DRIVING THE GREAT EDDY; GReddy 350Z.(News)(Product/Service Evaluation)

Byline: MARK VAUGHN

In case you wondered, the name "GReddy'' is from the two words, "Great and Eddy.'' Eddy isn't an egomaniacal guy's name but refers instead to a whirlpool, swirl or hurricane, like one inside a manifold. So GReddy is a great manifold hurricane. Or something.

Don't let the funky name fool you. GReddy has been making great cars greater for more than 25 years, since 1977 in Japan and 1996 here in America. We drove its latest creation, the car parked on the floor of the SEMA IAS show only days before, the GReddy Nissan 350Z Track Model.

GReddy threw the catalog at this one. It gets twin turbos, an intercooler, six-piston brakes, an electronically adjustable suspension, 19-inch tires, the whole spicy tuna roll.

The turbos are TD05H 18G units with two Type S external wastegates, a three-row Type 23 front-mounted intercooler and an automatic turbo timer to let the turbos cool down without seizing when the engine is shut off. Dialed in at a non-grenading 5.6 pounds of boost, the setup cranks power output (measured on the GReddy Dynojet) to 345 hp vs. 244 stock and 340 lb-ft of torque, vs. 239 stock. The turbo and all of the ancillary engine stuff on our car worked out to cost about $3,700.

We drove the Z on some long, straight, empty roads and have no reason to doubt the manufacturer's performance claims. Turbo lag is not at all bad and the power and torque are spread out nicely across the tach, not crowded up near redline. GReddy officials say this car will get through the quarter mile ...