Kaihatsu Factory S14 Silvia

So after chopping and changing cars, I think I have found the one I am going to build as I'm hooked on drifting and hope to compete in the future....it's the SA demo car for my company when I move back

First drifter I had was this:


In the end it was stage 2 CA18DET with minimal drift mods....even had open diff.
Then the big ends were knocking, so I pulled the engine out with the intention of rebuilding. After weighing up costs and finding my next car, I decided to break it.

I then bought this:


350bhp CA powered monster. Had alot of work done to it power wise and suspension/cage/stripped/etc/etc.
Then I got made redundant and started my own business. Due to finances I had to sell her. No one wanted to buy it as a whiole so I broke her too and made a fair bit of cash.

After things started to get better money wise I bought this 325 as a cheap drifter:


I did a bit of work on this including suspension, welded diff, fixed the many issues it had. After it's first drift day I wasn't entirely happy with the power and the huge difference in the drifting "feel/style" compared to a 200sx so I hunted around for one that I could work on and found my new car.

So here she is:

Spec isn't anything great....but is a perfect base for building a proper drifter.

Spec:
Silvia 1996
86000KM (54k miles!)
came into country 1 year ago
Real final connection bodykit
Shocks and springs (amazingly stiff and low)
cat back 2.75in exhaust
tight viscous diff
reclining bucket seat
Navan spoiler
18" Profound alloys with 25mm spacers all around.

The one back wheel is buckled so is to be repaired. And one side the wheels are primer and the other side they are chrome :wack:
I will be painting these white.

So far I have fitted a walbro:

A sparco steering wheel:

DW internal drive wheel nuts as the drifty wheels are thin holes:

Bought some drifty 18's...will be using these on the road while the one wheel is being repaired:

And this which will be fitted when the snows pisses off. ACT 6 paddle clutch rated to 600 ft/lbs of torque:

Short term plans are:
- Achieve just under 300bhp by adding FMIC, colder plugs, full service, boost guage and boost controller. Been told the standard ECU can handle 15 PSI which is just below 300bhp on the above setup.
- Fit the car with fully adjustable suspensions (arms & maybe coilovers)
- Fit camber top mounts

Long term goals:
Bring drifting up to drag racing level in SA 😀

Just need to adjust my handbrake and attach the front bumper with cable ties and then I'm ready for it's first drift event at pembrey on 23rd January. I will take it from there as to what I need to do to set the car up for me for drifting.

So an update:

Got the clutch changed, but it didn't come without it's problems. At first we got it up on the ramps and identified it has had a manual conversion done. When taking the gearbox off buffy realised that something wasn't right. Clutch came off and had meat left on it aswell. Then buffy pointed out that the people who did the conversion decided to put in an N/A flywheel and clutch...that explains the slipping clutch

Luckily enough there was a spare turbo flywheel lying in the boot of an s14, so it got cleaned up and all fitted.

Clutch was HEAVY! and was biting all the way on the floor. So I bought a Hel braided clutch line and went about fitting it, bypassing the factory damper unit.



MUCH better. Clutch is lighter, bite is halfway and the clutch is fun

Then I got to Pembrey to put it sideways...and man is she good to slide! Best I've owned!

Very happy with how it drifts. Only one thing I can fault is it needs more power, better bucket seat, a drift button and more lock!

But it didn't come without it's mishaps. One curb cutting, and one bank mounting later

Guess that's what you get for pushing too hard

So some stitching:

And a drift button:

Then took it for some alignment:

:smash:

So now I'm sourcing adjustable arms, adjustable camber bolts for the front and tie rods for some lock modifications...joys

Oh and I've decided to get the inside hub of the wheel machined at the same angle as the rim so that will save me a few quid

LOCK NEEDED ASAP!!!

Just thought I'd sneak this in 😀

Bit of an update.

Had my wheel repaired so they all nice and straight. But after putting it on I noticed the one rear wheel is not very straight!

Comparison:
OK

Not so OK

So whiped the wheels off and notice bends.
OK side

Not so OK side

So the one mount has twisted (which has twisted the arm too) and the one weld has cracked; and the toe arm is also slightly twisted.

My question is do I get the mount repaired and welded again and get adjustable arms, or do I do the worst and get a new subframe?

I'm also baffeled as to how the alignment centre didn't pick up such a huge toe in on the wheel with the screwed mount? See below (left is the twisted side) Any ideas?

Small update:
I've decided to get the tc arm mount twisted back and welded to strengthen it. Shoul dbe done next week
I have been bashing my head against a wall trying to find cheap but good adjustable arms for this car, but have eventually got a set for cheap monies 😀
They should arrive soon (Hopefully)

I have been having a think about the mapping situation, and I think I'm going to learn to map using Nistune! That way I can have another thing under my belt that I can do.

