Daze's 400bhp Nissan Silvia drift car

[Dazecoop]

Hey guys,

Thought I’d post a project thread outlining what my main hobby & interest is... I drift! I now do this competitively in the British Drift Championship. Here’s a very very summarised version of my build thread with my current drift car - an import Nissan Silvia s14. I’ve had this about 3 years now

I hope you're ready for absolutely TONS of photos... lol

Bought it looking like this


Added my Bride Brix seat and steering wheel


Got all 4 wheels matching - R33 GTR's


Swapped the import LSD diff for UK s13 welded


Also installed a new rad, then went drifting


Thought I was rich and bought GeoMaster hubs lol. Very $$$


Fitted Takata harnesses


Finally found the time to fit Part Shop Max HMIC cooler


Did an oil change, went for a drive with the gf to New Forest


Replaced clutch, and also fitted lightweight flywheel


Got extended front LCA's made up, 20mm longer


Went to Jez's @ Horsham Developments for a dyno day. Made 285bhp @ 0.8bar, not bad!


Bought & fitted Vibra-Technics gearbox mount.


Fitted Kouki rear spoiler


Went drifting at Pod again


Bought Driftworks GeoMaster tension rods, then proceeded to fit GeoMaster knuckles. Car was LOW!


Got the car sitting a bit nicer, not quite as silly-low!


A mate of mine fabricated up a custom downpipe/elbow with flexi joint to help prevent turbo gasket failure!


Car was sitting nice now


....

---

Bought CS2 coilovers, old coilovers had play


Went to Snetterton for Speedhunters Workshop 01 with Mad Mike & Aasbo!


Mad Mike signed my dash


CV boot split - the first of many!


Removed whole subframe to fit solid subframe risers


Much fire


Done


Did some Drift Taxi driving at a car show of some kind (can’t remember which)


And some more a few weeks later at Japfest2 Donington Park


Refurbed rear calipers, fitted GKTech handbrake extenders


Went to Ultimate Street Car for Drift Taxi’s, full weekend. Girlfriend enjoyed herself lol


On the 2nd day, car ate through arch loom, set on fire. Spent hours fixing it, then drove home


But drifted well


Another CV joint failed


Did more Drift Taxi driving


Got a new front cross member, already modified for moving rack


And did the swap

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Bought some Skyline R33 GTST calipers & rear setup, haven’t fitted yet, but full refurb on everything


Did some drifting with mates at a DWYB Pod day, car was perfect


Did another Drift Taxi day at Brands Hatch


Inner CV pot completely exploded Limped home 1-wheel-drive!


Brutal


Swapped to R33 GTST diff & shafts - stronger


Blew my T28R turbo, so swapped for cheaper T28


As I have one of these to fit when I can afford supporting mods - Greddy/Trust TD06-20G


Bought new wheels - MB Battles from the USA


Got clear headlights


Got rear arches fixed up & an MOT on it.


Fitted GKTech driveshaft spacers to Skyline shafts

---

Have all four new wheels fitted, rear arches done & flared, sitting nice


Went to Snetterton with some mates, car was good!


Bought the new engine, ready for rebuild & more power


Went to Lydden Hill, car was fantastic. Did some big entries


Got myself a tow car, tow licence & hired a trailer


Drove to Driftland in Scotland for Finalboss Matsuri event. THE BEST event


Did some minor tweaks to the car, then did another Drift Taxi day at a car show


Went to Snetterton again for 3 solid days of drifting! Car was spot on


..Until I crashed into my mate


2 days later went to Santa Pod again. Car was tired, I was tired, but it was fun!


I entered the final round of 2014 Driftcup series. My first competition, at Lydden Hill

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Qualified 1st! Then proceeded through my Top 16 battle, onto my Top 8 where I made a mistake on an OMT battle. Fun close driving though


Over the winter I got cracking with the new engine build


Went for full weld-in rollcage by Nickson Motorsport


Made up my own turbo lines, etc


Engine in the hole


A mate of mine fabricated very short intercooler pipework for me


Painted the cage in Satin Black, took ages


Got the new ECU fitted & mapped, then an MOT on it, she was done!


