As enthusiasts we have all experienced that sensation--the feeling of boredom with our car's current state of performance. We use our hard-earned cash to purchase and install another "go fast" product and then take to the streets for testing. The butt dyno registers big gains as we mash our right foot to the floor and adrenaline fills our veins, but as weeks pass and gallons of $4 gas are swallowed, the feelings of joy and excitement begin to diminish. We no longer feel the impact of our upgrades and we become used to our new level of output, and once again itch for more.
Tom Fukamoto is well aware of this cycle. Fukamoto's story begins five years ago with the purchase of his '03 Infiniti G35 coupe. Not satisfied with the look of his new G, he opted for a set of 19-inch Rays Volk TE-37s matched with Bridgestone Potenza S-03 rubber. He then added an Impul front bumper, side skirts, and a rear apron. With no intentions of increasing power, Fukamoto was more than happy with his coupe.
But the mod bug bit again. After consulting a local performance shop, he decided it was time to up the ante and had a custom, single turbo kit installed. To complement the new turbo, a GReddy front-mount intercooler was mounted along with a SARD Racing wastegate and a SQV blow-off valve from HKS. A slew of custom exhaust piping had to be fabricated for the kit and the ignition system was upgraded with NGK spark plugs and Denso coil packs. In order to supply more fuel to the system, Fukamoto went with a Bosch Racing fuel pump and SARD injectors. An HKS F-Con V pro standalone unit was added to manage the new power and allow for a safe and reliable tune. The car hit the dyno and laid down an impressive 410 hp to the rear wheels.
Content with this level of power, Fukamoto turned his attention to the suspension and brake setups. HKS Hipermax LS+ coilovers were installed to provide increased cornering ability without sacrificing the luxurious ride quality of theInfiniti. Endless supplied the braking goodies, including six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers, upgraded rotors, and a stainless braided brake line kit. The interior was left stock except for a set of HKS 60mm gauges mounted to the A-pillar.
Fukamoto's initial goal of building a powerful G with a "nice and simple looking exterior" was complete. He showed the car at both the '04 Chinatown Showoff and HIN San Mateo 2004, taking First Place in the VIP category at Chinatown. Not bad for a car driven to and from the show. Fukamoto made it clear that this is no garage queen. He drives the car three to five times per week in Southern California traffic and is not afraid to put miles on his baby. With all this seat time, the thrill of 410 horses on tap was starting to fade. Fukamoto had grown accustomed to the power and it just wasn't "doing it" for him anymore.
Due to some shotty craftsmanship on his single-turbo setup, Fukamoto chose another shop for his next series of upgrades. He went to Profile International in Brea, Calif., and spoke with owner Duy Le about the build. Le suggested a custom twin-turbo system that, if properly tuned, should come close to the 1,000hp threshold. Fukamoto gave the OK, and the engine was pulled. A pair of HKS GT3037s replaced the existing turbo. The fuel system was upgraded with a twin Bosch Racing fuel pump and 1,000cc injectors, again provided by SARD. A GReddy oil cooler, ARC oil pan, and Nismo Racing oil pump took care of the oil supply. To handle this much power, upgraded engine internals were in store. Darton sleeves, Crower Rods, and ARP rod bolts were selected along with a set of forged CP pistons with an 8.5:1 compression ratio. A port and polish job was performed and Nismo valves and valvesprings finished off the headwork. In order to put this power to the wheels, an OS Giken triple-plate clutch and flywheel were installed along with a Cusco, two-way limited-slip differential. A larger GReddy intercooler was added along with new Kuruma Z front bumper to provide more airflow.
Despite some misfiring problems, the car now produced a massive 854 rear wheel horsepower. After fixing the spark plug issues, another tuning session followed. The car hit the dyno once more and made a staggering 968 whp and 726 lb-ft of torque. The new setup earned him the coveted title of Hottest Performance Vehicle at this year's HIN in Los Angeles.
So what does the future hold for Fukamoto and his G? With nearly 1,000 hp there is not much more to be done, so he's moving onto his next project car: a '08 BMW M5. Oh and did we mention he has a '09 Nissan GTR on order? Too many projects, too little time. Must be nice.
Specs
Engine/Drivetrain
CP 8.5:1 forged pistons, Brian Crower connecting rods, Darton sleeves, ARP rod bolts, Nismo Racing camshafts 284/268, Nismo Racing VTC pulleys, Nismo Racing titanium valves, Nismo Racing valvesprings, Nismo Racing oil pump, ARC oil pan, SARD wastegate with 1.6-bar springs, SARD 1,000cc injectors, SARD fuel pressure regulator, Custom turbo kit with twin HKS 3037 turbos, HKS SQV Racing blow-off valve, GReddy/Trust five-row, front-mount intercooler, GReddy oil cooler, Twin Bosch Racing fuel pump, OS Giken triple-plate clutch, OS Giken lightweight flywheel, Cusco one-and-a-half-/two-way limited-slip differential, 3.357:1 final drive conversion from an automatic G35
Ignition
NGK Racing spark plugs, Denso coil packs
Engine Management
HKS F-Con V pro version 3.24
Suspension
HKS Hipermax LS+ coilovers, SRC rear camber/toe kit
Wheels/Tires/Brakes
Rays Volk TE-37 wheels 19x9.5 (front), 19x10.5 (rear), Bridgestone Potenza S-O3 tires 245/35-19 (front), 275/35-19 (rear), Endless USA calipers: six-piston (front), four-piston (rear)Endless USA rotors, Endless USA brake line kit, Endless USA brake fluid
Exterior/Interior
Kuruma Z front bumper, Impul side skirts, Impul rear apron, Gialla rear lip spoiler, HKS 60mm gauges
