Shift_350Z

As impressive as this Nissan is appearance wise, the true nature of the beast remains underneath the sheet metal. Following his Nissan USA days, Mitchell set out on his own, starting up his own shop, M-Workz. Specializing in everything a growing track car needs (specifically suspension and braking mods), M-Workz is the end result of Mitchell's years behind the wheel.

This 350Z uses a surprisingly simple and effective suspension setup. Eibach Pro-Kit springs suspend the car, while Koni double-adjustable shocks provide the dampening. Fit with A'PEXi pillowball upper mounts in the front, the Koni shocks are 350Z specific, and are used successfully on many SCCA club racing Z's. Thick adjustable Hotchkis swaybars help keep body roll in check, and 350EVO front camber arms are used to help align the car properly. Done completely by hand with strings, Mitchell aligns his cars the real way, an art lost in our laser-ridden modern world.

The stock Brembo brake calipers remain in place on the rear of the car, but the front setup was dumped for a four-piston 13-inch Stoptech kit. Stoptech stainless-steel braided brake lines carry Motul 600V brake fluid to the calipers, which squeeze Pagid brake pads on to the rotors like Mitchell's life depended on it, which it kinda does. Hankook's Ventus RSS Z211 tire is the grip weapon of choice, sourced in a 285/30/18 size. Wrapped around 18x10.5-inch Volk TE37 forged wheels, the Hankook tires showed up to the photoshoot short of tread and life, an obvious sign of heavy track use.

But wait, just because a man is obsessed with suspension, that doesn't mean he doesn't like power. After dropping in a fresh VQ engine, XS Engineering installed a Vortech supercharger kit on to the Z, pushing the power up to 410 wheel hp on XS Engineering's dyno. Fit with a smaller pulley, the boost was bumped up from 7psi to 9psi; stock pulley Vortech'd Z's make around 330-350 wheel hp at XS Engineering. XS Engineering also took the effort to fabricate and install a new intake with K&N air filter, and a massive XS-logo'd front-mount intercooler. Holding down the massive increase in power is a race ready Tilton carbon triple plate clutch kit and Nismo 1.5-way limited-slip differential.

Although the bottom end remains completely stock, Mitchell used his Nissan connections to score a set of Nismo 262-duration camshafts, Nismo headers and a Nismo exhaust system. Fueling was upgraded with a Walbro 255lph fuel pump feeding 750cc/min RC Engineering injectors. For track use though, the biggest factor to watch out for with any car is heat. Mitchell uses a Koyo aluminum radiator and high-pressure Nismo cap to keep water temps in check, and a Jim Wolf Technology oil pan spacer to help supply an extra quart of Motul 10w40 motor oil. Before calling it a day on the engine, a Motordyne Engineering intake plenum spacer was added, allowing the intake banks for the front cylinders to receive air more efficiently. Tuned with an HKS F-Con V Pro by XS Engineering's engineer Eric Hsu, this 350Z has proven itself to be both reliable and strong at the same time.

Driven on the boulevard if the need calls for it, this 350Z is the epitome of the hardcore street car. A supercharged engine and a pristine C-West body are both elements of a cruiser 350Z, but a completely gutted interior with an 8-point rollcage is not exactly what the police will expect when they peer inside. Having competed in Sport Compact Car's Ultimate Street Car Challenge event this year, Mitchell's 350Z is the perfect example of one man's dedication to the racetrack. It's uber-fast on track and barely comfortable enough to drive on the street. But hey, you have to drive up the street to get to the track, right?

By Joey Leh

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