So far all i have managed to do is replace the front suspension top mounts to HKS units:

Has anyone ever heard of Edusa suspension? Reason I ask is they are absolutely AWESOME! I can't recommend them enough! No changing to coilovers for me until I absolutely have too! They work so well on and off the track!

So in the mean time whilst waiting for parts I've been getting this little sr'ed beasty ready to be sold:

All that's left is to paint side skirts when they arrive and put them on. Give it a wash, take nice pictures and sell!

Oh and this:

Kaihatsu (Development) Factory

I will be moving back to South Africa hopefully in a year and want to take all my aquired knowledge and drifting back with me. I want to promote the sport there and also offer a nissan specialist tuning service. Done my research and it's deffinately needed there.

Oh and I will be taking my silvia back over with me, which will be my company's demo car!

These just arrived:

Now all I'm waiting for are the camber arms, front tension rods and specially modified track rods and ends 😉

Had archenemy around today to sort out my rubbing arch.
The results, well it doesn't rub anymore....but the finish isn't good as it has been previously repaired (filler) and my last meeting with a bank didn't help much with the dent it left behind.

I will be taking it to a body shop to sort out the dent and arch work

Also noticed the camber arms have been hitting the chasis rail at the rear 🙁
So this weekend I need to swap them over, also set the front tension rods at the right length and take the car in for it's 3rd consecutive alignment session! :smash:

Gotta love wasting my money on alignment

So long time update with nothing major done tbh

Had the arch repaired but haven't taken a picture yet...looks good as new though, but flared.

Then fitted some steering arms with tapered ends and spacers for some more lock thanks to Richy200 off here:
Arms:

Before:

After:

So not a massive gain but I haven't begun my work on grinding the lock stops, so will have a go at them one drift event at a time to make sure I don't go over centre.

I haven't even manage to trial the lock yet though as a rattle from the engine started. After thinking it may be spray bars and vvt sprocket, I bought replacements and removed the rocker cover...low and behold:

Previous owners clearly never knew how to change the oil! So replaced the vvt sprocket and oil spray bars whilst I had the rocker cover off:

Took it for a spin and knocking still there...after much thinking, I decided I will rebuild the engine properly (Not much money for drifting at the moment with no income, so the car isn't going to be used as it's intended) so I bought a 318TI compact (£400) to use as a daily. Will post pictures later but the arch gap is as big as the Grand Canyon

So this is where the car stands now:

Need to gather some funds then I'll get the engine out and start checking everything for full extent of damage. Shame as it's only got like 65000 miles on it :smash:

Engine's out

Can't wait to get it striped down to inspect

Here is the temporary daily

And here is the Sr20 S13 that I have finished and sold off. The first Kaihatsu factory car built and sold 😀

And the new owner has it looking like this now 🙁

Love the stance...pity about the color.....guess you cant control what people do with your old cars

hahaha, with those cable ties it looks like frankenstein's stitches

Cheap fix 😉

These just arrived:

Replacement cams:

Dial bore guage and micrometers:

so tell us more about this nissan specialist shop 😮

Well I started a thread here a while back:
http://200sx.za.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5127&highlight=

I will be looking at running a nissan tuning specialist garage (starting small and grow from there). It wont be solely focused on nissans and drifting (but those are the speciality areas), I will be doing all forms of jap motors and motorsport tuning/setup.

I will let everyone know full details closer to the time I move back (April 2011). i still need to organise a workshop/garage and get all my tools over to SA along with the S14. So you are only looking at the second part of 2011

read the thread, sounds good man, hope it all goes as planned 😉

Cool man love the car.

p.s. I <3 bumpers held together with cable ties

Thanks all

very kwl post! musta been difficult to see the s13 go 🙁 .
im also a big fan of drifting, wanna start but dont have money to fix if anything breaks....lol
nice pics

Which one? haha
It's always difficult seeing cars go, or getting broken for parts...but hey ho...way of life.

I know what you mean about cost of repairs but there has to be a spot or two where there is a fair bit of space for you to practice. But i will never say you won't ever damage your car. It's almost inevitable...but sacrifices....it's all in the name of the game

haha tru.
ja i have a place where i can go practice and have been a few times.
its an open piece of tar. i just need some cones then im set, lol. im just gonna save up the best i can then when i need the money i have it. but ja ey ... sacrifices.
do you drift at all?

You havn't read the thread have you? haha
The S14 is a drift machine (as are all my old cars)

It's what I do bud, It's my life!

When I move back to CPT next year I need to find out where this spot is from you. I can even give you some pointers if you need.

oh sh*t sorry never realised was talking to you, haha my bad buddy 😳 wow very embarresd....
ja that sounds like a good idea, i know another place but havent been there yet. ja lol im sure ill need some.
1st time i went side ways ,and controlled it....was amazing, i couldnt stop after that. to save tires i went on wet days 🙂 , havent been for a while tho, my car went in for spray so ya.

No worries bud

how long have you been drifting for and who taught you?
or did you learn by yourself?