Circa 400bhp, terrifyingly fast


Got my first sponsor onboard - ClarityAutomotive. Who detailed the car


Went drifting, first time with new power. WOW!


Re-located stock handbrake & installed hydro


Went to Driftcup round 1 2015 at Norfolk. Qualified 5th

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Finished 3rd!!


Had to make my car ready for British Drift Championship rules


New seat too


Had some fun at Lydden Hill, in prep for British Drift Championship round


Got new side skirts & painted. Car detailed ready for BDC round 2, Knockhill, Scotland


Did an "oops" on qualifying lap 1. Bummer


Nailed lap 2, qualified 15th 


Made a couple mistakes on my lead/chase Top 32 battle, didn’t go through


..But, I did earn my licence Happy. Car was good


Left my car in Scotland, 2 weeks later, Finalboss Matsuri event at Driftland again


So much fun, chasing one of my team mates.


Got a new downpipe fabricated, another sponsor onboard - APW Engineering


Got it road mapped with new downpipe. Not sure on figure, but over 400bhp now


Did some BDC demos & drift taxi rides at Japfest 2, Rockingham


PHEW! That’s up to date!! 

Thanks for reading! 

[Dum-Dum]

Awesome awesome awesome thread! I need to read this again when I'm less tired.

[silverzx]

Nice one.

How come you went for a red top over a black top?

Also guessing your running 555's maxed out or went up to 740's?

Very jel of your short route FMIC, intend to bodge one up myself as PartMax prices are pretty stupid, over £300 for a FMIC setup!

Looks like you're well on your way to a five figure car £££££.

Did you pay out of your own pocket to get into BDC? Any rough idea on cost? I never think it's worth the cost / hassle when more fun can be had on the street...

[Dazecoop]

Awesome awesome awesome thread! I need to read this again when I'm less tired.

Haha, thanks!

Nice one.

How come you went for a red top over a black top?

Also guessing your running 555's maxed out or went up to 740's?

Very jel of your short route FMIC, intend to bodge one up myself as PartMax prices are pretty stupid, over £300 for a FMIC setup!

Looks like you're well on your way to a five figure car £££££.

Did you pay out of your own pocket to get into BDC? Any rough idea on cost? I never think it's worth the cost / hassle when more fun can be had on the street...

My VVT blacktop had died, I picked up the redtop for cheap. They also sound way better I'm on Nismo 740's on Link G4 ECU mapped by Nispro.

Yeah, mine is a Part Shop Max core with custom pipework, way worth it! Although if I was doing it again, I'd buy a cheap(er) core from eBay, then custom fab pipework to suit. Or maybe even modify the core to suit

And yeah, the car is serious money. Hence reason to buy the 306, there is no point having this road legal anymore as its not all that fun to drive on the road anymore, and insurance is pretty high, even though 11yr NCB & 28 years old, etc.

For BDC, you now have to go via Driftcup. You have to finish high in Driftcup to even be invited to take part in BDC. Basically it works like this - enter Driftcup (£150-odd for 1 round), hope you finish high (top 4 finish required), invited to BDC (£170-odd for 1 round), hope you at least qualify into Top 32, then you've got your licence.

The only other route is to finish top 4 of Driftcup championship at the end of the year, then do BDC Top 32 qualifying the year after. But either way, a high finish in Driftcup is difficult! A lot of good drivers!!

The major costs, however, is tyres. Unlike on a practice day, and unlike when I had sub 300hp, I can't run on part worn tyres anymore. Brand new tyres I sometimes get 3 laps out of now, they are 235/40/17 at 25psi in the dry, its mad. Last year for BDC, my main sponsor OPJP Imports, bought me some tyres which was amazing! Stuff like that really helps for sure. The money I spend on tyres is unimaginable, I don't like to think about it. Lol!

