I am coming off of a 240sx and I did some drifting events in the area during the 4 years I owned it. If you want to get into drifting first off don't bother with the RWD DSM idea the weight balance is not where you need it to be. you can do it but don't expect it to be easy or unless you are a legacy in the making award winning
If you want to get started then the 240 is a great entry level car and you DO NOT need a SR swap to drift it. YES it will help when you get higher in competition however for learning and having fun a KA will do just fine I would just recommended some basic upgrade work and cams then later if you want to go further you can do a sr swap if you really want to or just turbo the KA. The only thing you should do off he bat is maintenance sway bars and good coilovers most people dont know this but drift is all about traction and how you manage it
I wouldn't do the MX-5 same with the AE86 cause honestly it just doesn't have the power or TQ needed to keep a good slide going. However If your willing to do the work I have seen a SR MX-5 that was amazing. However the problem is that they are both so short they are a little to twitchy in turns especially for learning.
If you do go with the 240sx the basic break down is S13 better for drift S14 better for track days but both work very well for both.
RX is a great idea but a little narrow so higher speed drift a little difficult but not impossible the big issue is power is a little low if you get NA so do a turbo TQ is lacking till the upper RPM's cause it's a rotary but with some practice you can get used to it quickly.
If you want to go unique the an old school Z is good (I would avoid the 300 I have heard it doesn't work so well) mustang is ok but handling isn't killer so it is a bit harder to drift it then people thing and weight is really against you.
Anything RWD or anything you convert to RWD will drift these are just my opinions. And from experience I would say avoid short and narrow and try to get lighter not more powerful. good luck with the hunt.

I guess I'm alone on the E30 haha. A lot of drift schools say get a 240 because its the easiest car to drift. As cool as that is to know, I think you should pick something that takes a little more finesse and skill to drift. If you can do that, then you can drift a 240 in your sleep.

What is it with people and SR20DETs? The KA24 is a far superior motor it handles boost just as well, and its very reliable.

Too many people watched that movie and just assume SR20DET is the shit.

I mean it all comes down to roller rockers, or moar torques... I choose the torque, iron block, and bullet-proof ness of the ka any day.

E-30s are a lot harder to come by... and they are lot more expensive unless the poor sap doesnt know what it is.

E30s are pretty legit, light little shits too. Idk that it would be a beginner car though

Tanro said:

What is it with people and SR20DETs? The KA24 is a far superior motor it handles boost just as well, and its very reliable.

Too many people watched that movie and just assume SR20DET is the shit.

Click to expand...

This.


Plus torque will help during the beginning.
Use some bald ass tires to get the feel of it, and learn how to react,then think about power.

If your looking to get into drifting, get a car thats going to be solid out of the box. No one has ever drifted a dsm to my knowlege, and i can't imagine a RWD converted dsm to be very balanced as a drift car. Not saying it can't be done but it sounds like a car that will see more garage/jackstand time then actually racing cause of all the things you will have to figure out, and because no one has done it you arent going to find info on it.

Tanro said:

What is it with people and SR20DETs? The KA24 is a far superior motor it handles boost just as well, and its very reliable.

Too many people watched that movie and just assume SR20DET is the shit.

I mean it all comes down to roller rockers, or moar torques... I choose the torque, iron block, and bullet-proof ness of the ka any day.

E-30s are a lot harder to come by... and they are lot more expensive unless the poor sap doesnt know what it is.

Click to expand...

I agree with this also, KA FTW

Nissan 240sx with

Upgraded clutch
short shifter
welded or 2 way rear dif
chanber kit
Strip out interior and unnessasary wheight
Lowering springs

Happy drifting!

Cheep is what I was going for

I like the E30 for drift honestly but they are expensive to buy and maintain especially if you hit something. the only problem with turboing the KA is that it doesn't have oil squirters unlike the SR. The SR is better out of the box but the KA can catch up fast and cheap. Way to many people underestimate it, the only reason I got rid of mine is cause it blew up and I got a good deal on a SR. I wish I hadn't though the KA is more fun around town and with a little work about as good up top

u wAnt something cheap then get a 240 and then get a 5.3 u can get then with harness and accessories for around 500 to 600 bucks and viola...u can even put a small cam in it and get it tuned and make 320 or more depending on cam.....cheap fast and i promise it will drift cause we built one....had about 2k in it and rapped it constantly...oh yea they will do some wicked burnouts to

Well I'm glad to see a few people are with me on the e30s. I think I'm biased because I own an E30 but I agree with you guys about the maintenance on them. But hell once that's all done, you have a potent, tail happy light little car.

