HEARTBREAKER Z32 Hits the Streets

After months of restless anticipation of a build which would surely upset many within the Fairlady community, NoRush and HEARTBREAKER’s Franklin Carriedo has completed what is arguably the best engine swap to go into a Z32 Chassis.

And that swap, ladies and gentlemen, is an S14 SR20DET.

Completed in his garage and that of fellow car builder, Juan Vargas of Bardabe Performance in Perris, CA, this Z is a perfect representation of Japanese mindset and culture with an execution so flawless even Koguchi Yoshinori himself would be proud. We see Fairlady Z32s somewhat frequently at local car meets, on the street, and in magazines on occasion. It’s sad to say the typical Z32 is nothing special to look at. Owners will usually equip them with a bad choice of aero and an even worse choice of wheels. The first choice for an engine swap when the original VG30 decides to give in is usually, well, another VG30. Sometimes someone with a little creativity will come along and cleverly choose to replace his V6 with an inline 6 cylinder turbo such as the notorious RB26DETT of the GTR series Skyline or even the 3.0L JZ series commonly found in the Supra or JZX chassis. Replacing a 6 cylinder engine with another 6 cylinder engine seems like the most reasonable and logical decision you can make.

But that’s where Franklin has intervened. Having your heart and soul consumed by drift heaven can lead you to make a decision that is more “cool” than rational. In this case, I would personally consider this swap to be cool and even more so rational. After all, when your Z looks like a street-drifting S13, it WOULD really only make sense to replace your 6 cylinder with a 4 banger. Am I right?

Drifting is all about looking cool; and Franklin went to great lengths to ensure the engine would have small, subtle yet important details stand out from the bay. The name Tomei is one recognized by anyone in the Japanese car world, and having your coil pack cover match your oil cap is a definite touch of class.

But the car doesn’t fall short anywhere else. The interior is so perfected it makes me sick to my stomach like a pretty girl staring you in the eyes expecting you to say something as you sit there breathless.

The Vertex 7 star wheel isn’t one you come by too frequently, especially not when being gripped by a pair of mixed color Uras driving gloves. Sitting on Franklin’s dash is his unfinished collection of Blitz meters. I say unfinished because Franklin plans to own every Blitz gauge of the series and have them lined up all the way down the dash to the passenger mirror.

A Bride Zeta III Gradation that Franklin purchased new holds him in during intense J-turn tsuiso battles on the local boulevard.

Purposely choosing not to install a blow-off valve, the compressor surge coming from under hood is arguably louder than the exhaust gases flowing from the 80mm Blitz Nurspec exhaust system out back. And how could I forget to mention the open wastegate?

I can easily declare this to be the best Z32 in the USA. Many have tried and failed, but Franklin’s vision has proven to be exceptional in many regards.

Please expect to meet this car while commuting on your local wangan, but please folks, don’t expect to outrun it.

ENGINE MODIFICATIONS LIST:

S14 SR20DET
S15 Spec-R GT28R Turbocharcher
Mazworx SR to VG Adapter Plate
Blitz Front-mount Intercooler
S13 Koyo N-flow Radiator
Tomei Rocker Arm Stoppers
Tomei Fuel Pressure Regulator
HKS 200mm Air Cleaner
3″ expansion Down Pipe with screamer pipe
URAS Hyper Single Clutch
Full 3″ exhaust with 12″ resonator
Blitz Nurspec 80mm
Blitz Racing SD Meter Boost and Oil Pressure Meters

Find Franklin on Instagram [@franklin_carr] and AutoFactory REALIZE [@autofactoryrealize]