Have you done proper practice days in yours or just streeto? I really would highly recommend going to a practice day and keeping it off the street. On a public forum, not that I can say I have or haven't done street drifting before, but the cops are so hot on it now, its not worth it. Santa Pod or Lydden Hill are the places to go

[silverzx]

Nice one.

How come you went for a red top over a black top?

Also guessing your running 555's maxed out or went up to 740's?

Very jel of your short route FMIC, intend to bodge one up myself as PartMax prices are pretty stupid, over £300 for a FMIC setup!

Looks like you're well on your way to a five figure car £££££.

Did you pay out of your own pocket to get into BDC? Any rough idea on cost? I never think it's worth the cost / hassle when more fun can be had on the street...

My VVT blacktop had died, I picked up the redtop for cheap. They also sound way better I'm on Nismo 740's on Link G4 ECU mapped by Nispro.

Yeah, mine is a Part Shop Max core with custom pipework, way worth it! Although if I was doing it again, I'd buy a cheap(er) core from eBay, then custom fab pipework to suit. Or maybe even modify the core to suit

And yeah, the car is serious money. Hence reason to buy the 306, there is no point having this road legal anymore as its not all that fun to drive on the road anymore, and insurance is pretty high, even though 11yr NCB & 28 years old, etc.

For BDC, you now have to go via Driftcup. You have to finish high in Driftcup to even be invited to take part in BDC. Basically it works like this - enter Driftcup (£150-odd for 1 round), hope you finish high (top 4 finish required), invited to BDC (£170-odd for 1 round), hope you at least qualify into Top 32, then you've got your licence.

The only other route is to finish top 4 of Driftcup championship at the end of the year, then do BDC Top 32 qualifying the year after. But either way, a high finish in Driftcup is difficult! A lot of good drivers!!

The major costs, however, is tyres. Unlike on a practice day, and unlike when I had sub 300hp, I can't run on part worn tyres anymore. Brand new tyres I sometimes get 3 laps out of now, they are 235/40/17 at 25psi in the dry, its mad. Last year for BDC, my main sponsor OPJP Imports, bought me some tyres which was amazing! Stuff like that really helps for sure. The money I spend on tyres is unimaginable, I don't like to think about it. Lol!

Have you done proper practice days in yours or just streeto? I really would highly recommend going to a practice day and keeping it off the street. On a public forum, not that I can say I have or haven't done street drifting before, but the cops are so hot on it now, its not worth it. Santa Pod or Lydden Hill are the places to go

Fair enough, thought as much, not looked into the Link G4 thought to be honest. 

Yeah, exactly what I plan to do, eBay core, odd's n sod's pipe work and radge one up for around £150. 

I know what you mean, scrapping everything/everywhere, pissing off all your neighbours, constantly spunking silly amounts of money on fuel, hearing the welded diff munching through driveshafts / bushes. All fun and games though really.

That's useful to know about the Driftcup -> BDC. Might have to look into that one day! 

Also, the comment on tyres, hah! Only reason I'm on the 16's still is because 16" part worns are so plentful/free. I hate to think what you spend on tyres, hence my reason for asking regarding sponsors.

Done Birmingham once, Dakota twice and various surrounding landmarks... To be fair, I'm so used to having to glide around rock faces that tracks just seem a bit "meh" and not worth the money considering I can half fill my car for £35 and literally drift for a whole evening with mates on much more exciting roads then typical tracks.

Admittedly I haven't tried Pod or Lydden but after a £100-£300 ticket, plus the two-three tanks of fuel, ball ache of getting up at 3AM in the morning etc etc it's just not worth it. Like I said, tank (or less) of fuel, support wagon carrying some spare tyres and a hell lot more fun can be had locally. Don't get me wrong, I'll try anything once so do intend to do both at some point. I seem to of built a fairly track orientated drift car that only gets used on the road, probably a dumb thing to do but it keeps me smiling.

[Dazecoop]

Yeah, Link G4 is basically the best ECU you can buy. My idea was to go with a relatively stock engine (metal h/gasket, bearings, etc), but go with really good management. Nispro recommended the Link, not cheap, but its very very good. I run MAF-less too, no chance of MAF/AFM failure as I don't have one, etc.

