by Tommy Kustomz. The kit is good for another 75-hp injection with a push of the Ignited switches. Samco hoses and carbon-fiber engine cover, strut tower bar and air scoop finish up the engine compartment. The result of these engine mods? This 3,900-lb all-out show car can still hustle down the quarter mile in 13 sec flat.
With his dream car becoming a reality, Kim was ready to release the beast into the wild. Kim's 350Z represents Absolute Imports and is currently traveling up and down the East Coast as a feature car for Team Emotion. Has it all been worth the time and effort he put into it? Is he dominating the game like he had in mind? So far in 2004, this car is undefeated and has won seven Best of Show awards at "big dawg" events like NOPI Drag Wars, Import Circuit, and Mainstream's Mazda Rev It Up.
One Best of Show award can always be chalked up as a fluke, but seven? The judgment is in folks: If you're competing at a show against Minho Kim's 350Z, it's time to face your fears.