have dirfting questions.. but about a S30 Z...

[ON3GO]

Hey guys.
PLEASE dont think im jumping on the bandwagon about asking these questions about dirfting my S30 Z because im not. I was going to do this in a few of my other cars but never got around to it.
I want to setup my 1977 280Z for drifting and kinda lost.
what i have so far for it is a 280ZX Turbo (L28ET motor) for it, gonna be setup at 10psi, conquest fmic, custom 2.5inch exhaust and downpipe, blitz bov, 15x6 280zx Turbo Swastca wheels, ported intake manifold, stage one cam, and a few other little things here and there.
Getting a 300zx R200 LSD (3.90 gears i think).
Im also putting it on a diet. Fiberglass doors, hood, fenders, light weight wheels (the turbo ones) 240Z bumpers, no sterio, butler built racing seat, and whatever else i can do to make it lighter.
But what i need help is what should i do/get for my suspension to make this car some what fun to throw around.
im not sure if you guys know much about the old Z's suspenion but theres nothing to adjust and etc.
so camber plates? adjustable control arms? adjustable radius bars, whatelse?
what also should i do to the motor to make it more drift friendly?
spool up faster? soild motor mounts, what kind of tranny gearing?
really any help would be great.
i dont really want to make this a pro type car, just a fun car i can drift and show of to friends :D lol

Mike

[HyperTek]

Theres a guy in Socal that drifts an NA 240z. http://www.davescholz.com/

[HyperTek]

I think your only bet is Ground Control coilover setup and some KYB AGX shocks. I think they make camber plates for em too. But that doesnt necessarly make you an instant drifter. I say replace all the bushings. There are some adjustible parts out there for that car, i forgot teh website. Strut bars a must, I would think so for an old car like that, there could be chassis flex.

As far as engine goes.. as long as it can stand constant flooring and pretty good torque.

[ON3GO]

I know where i can get the parts i need and who makes the best of this and that. But there isnt really anybody drifting these cars out there.
It has energy suspension bushings already.
what im asking is whats the key parts you guys replace when you want your car setup for drifting.

[HyperTek]

umm Stiff suspension, LSD, adjustible camber. As long as you can induce oversteer with your car, I think thats all you need.

[ON3GO]

ya i can do that.. floor it :). car has plenty of torque.
what tires you recomend? its running 15inch wheels.
is there a key size?

[Brian]

dave (scholz) was saying that the s30 just simply is not a car made to drift. (sometrhing to that effect)
i suggest hitting up his message board and asking him personally. you would get much better answeres there. he has put a lot of time into sliding that car around.
goodluck.

[brianglawson]

HEY ON3GO whats up man, glad to see ya here...haha....trust me guys he isnt a bangwagon jumper....hahaha

[ON3GO]

hey man whats up..
hell ya im not.. he knows about my project Hulk Z :D

Mike

[Chernobyl]

Hmm, if you have the cash, I'd suggest not doing the Z31 diff but rather getting a KAAZ 2 way unit. It will lock up on accel and decel, and people love it for drift. As far as other things, I think GC/short stroke shocks is the way to go (Tokico, Koni, whatever). And add some caster, if you can. I know the S30s have TC rods, however I don't think I've ever seen anyone make an adjustable one. Dialing in some extra caster will keep the front end more planted mid drift. The rear suspension should be fine, just add stiffere springs and shocks. If you want to get crazy, use an aftermarket rear sway bar with a stock one up front for more tail-happy action.

But remember, drifting isn't about stepping on the gas and power-oversteering. In a real drift, you are sideways before you even get to the turn.

I HIGHLY reccomend getting good strut tower braces on an S30. These cars flex a LOT.

Ok this is what I can tell you. To add some credibility, I used to own a 240z and did plenty of donuts in it (I didn't really drift back then)... used to post on zcar.com a lot back in the day as well.