Yea, annoying neighbours is the biggest one really! Its just not that fun to drive on the road anymore, so much hassle just to get it on the road, for a half hour blast up the road. Mine also takes about 20-minutes to actually get up to temperature too, the ECU limits boost & throttle based on oil temps & pressures, lol

16" tyres are so cheap, yep! Basically I roughly spend £500 on tyres for each round/event I go to. Then its diesel to get there, high octane fuel to drift with, entry fees, food & accommodation. Its sucks! Its fun, but it sucks. Lol

In regard to events, that is fair enough. £35 for some fun with your mates at a local track is decent value! Lydden Hill is where you'd best progress driving though, its a lot different to Brum or Dakota, way faster entry (approx 70mph I do). But keeping it fun is the main goal eh!

[silverzx]

In regard to events, that is fair enough. £35 for some fun with your mates at a local track is decent value! Lydden Hill is where you'd best progress driving though, its a lot different to Brum or Dakota, way faster entry (approx 70mph I do). But keeping it fun is the main goal eh!  

Who said anything about a local track...  

There are a few local places to me where we can get 70mph entries, it's up hill with car parks to run off into in both locations so not too scary.

[Dazecoop]

In regard to events, that is fair enough. £35 for some fun with your mates at a local track is decent value! Lydden Hill is where you'd best progress driving though, its a lot different to Brum or Dakota, way faster entry (approx 70mph I do). But keeping it fun is the main goal eh!  

Who said anything about a local track...  

There are a few local places to me where we can get 70mph entries, it's up hill with car parks to run off into in both locations so not too scary.

Haha, mad man! 

[silverzx]

In regard to events, that is fair enough. £35 for some fun with your mates at a local track is decent value! Lydden Hill is where you'd best progress driving though, its a lot different to Brum or Dakota, way faster entry (approx 70mph I do). But keeping it fun is the main goal eh!  

Who said anything about a local track...  

There are a few local places to me where we can get 70mph entries, it's up hill with car parks to run off into in both locations so not too scary.

Haha, mad man! 

Enough blabber anyway, car looks sick. 

Dibs on sh1t if you break it (standard 306oc mentality). 

[darrenjlobb]

Great thread / great car... Nice work

[Dazecoop]

Enough blabber anyway, car looks sick. 

Dibs on sh1t if you break it (standard 306oc mentality). 

Haha, thanks dude Noooo, won't be breaking!

Great thread / great car... Nice work

Thanks!

[Ruan]

This looks absolutely epic with the clear headlights!! Really like it in honesty...

[Frosty]

Really good read through all you have done. Seems like a pretty epic machine. I look forward to more updates in the future

[Dazecoop]

This looks absolutely epic with the clear headlights!! Really like it in honesty...

Thanks! Yeah, I have headlight film/tint over the clear headlight covers

Really good read through all you have done. Seems like a pretty epic machine. I look forward to more updates in the future

Thanks! Yeah, I have an update on its way actually!

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Right, finally an update!

Booked to go to Anglesey Matsuri for late October, and I had also been invited to take part in the BDC night demos too, so that should be fun! I'd never been to Anglesey before, so I was excited to try out a new circuit!

Firstly though, a few small things to fix on the car - mostly oil leaks. A mate of mine helped with that (with a pit in his garage). It was a loose AN10 fitting on the Tomei oil take off, next to impossible to get to, so we remove the alternator then nipped it up.



Then, as I was to take part in the night demos, I thought I’d spice the car up with some neons! Please, don’t judge me! Hahaha



Headed to Anglesey on the Friday night. It was a hell of a drive for me, but got there in the end. It must have been worse for Hudson though, driving up in his PS13!



