Once you get bit by the tuner bug, it often turns into a full-blown case of Tuneritis, which in severe cases results in a vacant bank account plus a garage filled with project cars. To outside observers, in particular those lacking the all-important gearhead chromosome, this may seem like a kind of dementia. But for unapologetic tuner addicts like Steve Devers, it’s a lifestyle he couldn’t escape even if he wanted to (and he doesn’t).
This Garden State native somehow managed to skip the IROC-Z stage of puberty that inflicts a great number of his fellow New Jerseyites, instead getting his begin in 2001 by spinning wrenches on a Honda CRX when he was just 16. Before he knew it, he’d built six different CRXs before graduating to Integras after which an IS300, a couple of GS300s, and a few G35 coupes. Up to now, Steve’s built and sold more than 40 project cars of his very own and has helped customers and friends build a lot more, all without usingThe One
I’ve always focused on building cars that are clean and classy, basically the way i felt they should have come from dealership, as Steve explains. After someone approached me about my first offered and build me more income than expected, building cars became a lifestyle for me. I work on cars every single day. I’m basically a mobile car modification and performance store. Instead of local auto shops, mainly because they can trust me and i also deal with all their car needs, i have tons of customers and friends who come to me. I find that audio is the last thing that motivates me.””, although i’m a qualified master audio installer part time””
He picked up this Track model ’03 Daytona Blue Nissan 350Z three years ago, drawn to its Brembo brakes, black interior, and six-speed manual transmission. I knew it was going to become a special build, one I may even keep for myself, now three years later and with plenty of modifications, it has become exactly what I envisioned or even better.””, as Steve puts it””
2003 nissan 350Z track carbon fiber dash kit
2003 nissan 350Z track takata harnesses and shoulder pads
2003 nissan 350Z track AEM boost and wide band AFR gauges
As you’d expect, Steve made virtually all the modifications to this particular Z along with his own two hands. The largest challenge when building the Z would need to be its stance, especially since this has become such an overwhelming trend within the United states and around the world. A project car isn’t done these days until it’s sitting perfect. Some get carried away and overdo things, thinking more is better, but that takes away from the performance of any vehicle, especially one just like the 350Z. Basically my goal was to ensure that is stays classy and gratification orientated yet still proper inside the stance game.
To achieve his goals, Steve runs two different suspension setups. To the track, he bolts up a set of D2 coilovers to travel along with SPC camber-adjustable control arms and Cusco sway bars. For show season, he swaps on a Universal Air setup with full ride height management via an onboard 3-gallon air tank. Completing the road sweeper look is a staggered set of 19-inch Magnesium Blue Volk Racing CE28N wheels, spaced to a ultra-aggressive -3 offset up front and -8 offset out back.
To offer you an idea of how detail-oriented Steve is when he builds a car, instead of just obtaining the Nismo V2 front bumper and Vertex side skirts paint-matched, he had his buddy Brian apply a fresh coat of Daytona Blue to the entire car, then wet-sanding and polishing to completely make it pop. There are large amount of other nice touches for the exterior package, too, including an ’08 headlight upgrade, Seibon carbon hood, and carbon Z emblems, as well as a Top Secret carbon rear diffuser. With aNormally The One
Far from the next slammed Z, this keeper of a Nissan has been given a serious upgrade in the power department, too, with a Vortech V2 supercharger kit. Other than the paintwork by his buddy Brian, the only other part of the build Steve didn’t handle himself was tuning the ECU to handle the added boost pressure. For this he turned to RT Tuning, which dialed in revised fuel and ignition maps using Uprev’s Osiris reflashing system. The end result is definitely an impressive 424 ponies at the rear wheels-more than sufficient jam to silence the it’s merely a show car critics.
Steve’s applied his appealing model of show-and-go tuning to the interior of his Z at the same time, the go part handled nicely by a pair of Evo Limited Edition Recaro sports seats along with Takata harnesses mounted to a Sparco harness bar. The Personal controls and NRG QR hub also put in a high-performance look and feel. For some added bling, he’s painted the back panels Daytona Blue, and there’s also a carbon-fiber dash kit into position along with Nismo floor mats and a titanium shift knob.
According to Steve, The Z is a blast to drive, and it gets compliments everywhere I take it. I’ve kept the exhaust quiet in order to hear the bypass valve while shifting, and it sounds amazing. Not that he’s finished building it. In fact, as soon as you read this, you can be certain something’s changed with this Z33, with future plans including a built motor and a twin turbo setup (though he has no complaints regarding the power and reliability of the Vortech kit). You also shouldn’t be surprised if he’s moved on with an M3 or GTR, both projects he’s been considering for a while. Like we said, it’s a lifestyle for Steve, and he couldn’t stop building if he wanted to (and that herad and underpanel cap; JDM polished engine cover
Engine Management Uprev Osiris reflash by RT Tuning
2003 nissan 350z track vortech v2 polished supercharger kit
2003 nissan 350z track kinetix SSV intake manifold
2003 nissan 350z track 3 5L VQ35DE V6 engine
Drivetrain ACT Stage 3 clutch kit
Wheels, Tires & Brakes 19×9.5 (f) and 19×10.5 (r) 12 offset Volk Racing CE28N wheels; 225/35R19 (f) and 245/35R19 (r) Nitto Extreme 555 tires; Brembo Gold BBK and cross-slotted and drilled rotors
Suspension D2 Sport coilovers (track); Universal Air w/ full management and three-gallon tank (show); SPC control arms (f/r); Cusco sway bars (f/r) and strut bar (f)
Exterior Fresh Daytona Blue paint ’08 headlights; custom shaved Nismo V2 front bumper; Vertex side skirts; Top Secret CF rear diffuser; custom rear splash guards; Seibon ’08 CF hood; tinted glass; rear wiper delete; Show & Go plate; CF Z emblems
Interior Evo Limited Edition Recaro sport seats; Takata harnesses and shoulder pads; Sparco harness bar; CF dash kit; Nismo shift floor and knob mats; AEM boost and wide-band AFR gauges; Personal steering wheel; NRG QR hub; Pioneer double din head unit; rear panels painted Daytona Blue
Numbers 424 whp and 343 wtq w/ 3.12 pulley