Visting Japan has been a dream of mine for ages, as it is for many, and I'm very fortunate to have made the trip. Having scrolled through countless albums on Speedhunters of incredible turnout at Daikoku-futo PA (Parking Area), this unassuming freeway rest stop was a location I simply could not miss.
On the Seijin no Hi 成人の日, Coming of Age holiday morning, I eventually made it to the utterly pedestrian-inaccessible location via a mixture of taking the bus, asking a stranger for some tips, and using Translate apps to hold a real-time translated conversation with a taxi driver about where I was trying to go.
Once there, I had no clue of how I was going to get back across the bridge, as bus and taxi services are very limited at Daikoku. That was quite alright though, as there were plenty of other things to grab my attention within the Parking Area, like this iconic lineup of Skylines and Fairlady Z's. Stay tuned for more coverage on the day's turnout at Daikoku.
This pristine ハコ スカ Hakosuka (Box Skyline) with a tasteful drop sitting on TE37V's caught my eye. But when the owner offered to pop the hood and give me chance to photograph the engine bay, it quickly became clear this was no ordinary KPGC10.
Tucked neatly in the bay is a V8 engine in place of the factory S20 straight six designed by Prince. Before being fitted by renowned Rocky Auto, the Toyota 1UZ-FE engine was fully serviced and maintained to OEM-spec with no upgrades to the internals. Considering that the 4.0L 1UZ-FE producing around 300 HP happens to be on the Ward's 10 Best Engines list, this engine was a very wise choice. You might recognize this engine code from its appearances in the likes of the Lexus LS and SC 400, as well as the SARD MC8-R (MR-2 GT1 LeMans Racecar).
The driving dynamic can be compared to that of an Aristo on a shortened wheelbase having dropped 1,000 lbs, or a Hako with a major boost in power and low-end torque. Either way you slice it, this is a very exciting engine/chassis combo. The 'mission' (JDM term for transmission) used here is a 350Z 6-speed gearbox.
The result is a well-balanced power output that is thrilling, yet buttery smooth, as the torque rockets the lightweight chassis off the line while carrying 3 adult passengers. A custom exhaust setup provides glorious balance of grunt and growl, with a theatric sound while revving and a quiet rumble at idle.
This father and son showed me incredible kindness and generosity that day. The father, Shogo-san had his son Naoya guide me into the building at the PA and explore any transit options to get back across the bridge. When we found no transit or taxis were available, Shogo-san offered to drive me back himself, while Naoya graciously climbed in the back seat so I could ride shotgun!
Along the way, we stopped to take some photos and I had the opportunity to admire what incredible combination this is. An iconic JDM cruiser with a beast of an engine, backed by Toyota reliability. This is dream car material.
The build goes beyond the engine swap too. Peek inside and you'll find seats in plush leather, power windows, a Silvia's digital climate control module, and even a Panasonic pop-out Navigation screen mounted to the single-din radio slot. There are no exposed wires or misaligned trim panels either. The only telltale sign of a swap in the cabin is an external tachometer, which the owner regretfully runs for the time being, due to the Toyota ECU's incompatability with the OEM gauges.
Another unique touch were the sounds playing out of the stereo system. At first they didn't even register with me: music and typical radio station cut sequences that you'd hear on an FM radio station in the States. However, these sounds were not being captured from radio waves. Having an affinity for Hawaii, Shogo-san was playing a CD with pre-recorded Hawaiian FM radio station playback! Commercials and all. It was a very unexpected expression of subtle, yet passionate car culture.
These dudes were such a blast to spend time with. What a treat it was to cross paths with them at Daikoku-Futo PA that day. It was definitely a highlight of my first trip to Japan, and one to remember. Arigato gozaimasu!
BONUS: A short clip from the drive. Turn up the volume for the lovely 1UZ engine sound
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