Friday night the weather was absolutely insane - wind, rain, cold, just horrible. The Saturday started similar, but luckily cleared up. I got into the swing quickly, starting on the small "entry practice" hairpin, which was really good fun. Almost no queue, and with all my mates there, the best fun



I next tried out the "Touge" circuit. WOW, incredible. Its all linkable with almost no manji's, really feels Japan driving it, mega undulations on the layout, so much fun





The weather cleared up & onto the fast layout. I got paired up with none other than Huxley! It was an amazing & quite special few moments for me, having Hux on my door. He's someone I've looked up to in drifting for many years, such a cool dude, and cool car!



Early afternoon Saturday, With Joe Ankers chasing on the Touge circuit, I overcooked it a little & binned it into some tyres! Luckily there wasn’t any major damage, but my neons I fitted especially for the Saturday night demos were destroyed! Hahah, karma?



The night battles began, holy crap, it was intense. It was BDC/Driftcup/Retro guys only, so all of the dudes really knew how to drive, and basically everyone apart from me had huge light bars, neons, flashing strobes, everything on their cars. I just had 2 crappy 20yr-old Nissan headlights to help me on an almost pitch-black circuit. I did about 6 laps, killed a pair of tyres, and called it a night! It was fun though!



On the Saturday night I spent the night at a local self-catering holiday home thing (with big thanks to one of my sponsors, Stu Roy, Garage SR for hooking me up). Feeling fresh for the Sunday, the weather was spot on, I got straight back out there. The car was running so well the entire time, literally no faults...



...Until, the gearbox blew I guess its about time I blew a gearbox, its the same gearbox I've been running since I've had the car, so almost 3 years now. I could select gears, but I couldn't drive anywhere. This happened about lunchtime Sunday, and I called it quits for the weekend. Got the car on the trailer, packed up & enjoyed watching for the rest of the day.



As always, I have some incar GoPro footage

Touge circuit in the wet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJlh2qVMxh4

Fast circuit, in the dry with Hux chasing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9VtGtZdmvI

Fast circuit, in the dry, BDC night demos (terrifying)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AMLNIdITdU

Touge circuit in the dry, crash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_-qlslgvlk

Touge circuit in the dry (the run before my gearbox blew!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUoNe8omRn0

. . .

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. . .

With the car back home, gearbox swap was top of the list. I had a spare, and I bought new (expensive) gearbox oil again for it (Redline heavy duty shockproof). Swap wasn’t too much hassle, my mate Stu took care of this for me, whilst I did a quick spanner check on the car. Everything else was fine





Then, I had the car booked in with another mate who does body repairs. I finally got him to repair the crash damage rear quarter that I did way back in 2014 when I crashed into Ryan Poth at Snetterton. Finally I have an offside rear light which isn’t smashed



And then back to my buddy Stu’s for rear arch tubbing in prep for overfenders. Its not something I really wanted to do, but needs-a-must now. I really liked the idea of keeping metal arches for as long as possible, but they were well past it, and I need more grip on the back - overfenders will give more width for wider tyres.



Both sides done like this, with a little lip to help protect overfenders



Once it was back home, I offered up the overfenders which Kinzuru Kits supplied for me. Really good quality, +50mm, they fit great! I was worried they’d bulge like mad & look horrible, but I’m pleasantly surprised on how well they suit the car!



I’ve also picked up a pair of new skirts as well, they are Vertex. I think it works well!







I'll be keeping the Navan front & rear bumpers though, half due to costs as I'm now trying to spend minimal amount on the car (due to a wedding to save for!), but mostly because I still really like the Navan front. However, I do have some slight further changes to cosmetics to come to the car, so more updates with that soon!

[ronj]

Cool topic, nice car! A Nissan RWD is still on my must-own list.

[silverzx]

How much were the vertex skirts? £179?

[Dazecoop]

Cool topic, nice car! A Nissan RWD is still on my must-own list.

Thanks! Absolutely should, its good fun!

How much were the vertex skirts? £179?

I got them for free.. But yes. Haha

[MisterGTR]

Awesome thread. Love the photos of the car had transformed. And the go pro footage shows how difficult it is! All the best.

Subscribed.

[silverzx]

How much were the vertex skirts? £179?

I got them for free.. But yes. Haha

Damn! Good pikey skills, wanna pass on your old ones...?

