Undiscovered Builders is Sponsored by Amsoil
For the 2016 Summernationals Car Craft has again called out for undiscovered builders to step up and be counted. We’re giving them some love to showcase their builds and to spotlight their unique talents for a boost to launch them toward their dream of building muscle cars for a living. Yes, we know that’s a crazy, but not unobtainable, goal for all of these builders. Or maybe it’s not. Here’s one of the five we are featuring:
Nick Schultz
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
2009 370Z
Yeah, we know you weren’t expecting one of these within ten miles of the Summernationals, let alone one of Car Craft’s up-and-coming Undiscovered Builders, but check it out and hold your opinions until you read about it. First, Nick has done most of the work himself, including the water-based chameleon paint, but there’s more. He’s also done all of the figure painting, as well as the carbon-fiber you’ll see throughout the car. Take the hatch area, for instance. Nick sculpted the carbon girl, and finished with the paint, pinstriping, and gold leaf. What you don’t see are the carbon brake ducts, and full belly pan—al created by Nick.
When Nick bought the Z in 2011 it was an abused and well-used 22,000-mile nightmare that needed a lot of work due to its thrashed, yet short life. Among the many carbon fiber pieces he custom made for his Z is the top, which though not structural, was lovingly created to replace the pedestrian factory top. It’s not a structural member, yet Nick vacuum formed the layup, to give as much strength as possible. The creation alone, is what cinched Nick’s inclusion in the Undiscovered finalists for the Summernationals.
For power he rebuilt the 3.7 Nissan six-banger, bored to 3.9, with .005-over valves. And don’t forget these Zs have electronic valves—there’s no bump stick on these babies. A Stillen supercharger was chosen for the power range it provides over turbos according to Nick. He made the mounting brackets for that supercharger, too. A Stillen plenum, air/water interface, and stand alone oil and transmission coolers keep temps lower under the hood, as does the intercooler for the supercharger. With twin intakes these engines use twin MAFs and throttle bodies, FYI.
Nick is a fuel-injection system designer for a company that manufactures FI components and architecture for different vehicles. He’d love to be doing things like his Z for a living, and has dabbled in doing paint and design work, with some pinstripping and detail painting for friends and a few clients. Though he has no immediate plan, you never know what might pop up, so we look forward to seeing if the Summernationals exposure gives him a big bump.
See All the Photo Galleries, Videos, and Event Coverage from 2016 Car Craft Summer Nationals Here!
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