The Nissan VQ37 in the 370Z and the twin-turbo VR38 in the GT-R are two very different engines that reward the same thing: a real plan and a real tune. At APA Custom Shop we treat each build as its own project, from a clean set of bolt-ons and a calibration on our in-house Dynojet dyno to a full forced-induction setup with the fabrication to back it up. We are an owner-run shop with decades of combined automotive and motorsport experience, and we would rather quote your exact car than sell you a one-size-fits-all kit. Tell us the platform, your goals, and how you drive it, and we will build the path that gets you there.
What we build for the VQ37 and VR38
The naturally aspirated VQ37 in the 370Z loves to breathe. Long-tube headers, a high-flow exhaust, intake work, and a cam package all wake it up, and a proper calibration ties it together so the parts actually work as a system. When you are ready for a bigger jump, forced induction is where the VQ really comes alive, and we handle supercharger and turbo installs along with the supporting fuel and cooling work.
The VR38 in the GT-R is already twin turbo, so it responds hard to a smart calibration right out of the gate. From there we build in stages toward downpipes, intakes, intercooler and exhaust upgrades, and on the serious cars, larger turbos and built long-blocks. Whatever the target, everything gets dialed in and verified on the dyno before it leaves.
- ECU calibration and dyno tuning on our in-house Dynojet
- Long-tube headers, high-flow exhaust, and intake work
- Cam packages for the VQ37
- Supercharger and turbo installs, plus supporting fuel and cooling
- Engine builds, swaps, and custom fabrication
- Suspension, brakes, and alignments to match the power
The stage idea: tune, bolt-ons, then boost
Most Nissan builds move through three stages, and you can stop at whichever one fits your goals and budget. Stage one is a calibration to clean up and optimize what the car already has. Stage two layers in bolt-ons like headers, exhaust, intake, and on the Z a cam package, retuned as a package so the parts pull together. Stage three is forced induction on the VQ or a bigger turbo and built engine on the GT-R, with the fabrication, fueling, and cooling to support it.
We do not treat these as fixed part numbers off a shelf. Every stage is quoted around your exact car, your driving, and what is realistic on Arizona pump gas or an ethanol blend. Ask us about current options and we will lay out a plan you can grow into instead of one you have to redo later.
- Stage one: calibration to optimize your current setup
- Stage two: bolt-ons plus a package retune
- Stage three: forced induction or a bigger turbo and built engine
Why the tune matters
Parts do not make power on their own. Bolt on headers and an exhaust without a calibration and you leave gains on the table, run the wrong air-fuel targets, and risk running the engine somewhere it should not be. A tune is what makes the hardware safe and repeatable, and doing it on our own Dynojet means we watch real numbers under load instead of guessing.
Dyno time also lets us verify a build, chase a driveability issue, and document where the car actually lands. If you are out of the area, ask about remote tuning so we can support your platform without you making the drive every time.
Get a quote on your exact build
Whether you are starting with a bolt-on 370Z or planning a big-power GT-R, the next step is a real conversation about your car and your goals. We will talk through the stages, the supporting work, and what makes sense to do now versus later, then quote the exact build with no guesswork.
Call APA Custom Shop at (602) 762-4916 or stop by the shop in Queen Creek. We are open Monday through Friday, and we are happy to talk through the plan before you commit to anything.