[Dazecoop]

Awesome thread. Love the photos of the car had transformed. And the go pro footage shows how difficult it is!  All the best.

Subscribed.

Thanks!

How much were the vertex skirts? £179?

I got them for free.. But yes. Haha

Damn! Good pikey skills, wanna pass on your old ones...?

Sponsorship haha. 

I have OEM plastic Navan skirts for sale, 6/10 condition (pictured early in the thread)
I also have Magic Aero "prototype" (one-off's) FRP deep navan skirts, 9.5/10 condition (pictured later in the thread)

Both of which I could sell. The Magic Aero ones I'm not sure I can sell as such, as I was prototyping them on my car for future production, but Paul at Magic Aero has gone quiet in the last few months

OEM navan skirts are for sale though. I also have matching Navan rear spats (2 pairs to choose from) as well. PM me if interested mate!

[Niall]

Im not normally a fan of "Jap Crap" but this i like. Really really like!

[Dazecoop]

Im not normally a fan of "Jap Crap" but this i like. Really really like!

Haha fair play, thanks! It is crap though.. Crap that it costs so much damn money!

[insomaniac45]

I must say, when i first saw the title for the thread (please be aware i do not know you so please reserve judgment until you have read through ) i thourght, here we go, have a go hero..........

But how wrong could i be, dude, the car is amazing, and the drifiting, wow, really glad you put lots of pics and vids in there, always nice to see some real evidence,

If your ever drifting in the local area (as i see your from fareham), let me know, it would be epic to come see, and i think Tyler (he is quad cerebral palsy) would love it, he is all about noise and seeing cars wizz by,

all that is left to say....

THIS THREAD ROCKS

[Dazecoop]

I must say, when i first saw the title for the thread (please be aware i do not know you so please reserve judgment until you have read through ) i thourght, here we go, have a go hero..........

But how wrong could i be, dude, the car is amazing, and the drifiting, wow, really glad you put lots of pics and vids in there, always nice to see some real evidence,

If your ever drifting in the local area (as i see your from fareham), let me know, it would be epic to come see, and i think Tyler (he is quad cerebral palsy) would love it, he is all about noise and seeing cars wizz by,

all that is left to say....

THIS THREAD ROCKS

Ah, thanks man! Haha, that is a fair assumption based on the title maybe, I certainly see a lot who say "drift", but have never been above 1st gear!

Unfortunately the car is now off the road (hence buying a 306), plus I don't do any "naughty's" on the streets at all, it's not worth the risk. Also annoyingly there isn't anywhere local that offers drift practice, apart from maybe Matcham's up near Ringwood, but it's relatively slow stuff & the track is like the surface of the moon!

I'll keep this thread updated with when & where I'm likely to drift next though! So far it's looking like next year now - Driftmatsuri (search on Facebook) have released dates for their Spring Matsuri event which I'll be going to. It's at Rockingham circuit, which is just a mega track!

I've been to Rockingham just once before - here's a vid if you're interested. So good - so fast!

http://youtu.be/hcrQ7DDYw6A

[insomaniac45]

holy........... how the hell could you see where you were going..... there were a few points i could not see the track infront of the car. epic

[welshpug]

builds drift car, wants more rear grip, derp?!

[Eeyore]

just read all of this again in detail. great build and even better photos!

[Dazecoop]

holy........... how the hell could you see where you were going..... there were a few points i could not see the track infront of the car. epic

Haha, indeed! It's scary when there are points like that for sure!

builds drift car, wants more rear grip, derp?!

A common miss understanding of drifting - it's all about power to grip levels. As power increases, I need to increase grip. I then can go faster & maintain a higher speed in the drift. Someone with a low powered car would want less grip in order to physically spin the wheels. I need more now, so I can keep it pinned on the door of my competition

just read all of this again in detail. great build and even better photos!

Thanks!

[Dum-Dum]

just read all of this again in detail. great build and even better photos!

Glad I'm not the only person who had to read this a couple of times.

[PugRory]

This is one of the best threads I've come across!