mazdafun

Hi all.

I am converting a SA for drifting. It's a 1983 Jap car with 12 A turbo.

I need advice on anything from tuning the engine(easy mods), to suspension mods needed.

I'll post photos as the car grows. Have no time before sevenstock, but I just wanted to post this now, so I can get parts in the US when we're there.

Thank you.

Rotortuner

If your going to be at SS7, ill be there, you need suspension, I can tell you some good suspension and give you some other pointers, drop me a PM and we can probably meet up.

CJG

web777

Wouldn't you just get the highest rate springs and thickest sway bar for rear for drifting??

Rotortuner

Ya, also urethane bushings, tokico illuminas, Converting to a panhard would really help too.
then for the front, urethane, big bar, hard springs, camber/caster plates, tokico illuminas, acerman plates, strut tower bar, coil over kit so you can adjust ride height and use 2.5 inch race springs etc.

CJG

Rusty Shackleford

who sells this stuff???i got the ILL. shocks i can from racing beat and then springs racing beat and then cp racing for strut tower bar but who has a thick sway bar because i think racing beat's is almost a oem bar....i wanna get into drifting..and i know its hard so y not start somewhere

jays83gsl

I'll tell you where to start, Rusty. Start trying it out with what you have.

I learned the basics of drift *racing* (not competition drift) in a pickup truck. Most of the time, they were more of powerslides, but on a dirt road, Anything can drift, even that Sea Cow of a truck.

If you need pointers, PM me.

What I CANT help you with is what brand of suspension and what not to buy

Rotortuner

Ya, i totally agree, you really should just practice with what you have, on gravel or wet pavement. I also learned in a pu. Actually i learned in a repu. the repu is ausome in the wet, gravel. If your budget oriented, i would first just get RB's spring kit and new struts. IMO one of the biggest aids to drifting, is adequite power. It makes it mch easier. Its not necessary though, cus the repu probably only had about 130 RWHP on the big street port 13b with all the bolt ons. GSL rear end will help big time too. without the lsd the 1 tire fires are frequent on anything but gravel and makes things harder.

CJG

Rusty Shackleford

yea if i start getting into it in gunna need a gslse rear in

thricerx7

i seriously doubt he'll be at SS7 seeing as how he's in Norway!

Feds

You guys! Relax!

Drifting is making your car handle poorly (not a dig, just the truth), you don't need to go nuts on stuff, just for the sake of having it.

Wanna build the world's greatest drift car? 2 words: Steer angle!

If you can make the wheels point 90° out from the car, you can recover from a 90° slide, plain and simple.

So, if you want to WIN drift events, and not just have all the **** everyone else has, put some monster stiff shocks, a GIgantic sway bar, and soft springs in the rear, weld your spiders, then graft a straight axle from a World of Outlaws car under the nose.

First person to do this becomes a drift hero.

jays83gsl

Sliding is making your car handle poorly, friend. True drifting (I'm not talking about that crap like in 'drift competitions,' I'm talking where you need to make the U-bend that much faster) is CONTROLLING your slide. Quite the opposite. Let's not turn this into a drift is good-drift sucks war, though. We don't need that here. That's what we have the lounge for!

mazdafun

I'll be at sevenstock. I'm flying over on 2. sept.

I need to order some stuff right away when I get there, so it's ready for the time I go back.

Thank you for your posts about the drift-SA. If anyone has something used stuff to sell,please PM me.

Thanks.

jays83gsl

Hey, if you're at sevenstock, how's about you and me go drifting in my STOCK RX 7?

mazdafun

Hi.

I'll be happy to drift whatever car

How is the 12 A turbo (original turbo engine) on power? How much will the stock turbo pump out? It looks small, but can it make say 200-240 hp without too much stress?

What other turbos match up to the exhaust manifold? I have quite a few IHI turbos in the garage. Even ball bearing ones (off the 323 GT-R).

How about the engine itself? Is it good for power? Ports? Compression ratio?

