The Big Picture

As previously mentioned, Sheena will be a drift car. The main focus of this build is primarily just for that, getting sideways. When laying out everything and discussing plans for the car, I decided to build it with the Formula Drift Pro/Am rule book in mind. I wanted everything within the rules when it came down to it, not because I think I will ever compete in FD, but because I want to be well-prepared. If there was an event that had strict guidelines, I would be set. Another major aspect I looked at was making it reliable and somewhat comfortable for short or long distance driving. I didn't want to go overboard with power or with things I didn't necessarily need. The goal is to keep things relatively simple and to make it easy to drive. With my boyfriend having a 240sx, I figured it would be a good idea to use as many s-chassis and similar parts as possible so we could share spare parts or be able to swap parts from car to car if needed. 

With that being said, the choice of going SR20DET was an easy one for me. It's a familiar motor for the both of us and makes plenty of power without being overkill. It's a small aluminum 4 cylinder that will help keep the balance of the car and there's a good amount of support behind it so swap parts are easy to find. 

Along with the engine, S13 coilovers and front suspension also seemed like a great choice. It's known to perform well with drifting and Nick had a few pairs of knuckles laying around which can easily be modified to achieve extreme steering angles. This would also mean I would need to do a steering rack conversion since the 510 doesn't have a steering rack from the factory. 

As for the brakes, Z32 was what I decided to go with for the front and rear. They are the biggest brakes I can fit inside a 15 inch rim and they are affordable.

Lastly, I wanted to make sure I was safe. This meant investing in a cage, and not just any cage. This was going to be well thought out and have a proper design. It needed to meet FD guidelines, which requires a full cage with door bars in order to tandem (two cars side by side). 

With the plan set and goals made, it was time to start working on the car and begin the build process. The fun was just beginning!

“Visualize this thing that you want, see it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blue print, and begin to build." 

-Robert Collier