Making a drifting car - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

curioushuang · 11-11-2001, 05:43 PM

Hey guys,
I'm looking to build a nice drift car. I start with a 1996 240sx. I was wondering what the best suspension i should get, rims? How big should my rims be? I need strut bars no? Any info on what i should do to a stock 240sx to make it the perfect drift car, i'd appreciate it.
Thanks Guys.

*DSC* · 11-11-2001, 06:04 PM

The perfect drift car can't be your every day driver. So if it is, you'll have to change your plans a bit and just drift with a less than perfect car. I dono much about drifting setups but they are lowered and the wheels go like this /--\ instead of this |--| like you would want on an everyday driver. If this is your everyday driver, i'd say just get some good coilovers, and 16" rims and get some tires that aren't too sticky and drift with that.

kitoro · 11-11-2001, 06:56 PM

want some drift car specs, go to www.driftclub.com
one thing about drift setups is you lose A LOT of the streetability.
negative camber to the rear wheels tend to swing ur rear out crazy on any type of turn, ur suspension is incredibly stiff as well...
another thing is you need to stiffen-up the chassis a lot in order to keep it from bending!
lotsa things to think about.

i feel it's more reliable to race prep it a bit, preserve some streetability and lose the negative camber, learn to drift w/ what you have. ^.^

BlankFlip · 11-11-2001, 07:19 PM

wow, that site is pretty cool, never seen it before. if u want a "drift" car then yeah u should have another car to be driving around. that's not saying that u can't drift ur car if it's lowered, got stiff suspension, lsd, n some bald tires on the rear.

whateverjames · 11-11-2001, 08:46 PM

just a question, i hear a lot of people wanting to be drifters, where are people supposed to drift? safely?

AmericanBornSilvia · 11-11-2001, 08:48 PM

some guy was drifting  in a parking lot at my local safeway lol

but seriously maybe you should try to find some REALLY secluded places

chickenmanq · 11-11-2001, 08:49 PM

I'd say whenever you could safely spin out without hitting other cars, regardless of what road you're on.  Just remember, spinning out leads to ditches.  Ditches lead to body damage.  Now, I don't care in my truck, but I imagine it'd mess up a nice 240.

"The Road is my Racetrack" - Me, just now. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

curioushuang · 11-11-2001, 09:25 PM

Hey guys,
I guess i should revise my original question. I need to get some rims, i was wondering what i should get. Size/offset/lugpattern/weight, etc. Is there a certain brand? I like the Racinghart cp035 but i don't know what size or width i should get for my car to make it better to drift

matic 240sx · 11-12-2001, 04:37 AM

get 300zx TT rims

*DSC* · 11-12-2001, 06:26 AM

Yeah, the 300zx tt rims are nice. You don't want big 18" rims for drifting, like I mentioned earlier, 16" would be good. Also, despite the name, racinghart rims are more for show than racing from what i've heard.

yenpit · 11-12-2001, 07:28 AM

also keep in mind every jdm-spec drift car ive seen is turbo'd.....u need the power to keep the rear wheels spinning. i think one of the basic ideas is to "steer" the car with the rear end. i havent driven my 98 yet (still at body shop) but i dont think its got enough balls to keep tires spinning....except in rain/snow. u can have some fun but not like the jdm videos!!

kitoro · 11-12-2001, 10:10 AM

it's better to drift at a race track, usually race tracks have road courses as well.
in my calgary, we have a race track that has a road course and it's not too bad to practice.
most ppl who drift in my area go to the mountains and secluded roads to do it.
avoid problems and casualties

curioushuang · 11-13-2001, 11:01 AM

I was wondering why 16" rims are ideal for drifting? Do you want light rims or med weight rims? Is width a factor? I was thinking about getting some 17x7's or 17x8's opposed to 16x7's or 16x8's. What do you think?
Andy

Sway500 · 11-13-2001, 03:04 PM

You should talk to SlideSquad Mark he is in the process of building a S14. i would say he is about the best person you could talk to.

http://www.davescholz.com

If it were me i would go with this setup:
S14 SR20DET VVt w/ball bearing turbo(kouki black top)
Trust R-Spec Fornt Mount and piping
Blitz BOV
Blitz SBC-id boost Controller
Blitz TT
5 lug conversion (if it doesnt have five lugs)
R32 GT-R rims in the front (gunmetal) with Falkin Azenis
R32 GTSt rims in rear(silver) with a decent compound
Tein HE Coilovers
Safety 21 6pt rollcage
Recaro or Bride seat
Sabelt 4pt harness.