Any good tips for fueling? The two 800 cc injectors aren't nearly enough, are they? Additional injectors, or just put some 1600cc ones?

Alot of questions, but I hope you'll take the time to post some answers.

Thank you

jays83gsl

I would answer, but, you's speaking Greek to me, friend.

mazdafun

Hi.

I'm sorry. In my school english days, the " 's " after a word was short for " is ". I guess your LA-ghetto accent is causing this misunderstanding. Sorry bout t'hat.

12A - Tha' moto' man'
Turbo - Tha' pressa' thang
Comp. ratio - tha' roto's
injectors - gas pumpas'

I'll try to get some more ghetto-slang in when I'm in lala-land.

Take care, homee...

jays83gsl

lol. Actually, it's more of a mid-west, Texan-hic sort of thing

I know absolutely nothing about turbo charging, so I'd be of no help to you.

Peace, brudda

82transam

iTrader: (18)

hahahahaha thats too funny

Rotortuner

Allright, ill try and answer a few. The stock turbo may have a hard time getting to teh 200 whp. mark. So yes your probably going to need a larger turbo. I think stock the 12at's made 160-170 fly wheel. For fueling, i thought the 12a turbos came with a blow through nikki carb, if so, for drifting you really should get fuel injection, due to some of the hard corning, any carb you upgrade to, will not be able to handle the cornering while still be realiable. But if its fuel injection, then, yes adding two 1600's or so would work good. You could get an additional injector controller from hks or something to control those.
I am unsure of what turbo will bolt to your flange, However you mentioned that you have some ihi turbos, i am in need of a larger turbo for my 323 gtx. If your interested i could trade a pair of tokico rear shocks, rear springs, and mabe a few other parts towards an ihi. Do you have a vj17? i like the sounds of that vj23 though. Let me know, and mabe we could trade a few things at sevenstock. drop me a PM or something.

CJG

zyounker

BTW Do not run urethane bushing in the rear of a 1st gen. It makes the car twitching and unpradictable. Run it in front though.

WF*RX-7

iTrader: (1)

the 12a turbo has a nippon denso fuel injection system, only 2 injectors though. most people have to tap in 2 more injectors . cause modern turbo2 and newer had 4 injectors. no intercooler since it only uses around 6 psi on the turbo. Most of the guys who really modify the 12a turbo go to aftermarket fuel systems. the engine does have potenial i have seen 12a turbo 7s in wales with 300hp for sale and many in australian and european magizines. i have more info that i can post later in you need any.

nekky

The stock turbo should do 200hp, I would think. The cars are fuel injected. Smaller, faster spooling ball bearing turbos with less pressure are better for drifting until you really know what you're doing. It requires a LOT of throttle modulation (or just TONS of power to keep the rear tires spinning, and no where even CLOSE to gripping) and quick steering response. Hitting 15psi, sideways, in 2nd gear, at 4-5000rpm is hard to control I would imagine, no matter how good of a driver you are.

Herein lies the weekpoint of the 1st generation RX-7: shitty steering. The FB turns just too damn slow to drift as well as a Hachi, Silvia, 180, Soarer, Skyline, FC, FD, etc. It would be interesting to see a 1st gen with a good steering rack conversion in a drift comp. I think it'd fare pretty well, but then the next hurdle would most likely be the lack of independant rear suspension.

Some of this is theory, so don't flame me for being a know-it-all, because I'm not.

Zac

shm21284

i always found my FB drifted better without a rear swaybar. I know you want good stiff springs, but i think the solid axle's unsprung weight has a huge factor. just my 2 cents

jays83gsl

Hmm, I dunno about a Skyline drifting. They're way too heavy, and the Atessa don't like it.

thricerx7

I STAND CORRECTED. YOU MAY ISSUE THE 'OWNED' EMOTICONS.....NOW!
Well at least I know that his SA wont be there. or am i wrong again?

by the way Mazdafun that was really funny with the slang.
props to you!