Hi, I don't post here much, but do do a lot of reading in different sections.
I have an 81 GSL ( Bleh), and I love it. But I've run into a few folks that do drift events in the midwest, and want to get into that a bit this coming summer. From what I'm seeing on here, First gens aren't a popular choice. Is there much you can do in one without going all out and doing a drivetrain swap? There isn't much to be had for FC's around here, but I wouldn't mind waiting a while to find the right one. I don't really care how competitive the car would be, I just want something to learn in and improve in the future. I'm not a "good" driver, no track time, but I do want to learn autocross and drifting, I understand weight transfer, slip angles, I can heel toe decently, etc. etc. Also I can do almost any mechanical work myself.

TL: DR ; Would it be prudent and more feasible to buy an FC as a first drift car, rather than trying (Perhaps fruitlessly) in a 12a Series 2?
Thanks for any help, and for your patience. If this has been gone over before, feel free to bash me as long as you post a link

 

its rwd. drive the **** out of it til it dies, or you find something better.

 

I learned basics in an fb. Heal-toe, clutch kick initiation, counter steer and throttle balence, shift lock... ect. Its a good car to learn the basics like the ae86(under powered, lightweight, cheap to fix). Go for it and learn... when your ready for more power build it up or switch chassis. Its whatever you want, besides it fairly original, like you said you don't see a lot of fbs tearing it up.

 

FB is going to be sweet when u autocross.

 

It would be good for a while, and when you outgrow it just pick up something with more aftermarket support and tear it up.

 

Alright, As soon as Bewst posted I realized that was the way to go.
I also have a Garrett turbo and Intercooler laying around (from an old daytona), so I suppose If I ever get the urge I could incorporate those somehow

 

I Rockefellered an fb for a while. Suspension is cheap. Tires last forever. It works. Besides finding racingbeat stuff, I'd weld the diff and have fun. It's beyond annoying to not keep a slide because of the diff

 

FWIW any car that they don't make seat rails, coilovers, and LSDs for is going to not work past th beginner stage. Not having rack and pinion isn't a great either. Low power potential wont help either.

You're better off finding something else of you care abou keeping your first-gen in good shape.

Any FR car can teach you the basics, but a set up car is way easier to drift with.

Also, drifting is impossible withou a racing seat and a steering wheel in just the right place. Period.

 

it depends on this question do you want to keep your s2 in good shape? if not and you like the feel of your car weld the dif up, lower it, tere some weight out of it, get a good seat and steering wheel and go hard man its a great car to learn in bro! how ever if you dont really want to in some peoples words destroy the s2 get a fc they are great cars not only learn in but there is endless mods you can do that dont cost a arm and a leg ether way is all good bro

 

I am currently building a 1980 SA to be a drift car. So far I have gutted the interior, swapped
in a GSL-SE rear end, Re-Speed front crossmember and steering rack, Tokico Illumina shocks
with Progress springs, and rebuilt and did a large street port on the 12A. You can see my
build progress here: http://s154.photobucket.com/albums/s...RX7/?start=all

The GSL comes stock with an LSD rear end. I would just make sure you flush it and replenish
it with all new fluids. You say that you would do the work yourself, so I would just do the things
that I'm doing to my car. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions on anything that
I have done to my car.