do sa/fb have any potental as a drift car. if so what does it take? if so post some picturs or tell me where to go to see them. thanks

 

There is a guy called Driftlanta on this forum that drifts a T2 FB.

 

The SA/FB is a little underpowered in stock form, for drifting purposes. If you are willing to spend the time/money/effort required to build a higher HP engine, and the drivetrain upgrades to support the power, it can become a monster.
Drift newbies seem to destroy a lot of cars while learning how to control a car during the drifting. SA/FB's are getting rarer every year. Just food for thought.

 

get an lsd or weld the differential and you surprisingly are able to do quite a bit with it just for starts. At that point just the basics stiffer springs struts or even a coilover kit, minor modifications to the motor of course will help or you could go all out and turbocharge, supercharge, or get a tii motor. They have very good potential for it as proven by many people on this board.

 

The 1st gens do have a lot of potential even without a lot of power. Stock engine won't do much, but I would think even an S4 NA 6-port with bolt ons and converted to carb will provide enough power for some moderate drifting. The major weak link is the tranny and the rear end as they will blow up even with a stock engine if driven hard.

 

ive never heard such a thing, co you care to share your sources?

 

^^^ heard of what?

 

transmissions and diffs going out

 

yeah i've never heard that as well.

 

There was a thread on here just the other day about diff swaps where they mentioned that they take a lot of beating while drifting.. had an awesome pic of a welded diff too..

As for "FB as a drifting car"... I wouldn't, but that's because I'm not a fan of drifting. I'm sure you could do it, dunno how or why you would.

Jon

 

get a 240.

 

Is this question being asked because you're looking for potential drift cars or because you have a first gen you want to drift? Telling people to lose interest in a car or replace it with something of your choice is kind of ignorant. Any car can be set up for drift with enough money. The first gen has plenty of potential to drift, plenty of great supporters here on the forums for information. If you want to drift your first gen, or you want to drift a first gen over other cars for whatever reason, i would build the car you want...personal opinion though.

 

I see no reason a first gen couldnt drift. Look at AE86s as much as I dislike them. The ones I have driven are looser then my rx7, and no faster then. Put a 13b or turbo the 12a and it will have enough power. Adjustable struts and sway bar in the rear and it will be just fine.

 

I remember someone saying that the FB is just like the AE86-underpowered but very good drift cars. Start a drift in the powerband, as soon as you let out of it, the drift is over.

 

They are fairly similar from the drivers seat, it feels like the 86 has a shorter wheel base, but they both have the mcpherson struts in the front and multi link solid rear axel.

I think the novelty of drifting will wear off, it did about 6 months after I made this name and now I always regret it.

 

If you want to drift, get involved with a local event, watch, learn, understand the mechanics required to make your car a "drift car". If you have the mechanical ability and the means to exercise those abilities (a shop) and you are set on using a fb (good choice), then be ready to make your own mod's(no after market stuff...or very little) Suspension is key, make it stiff and low, wheels are always the hardest to get for the 4x110 group(me). Go with 4x114 -se pattern and you will have all the choices you want. Don't start with an SA, go with a -SE(84-85) to start, larger rear axles, disk brakes, lsd, mod ready suspsension and better power out of the box starting with a 13b, I am running a rebuilt stock port 12a with stock nikki carb, no rats nest at 112RWHP(nothing to write home about)
this was my new engine before I got into drifting. Power is your friend, turbo's on rotaries tend to shorten the life of the engine so be prepared to spend bank if you go turbo. My idea is tho get a cosmo 13b and make it NA with a meduim port to get torque and power without fear of shortening the life of my engine....drifting puts a huge load on your engine, I had mine to 10k rpm 3 times by accident during a drift because I forgot to check my rev light on the tach.....she's running strong, just be careful with the foot in the drift, you get caught up and then you're at 8-10k and you freak.
Any way, check my past posts, lot's of stuff on, Drifting, coilovers, flares, oil cooling, DriftAtlanta too.
Have fun and stay off the streets, track events only, you won't get good on the street.

 

Of course they can drift. But it won't be like an s13 or fc becasue they just don't have the same power or torque. Because of this it's a bit of an uphill battle to get it to slide but it can be done and when u get it to work its very rewarding

 

i really appreciate what you can do with this car, do you have any more pics of the car.

 

Hey names Nate and I'm 16 I just recently purchased my Classic ,but modern dream car 1983 Mazda Rx-7 12A N/A 5spd. and it's a base model on the Metal tag on the firewall it says it's and Fb....so I guess it's an FB right?...also, I have the Drum Rear end (WEAK!)...but, Watever So yea It's going to be my daily driver..and occasonal drift and street/strip car........I love your GSL it's sick! But, I cant help but notice that everyone wants to pull away from the Origin of drifting (Slammed GSL your and exception) even in D1GP....drifting start by guys using wat they could cars they could find yes you may.need..and LSD but, work with what you got maybe a few little upgrades on the engine is what I believe in Make your Own C.A.I. tr porting your engine...do some Frankenstein mods like I'm going to you want a rear end thats easy to get parts for and is hard to break...do like my Uncle's Best friend with his R100 13B get a Ford 9" rear end shorten it or do what you have to, to get it to work remeber back in the day parts weren't readily availiable to just throw on hince turbos, etc. so why do like every one else and start throwing on stuff to make a ton of power to make it easier to drift rember it's an art a style it takes time to feel out your car and work with the TONS OF POWER you have or the little tiny bit of power you have from your car and just go with it remeber most of the original drift cars were daily drivers so the cars drivers were always with their car and learning...but watever I'm only 16 so Nobody probably cares about my personal drift religon...on another note what classifys an engine a for example S4....blah..blah blah... some one can help me right? man i feel like a noob also is anyone know of any local events in West Palm Beach, FLorida?

 

Wow long post, welcome.
Your car is an FB. 79-80 is SA22. 81-85 is FB question for anyone else, is it FB3S or just FB?
S1 is 79-80
S2 is 81-83
S3 is 84-85
and so on.
For the Florida thing, look for SCCA sites; autocross is probably the best thing to do with $20, no special equiptment.

 

its actually fb33, and welcome nate you seem well adjusted for a person of your age.

86-88 is s4
89-92 s5 i think

 

It goes to 91 for the S5, not 92. 92 was the first year for the S6, otherwise known as the FD.

 

I just turned 18 and bought my '85 GS when I was 17.
I just bought my GSL-SE a month after I turned 18...RX-7 Aficionado.

 

They have drift events at the fair grounds occasionally, Autocross events too.

EDIT: There is an event there on the 25th.

 

Do a search on Slammed_GSL, I've put at least 50 pic's of the car out there, take your pick and enjoy.

It's funny how there are all these young owners out there.....I turn 44yrs this year and I love to drift and turn wrenches.
I also have 2 girls, 2yrs and 5yrs, they both love the car too.
Lloyd