And it is true that the S30 just wasn't meant to drift, IMO. It can be done, but the feeling is very unnatural since you are practically sitting on the rear axle. Don't let this stop you though!

[ON3GO]

i never let anything stop me..
ive built a pretty crazy datsun Z and gonna have the highest HP on stock internals, I'll blow it up i dont care.
they do make adjustable TC rods, but i can make my own.
i dont do GC stuff, i rather spent the money on other Z-car guys parts so ill go with what i have already on my green Z.... Modern Motorsports coilovers.
I have Tokico 5 way struts on my green Z so ill swap those on the blue Z and get some full Koni Race struts for the green Z. ill section the strut tubes too.
ill make my own strut bars.
good idea on the sway bars! ill do that.
ill make extra braces for the car to make it stiff as hell.

anybody know what kind of spring rates i need to run front and rear?

Mike

[HyperTek]

I dont have any other info on setting up an S30.. but I love those cars... Hulk looks pretty sick man... I want one of those cars someday

[ON3GO]

Thanks.. The Hulk is pretty cool.
Having a L28ET built for it, trying to push past 400+rwhp on 93 pump gas and no nitrous..
with nitrous i wanna blow it up on a 500rwhp run :D
http://www.digistash.com/data/cc1aa436277138f61cda703991069eaf/849_p4892.jpg
http://www.digistash.com/data/cc1aa436277138f61cda703991069eaf/849_p4893.jpg
http://www.digistash.com/data/cc1aa436277138f61cda703991069eaf/849_p4894.jpg
http://www.digistash.com/data/cc1aa436277138f61cda703991069eaf/849_p4895.jpg
http://www.digistash.com/data/cc1aa436277138f61cda703991069eaf/849_p4896.jpg

thats the race/street car.. but i really want to make the blue Z something and i love drifting so why not :)

Mike

[Chernobyl]

Sounds to me like you have it all figured out already. Now just go practice, hehe.

[ON3GO]

I've drifted before.. i owned a turbo FC that i had fun with and my S13 SR i got pretty nasty with but i never really went all out on the suspension on it.
i hope to have this car some what driftable before this year is up!

Mike

[brianglawson]

ill trade you my z, for the green one...haha
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/340000-340999/340026_11_full.jpg
looks like this now though...
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/340000-340999/340026_38_full.jpg
hell ill even through in some swastikas...lol

what size tire do you have on the ccw's? stretching some say 215's or 225's could help with response, lean, etc, probably make it easier to slide out too
kinda like this(see attachment)

[ON3GO]

the green Z with the ccw's isnt gonna be for drifting but i have 275-40-Zr17s on the rear and 255-40-Zr17 on the front.
i have 205-60 front on the 280zx turbo wheels on the blue Z and 215's rear.

mike

[pSY trek]

Hot green Z :bigok: Is the paint custom?

[ON3GO]

nope its factory, still same paint from 1976..

mike

[Maxboost]

Wow, that is a factory color for the 280? That is such a gorgeous color! I do not normally like brighter colors, but that color is just amazing. You wouldn't happen to have a name for that green, or better yet a paint code by any chance? The car looks amazing, and the bodywork is superb. By the way, in my humble opinion, if it RWD, then it can be drifted. It just requires more tenacity. Keep up the nice work, and let us know how Ole blue feels sideways.
Michael.
89' 240sx-auto, stripped, ported head, and intake mani. Still on jackstands waiting to get.
sideways....very soon I hope. "Ima sucka 4 nissans."

[nightwalker]

drifting with a S30Z??? my boy drifts really well with his completely stock Z. Nothing aftermarket. COMPLETELY STOCK. Once again, it goes back to the "all about the Driver" comment.

[ON3GO]

color code is 302.
it looks different in different sunlight and etc.
i love it... its so different.

ya ill keep ppl updated on ole blue drifting.. should be fun.

Mike

[brianglawson]

get some wider wheels, for the blue one, and strech come tires.... and stiffen the hell outta the chassis...