BlankFlip · 11-13-2001, 03:57 PM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from curioushuang on 1<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>1 pm on Nov. 13, 2001
I was wondering why 16" rims are ideal for drifting? Do you want light rims or med weight rims? Is width a factor? I was thinking about getting some 17x7's or 17x8's opposed to 16x7's or 16x8's. What do you think?
Andy
</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

all the drifting cars i've seen have light 15 or 16 inch rims, of course some r gonna have 17 or more, but the best drifting cars i've seen had 15, 16". i've seen a lot of those rims that r like the kosei k1 racing rims, i think they're buddy club rims or something like that.

curioushuang · 11-13-2001, 11:21 PM

what about the width of the rims? How does that effect drifting? Are 17's pushing it?

180sx · 11-14-2001, 08:43 AM

You dont have to have the perfect drift car to drift. But if you just want to have that drift look and make everyone think you drift go right ahead.

180sx · 11-14-2001, 08:45 AM

You dont have to have the perfect drift car to drift. But if you just want to have that drift look and make everyone think you drift go right ahead.

*drifterx* · 11-14-2001, 09:11 AM

real drift cars have average size rims like 15 or 16s with nice regular size tires not the rubber bands u see at car shows

curioushuang · 11-14-2001, 10:55 PM

My question still hasn't really been clearly answered, although i thank all of you for the great info that i have recieved. I can't decide on the Width of the tires. 7  inchers or 8 inchers.
Thanks
Andy

kitoro · 11-15-2001, 09:26 AM

the wider the tires, the more grip it has on the road.
so wider tires for the rear would be a good idea.

w/ drift specs it's hard to say. most ppl who become really good tend to ignore the subtleties and go for a normal look and so on and do not care about width of tires or the size of rims, (altho 16's and 17's are BEST),

if you want to have ur rear wheels powering ur drifts and you're not all too experty yet, go for the wider wheels in the rear.

kitoro · 11-15-2001, 09:27 AM

blah i'm so silly... drifting is only for rear wheels. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

on another note: it's one thing to look like you drift, it's another to know how to. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

*LanceS13* · 11-15-2001, 10:04 AM

If the point is to break traction in the rear to drift, why would you put a larger contact patch back there?  Wouldn't that neutralize the car or even more likely make it push?

BlankFlip · 11-15-2001, 10:25 AM

it would neutralize it more, which is what u'd probably want b/c at high speeds w/ rwd ur car would probably just spin out on u n this would help keep ur car "drifting." just like lsd, u'd think u'd not need it so ur car could just let loose, but it's all about controlling ur car in a drift.

*LanceS13* · 11-15-2001, 11:16 AM

but what good is it if you can't even break traction?  I can see it if you have a good bit of power; but I could drift my car when it was still on stock 195 rubber better than I can now with the 225s.  I dunno...I'm not a master drifter or anything so I'm probably wrong.  I prefer positive traction anyway. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

S13 Passion · 11-16-2001, 11:52 PM

a little off topic... all i seem to do now for fun is do donuts with my car.... ####, thats all i do in my school parking lot... well, not all the time.... anywayz, what would i be f*cking up other than my tires?  alignment and chassis right?  im asking this because i want to see if i should tighten my chassis.  no, i havent occured any problems......YET!! hehe

BlankFlip · 11-17-2001, 12:59 PM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from LanceS13 on 1:16 pm on Nov. 15, 2001
but what good is it if you can't even break traction? I can see it if you have a good bit of power; but I could drift my car when it was still on stock 195 rubber better than I can now with the 225s. I dunno...I'm not a master drifter or anything so I'm probably wrong. I prefer positive traction anyway. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>
</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

i don't think it's 2 hard 2 brake traction w/ rwd, or at least i've never had a problem n all 3 of the cars i've had have been rwd (take that back, my camaro lacked power to do it at lower speeds). i think that's more of a problem for fwd then u wouldn't even need to think about stuff like this.

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11-11-2001, 05:43 PM	#1
curioushuang Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 39 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Hey guys, I'm looking to build a nice drift car. I start with a 1996 240sx. I was wondering what the best suspension i should get, rims? How big should my rims be? I need strut bars no? Any info on what i should do to a stock 240sx to make it the perfect drift car, i'd appreciate it. Thanks Guys.

