MENTAL CUSTOM 2JETZ CREATION
Taking creativity with this mental "2JetZ" creation taking inspiration combined with a little Nissan, Toyota, Subaru and endless customisation.
In the normal world of auto-modification and creativity, you will find the norm to be more on the lines of aftermarket exhaust systems, breaks, suspension and perhaps visual modifications depending on your taste. Then there's a guy like Luis Rodriguez, an outlier if you will, who takes a different approach entirely when it comes to car building.
Take a step back and what looks like a fighter jet cockpit on wheels, Volk Wheels. The aluminium body and array of rivets (around 3,000 rivets in total) disappear abruptly at the rear, where the engine and transmission are on display.
So, what is it and how did it come about? Luis explains to Super Street Network, "Looking for a new project idea, I was stuck. I wanted to build something that looked scary fast while standing still. I was always a fan of Bonneville Salt flats cars and loved jet airplanes." Combine those two loves and you have the ultimate custom build. That is, if you're as talented and focused as Luis, anyway... and having the technical know-how might help too!
Starting with an actual car and reverse engineering the build seemed to be the most realistic course of action, so a Nissan 300ZX became the starting point. In order to keep the weight down, the modded Z subframe was welded to a custom 4130 chrome moly tubular chassis before the aluminium sheets were cut and riveted to the body.
To create a floorboard, aluminium diamond plate was utilised and brackets made to mount a custom bucket seat. Engine vitals are displayed on aviation style gauges complete with warning lights and to make the jet feel that much more palpable, a custom Lexan canopy clamshell's the cockpit.
Just behind the driver's seat is where you'll find a 2JZ-GTE stuffed with Wiseco pistons and secured with ARP head studs. Up top, the head was fitted with BC cams, valve springs, and retainers, along with Ferrea valves. In light of simplifying the turbo plumbing, the intake manifold was reversed and is fed by a Q45 throttle body. Long gone is the twin-turbo setup, replaced by a single PTE 6262 that sees regulation by a Tial wastegate and leads to a 3-inch exhaust system that has its own unique touch.
At 1,650lbs and well over 600hp available, not to mention the amount of custom fabrication that makes it all work, the 2JetZ is a standout in the custom fabrication world. The fact he found inspiration in Dwayne Vance's artwork and managed to roll that into his tangible vision of a one-off creation in just a year and a half puts him in a class of his own.
Regardless if this ride was to be put on display at SEMA, Worthersee or even your local stance event... It's bound to dominate!