When James Horne picked up his base-model 2010 Nissan 370Z four years ago, he didn’t see it as a compromise. His best friend owned a 2016 Nismo, but even without the factory upgrades, Horne knew his Z wouldn’t stay stock for long. What began with an exhaust and a tune quickly spiraled into a full-scale project that would carry him across the country—literally.
As a long-haul truck driver hauling hazmat, Horne couldn’t pick up parts the way most builders do. Instead, he arranged meet-ups in Walmart parking lots, truck stops, and interstate exits to grab pieces sourced from Facebook Marketplace. With only two days at home each week, he split the workload between personal wrench time and trusted specialists who could move the build forward while he was on the road.
That network became essential. Local drifter Gavin Burkard connected Horne with Ian Adcock of Enlow Garage, who handled the engine and drivetrain. B&K Auto Upholstery in Shreveport rewrapped his Braum Alpha-X seats and interior panels in peanut-butter leather. For paint, Horne trailered the car to Houston, where Junior Reyes at JR Prestige Auto stripped the Z to bare panels, repaired hidden bodywork issues, and laid down a clean respray.
Under the hood, the VQ now breathes through a SOHO Motorsports supercharger system, fed by CJM fuel upgrades, Injector Dynamics 1300cc injectors, and a Walbro 525 pump. Tuning duties fell to Moncef Faik at AdminTuning, who dialed in the ECUTEK setup. A built transmission, South Bend clutch, and Nismo 3.9 differential handle more than 600 horsepower at the rear wheels. Rolloface brakes, Precision Forged wheels, and Air Lift Performance suspension round out the chassis.
Horne saved one of the most ambitious jobs for last: the audio. He wanted a 1990s and early-2000s fiberglass-heavy install—something bold both visually and sonically. After months of saving, he dropped the car off at Inov8Audio in Houston, where Roland built a full DD Audio system with custom fiberglass enclosures in the trunk and doors. Despite storms causing week-long power outages, the finished product matched Horne’s vision exactly.
From roadside part pickups to relying on small shops across multiple states, Horne’s Z is a testament to persistence. The final product is far more than a widebody, boosted 370Z. It’s a build shaped by long drives, long nights, and the people who stepped in when Horne couldn’t be home to finish it himself.
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ESSENTIALS
2010 Nissan 370Z
Location: Shreveport, LA
Horsepower: 640 whp
Club: Team Diverse
Social: IG @doughboi_z
ENGINE
SOHO Motorsports supercharger
CJM S1e fuel return, billet pump basket
Walbro 525lph pump
SpecialtyZ flex fuel
Injector Dynamics 1300cc
Minized cog conversion
Ported upper/lower manifolds
ECUTEK tune by Moncef Faik
EXHAUST
AAM S-Line midpipe
HallBuiltPerformance valvetronic axle-back
DRIVETRAIN
Built transmission
Nismo 3.9 differential
South Bend Stage 3 clutch
WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES
Precision Forged 20x10.5 / 20x12
Nitto NT555 (front)
Toyo R888R (rear)
Rolloface BBK
Blue anodized lug nuts
SUSPENSION
Air Lift Performance 3P
EXTERIOR
Fiberglass Mafia widebody
Fly1motorsports Zele kit
VIS Racing carbon hood
Custom headlights
Morimoto tails
Custom paint
INTERIOR
Braum Alpha-X seats (peanut-butter leather)
Suede headliner + LED console
AuCar 13.9” screen
Custom A-pillar gauge pod
Fiberglass door + trunk enclosures
AUDIO / ELECTRONICS
DD Audio subs, speakers, amplifiers
XS Power batteries
DC Power H.O. alternator
Story by Adam Gordon
Photography by Parker Digilormo (@pd.pix)
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