11-11-2001, 06:04 PM	#2
DSC New Title Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: VA Posts: 3,454 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	The perfect drift car can't be your every day driver. So if it is, you'll have to change your plans a bit and just drift with a less than perfect car. I dono much about drifting setups but they are lowered and the wheels go like this /--\ instead of this \|--\| like you would want on an everyday driver. If this is your everyday driver, i'd say just get some good coilovers, and 16" rims and get some tires that aren't too sticky and drift with that.

11-11-2001, 06:56 PM	#3
kitoro Zilvia Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 275 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	want some drift car specs, go to www.driftclub.com one thing about drift setups is you lose A LOT of the streetability. negative camber to the rear wheels tend to swing ur rear out crazy on any type of turn, ur suspension is incredibly stiff as well... another thing is you need to stiffen-up the chassis a lot in order to keep it from bending! lotsa things to think about. i feel it's more reliable to race prep it a bit, preserve some streetability and lose the negative camber, learn to drift w/ what you have. ^.^

11-11-2001, 07:19 PM	#4
BlankFlip Nissanaholic! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Future Posts: 1,627 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	wow, that site is pretty cool, never seen it before. if u want a "drift" car then yeah u should have another car to be driving around. that's not saying that u can't drift ur car if it's lowered, got stiff suspension, lsd, n some bald tires on the rear.

11-11-2001, 08:46 PM	#5
whateverjames Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: St. Louis Age: 41 Posts: 2,263 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	just a question, i hear a lot of people wanting to be drifters, where are people supposed to drift? safely?

11-11-2001, 08:48 PM	#6
AmericanBornSilvia Leaky Injector Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 101 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	some guy was drifting  in a parking lot at my local safeway lol but seriously maybe you should try to find some REALLY secluded places

11-11-2001, 08:49 PM	#7
chickenmanq Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,000 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I'd say whenever you could safely spin out without hitting other cars, regardless of what road you're on.  Just remember, spinning out leads to ditches.  Ditches lead to body damage.  Now, I don't care in my truck, but I imagine it'd mess up a nice 240. "The Road is my Racetrack" - Me, just now. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

11-11-2001, 09:25 PM	#8
curioushuang Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 39 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Hey guys, I guess i should revise my original question. I need to get some rims, i was wondering what i should get. Size/offset/lugpattern/weight, etc. Is there a certain brand? I like the Racinghart cp035 but i don't know what size or width i should get for my car to make it better to drift

11-12-2001, 04:37 AM	#9
matic 240sx Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: las vegas Age: 38 Posts: 798 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: matic 240sx Feedback Score: 0 reviews	get 300zx TT rims

11-12-2001, 06:26 AM	#10
DSC New Title Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: VA Posts: 3,454 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yeah, the 300zx tt rims are nice. You don't want big 18" rims for drifting, like I mentioned earlier, 16" would be good. Also, despite the name, racinghart rims are more for show than racing from what i've heard.

11-12-2001, 07:28 AM	#11
yenpit Zilvia Addict Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Holland Michigan Posts: 798 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	also keep in mind every jdm-spec drift car ive seen is turbo'd.....u need the power to keep the rear wheels spinning. i think one of the basic ideas is to "steer" the car with the rear end. i havent driven my 98 yet (still at body shop) but i dont think its got enough balls to keep tires spinning....except in rain/snow. u can have some fun but not like the jdm videos!!

11-12-2001, 10:10 AM	#12
kitoro Zilvia Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 275 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	it's better to drift at a race track, usually race tracks have road courses as well. in my calgary, we have a race track that has a road course and it's not too bad to practice. most ppl who drift in my area go to the mountains and secluded roads to do it. avoid problems and casualties

11-13-2001, 11:01 AM	#13
curioushuang Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 39 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I was wondering why 16" rims are ideal for drifting? Do you want light rims or med weight rims? Is width a factor? I was thinking about getting some 17x7's or 17x8's opposed to 16x7's or 16x8's. What do you think? Andy

11-13-2001, 03:04 PM	#14
Sway500 Zilvia Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro NC Age: 35 Posts: 188 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	You should talk to SlideSquad Mark he is in the process of building a S14. i would say he is about the best person you could talk to. http://www.davescholz.com If it were me i would go with this setup: S14 SR20DET VVt w/ball bearing turbo(kouki black top) Trust R-Spec Fornt Mount and piping Blitz BOV Blitz SBC-id boost Controller Blitz TT 5 lug conversion (if it doesnt have five lugs) R32 GT-R rims in the front (gunmetal) with Falkin Azenis R32 GTSt rims in rear(silver) with a decent compound Tein HE Coilovers Safety 21 6pt rollcage Recaro or Bride seat Sabelt 4pt harness.

11-13-2001, 03:57 PM	#15
BlankFlip Nissanaholic! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Future Posts: 1,627 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from curioushuang on 1<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>1 pm on Nov. 13, 2001 I was wondering why 16" rims are ideal for drifting? Do you want light rims or med weight rims? Is width a factor? I was thinking about getting some 17x7's or 17x8's opposed to 16x7's or 16x8's. What do you think? Andy </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> all the drifting cars i've seen have light 15 or 16 inch rims, of course some r gonna have 17 or more, but the best drifting cars i've seen had 15, 16". i've seen a lot of those rims that r like the kosei k1 racing rims, i think they're buddy club rims or something like that.

11-13-2001, 11:21 PM	#16
curioushuang Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 39 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	what about the width of the rims? How does that effect drifting? Are 17's pushing it?

11-14-2001, 08:43 AM	#17
180sx Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 8 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	You dont have to have the perfect drift car to drift. But if you just want to have that drift look and make everyone think you drift go right ahead.

11-14-2001, 08:45 AM	#18
180sx Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 8 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	You dont have to have the perfect drift car to drift. But if you just want to have that drift look and make everyone think you drift go right ahead.

11-14-2001, 09:11 AM	#19
drifterx Premium Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: boston, ma Age: 40 Posts: 1,533 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	real drift cars have average size rims like 15 or 16s with nice regular size tires not the rubber bands u see at car shows

11-14-2001, 10:55 PM	#20
curioushuang Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 39 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	My question still hasn't really been clearly answered, although i thank all of you for the great info that i have recieved. I can't decide on the Width of the tires. 7  inchers or 8 inchers. Thanks Andy

11-15-2001, 09:26 AM	#21
kitoro Zilvia Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 275 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	the wider the tires, the more grip it has on the road. so wider tires for the rear would be a good idea. w/ drift specs it's hard to say. most ppl who become really good tend to ignore the subtleties and go for a normal look and so on and do not care about width of tires or the size of rims, (altho 16's and 17's are BEST), if you want to have ur rear wheels powering ur drifts and you're not all too experty yet, go for the wider wheels in the rear.

11-15-2001, 09:27 AM	#22
kitoro Zilvia Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 275 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	blah i'm so silly... drifting is only for rear wheels. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> on another note: it's one thing to look like you drift, it's another to know how to. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

11-15-2001, 10:04 AM	#23
LanceS13 AutoX Junkie Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: MS Age: 39 Posts: 2,044 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	If the point is to break traction in the rear to drift, why would you put a larger contact patch back there?  Wouldn't that neutralize the car or even more likely make it push?

11-15-2001, 10:25 AM	#24
BlankFlip Nissanaholic! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Future Posts: 1,627 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	it would neutralize it more, which is what u'd probably want b/c at high speeds w/ rwd ur car would probably just spin out on u n this would help keep ur car "drifting." just like lsd, u'd think u'd not need it so ur car could just let loose, but it's all about controlling ur car in a drift.

11-15-2001, 11:16 AM	#25
LanceS13 AutoX Junkie Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: MS Age: 39 Posts: 2,044 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	but what good is it if you can't even break traction?  I can see it if you have a good bit of power; but I could drift my car when it was still on stock 195 rubber better than I can now with the 225s.  I dunno...I'm not a master drifter or anything so I'm probably wrong.  I prefer positive traction anyway. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

11-16-2001, 11:52 PM	#26
S13 Passion Zilvia Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 267 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	a little off topic... all i seem to do now for fun is do donuts with my car.... ####, thats all i do in my school parking lot... well, not all the time.... anywayz, what would i be f*cking up other than my tires?  alignment and chassis right?  im asking this because i want to see if i should tighten my chassis.  no, i havent occured any problems......YET!! hehe

11-17-2001, 12:59 PM	#27
BlankFlip Nissanaholic! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Future Posts: 1,627 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from LanceS13 on 1:16 pm on Nov. 15, 2001 but what good is it if you can't even break traction? I can see it if you have a good bit of power; but I could drift my car when it was still on stock 195 rubber better than I can now with the 225s. I dunno...I'm not a master drifter or anything so I'm probably wrong. I prefer positive traction anyway. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> i don't think it's 2 hard 2 brake traction w/ rwd, or at least i've never had a problem n all 3 of the cars i've had have been rwd (take that back, my camaro lacked power to do it at lower speeds). i think that's more of a problem for fwd then u wouldn't even need to think about stuff like this.