Splater said:

Hey guys I'm new to the forums and new to the whole DSM world and I'm looking for some advice/input. So heres what I was thinking...
I've been looking into getting into drifting for some time now and was looking at the usual RWD drift cars like the Nissan 240sx, the only problem to get a descent amount of power out of these you have to build up the whole engine. So I was thinking why not get a car that can handle respectable HP stock, thus thinking of a DSM. My bro has a 1991 Eagle Talon TSI and he has done just a few mods and he has a good amount of HP for the money he has spent. Now the only thing is AWD. So here is my build thought. If I bought a Eagle Talon TSI (I prefer the look of the 2g) did basic head work (performance valves, port the head), bigger injectors if needed, bump up the fuel pressure and the boost psi (I've heard around 20 psi, what do you guys suggest?), clutch, and ECU. Then I would have some power to play with. Then if I converted to RWD. I can do all the work myself which will cut costs greatly, but I'll have to "beef" up the rear end right? I mean if it goes from AWD to RWD that 2x the stress on the rear. I just dont know what kind of rear end parts I will need, what do you guys think? Also I've heard the steering angle isnt the best but I've seen MK3 Toyota Supra's drift which have bad steering angle and there really heavy. I think it could be done. Any input if this or if it wont work would be appreciated. Thanks!

Click to expand...

This statement is actually very untrue. a stock ka24de motor will put out plenty of power to drift. The key it this is good suspension, welded or lsd rear diff, and wheels and tires. A stock 240sx motor is pushing 174hp and i have gone to a few dift comps on a stock motor with an exhaust and an intake and done pretty well on the car.

And if thats not enough power for ya, the stock internals on the ka24de can withstand 400-500 hp, as long as you have good compression, get a good turbo kit, and a tune and your good to go.

...or you can just buy a miata and actually be drifting/using your money on tires instead of spending your time and money working on a 240sx.

you could always drop a small block v8 into an eclipse and do the drivetrain work your self or someone thats good in that field..The v8s are pretty cheap to build, but all the converting stuff might be a hassle. Just a thought though. BTW Ive seen it done

Just giving some ideas for a Conquest / Starion. Im currently saving to buy one as a drift car.

GALLERY>>DRIFT PRACTICE @ SANTA POD - Speedhunters
READERS RIDES>>'86 MITSUBISHI STARION - Speedhunters
This link is awesome
:: Project Zero G :: - Drifting Gallery

Baaaaaaad idea ...just try searching for dsm drift or eclipse drift on youtube and see what turns up...awd is great for slide control on dirt...not so much on pavement...almost any video you'll see of a dsm drifting is either a front wheel drive with the back tires parked on plastic McDonalds food trays and the ebrake pulled....OR...in the snow. and doing a conversion to make the dsm just RWD would be more expensive than just swapping an SR20DET into a silvia (240sx)

Also...and this is just regurgitating stuff I've heard before...the KA doesnt have a closed deck(it's technically considered semi-closed)...where as the SR does...meaning that the SR is a "safer" engine to make power with...there are very few 4 cylinder engines out there with closed decks...the SR20 and the 4G63 are two....it's the same thing between the 420A and the 4G63...open deck or closed deck.

Did some homework and correcting myself...the KA is actually closer to being a closed deck than semi-closed
Open Deck (420A)


Closed Deck (4G63T)

why not take the center diff out replace it with a spool find a driveshaft that will fit or custom fit one and put a starion rearend in it seeing how the dsm rear axels arent the best.

I am coming to my DSM from a 240 sx so I'll let you know my opinion of this. first things first every one who said high power is not needed is correct. especially for a beginning drifter. all your going to do is cause more confusion and make it so you have to work harder to find the right spot in the throttle. buy something with potential to make power but not necessarily right now.

Now there are some RWD cars that are not good for drifting. notice I am not saying CAN'T just not as good. ex MX-5 and AE86 they have very short wheel bases good for low speed but not for moderate to high speed, it is hard to advance with them also the extremely low starting power makes them harder to maintain a drift once started. low power is ok, to low is a problem. Also these cars are expensive. MX-5's because they are known for being sporty and the top goes down and AE86 because of drifting becoming popular. At the other end are things like old school muscle, or new muscle (with the exception of the mustang which I have seen work a few times), too long for learning at lower speeds, lots of TQ that makes you ignore things like feign drifting, breaking, e-brake and clutch kick. Also the weight is just a pain. There is a reason why this is a Japanese sport dominated by imports.

The cars I would recommend to some one starting out are moderately power with good HP potential, low weight, good weight balance (this being most key to learning) and a decent wheel base. The S13 is great I would keep the 2.4 the 20 is over rated and the added Tq helps, also in recent years people have been getting really good numbers out of them. The S14 is great but a little more grip oriented, weight balance is off by only a hair from the S13 and the wider track gives better traction this can be a good thing. The RX-7 I would only do the FC the FD is expensive to repair. The E30 is great and a lot of fun but a little harder to work on and costs a bit more, side effect of being German. I do agree with the conquest but it is harder to work with due to weight and steering angle.

I had a friend that considered turning a DSM into a drift car. The problem that he found was to modify the steering angle he had to custom make arms and he didn't want to go that far. I would like to see it done but the way heavy front end wont help you out and even deleting the AC, ABS, cruise and the front axles wont really help all that much. And doing that with stripping it to get the weight down negates loosing all that. It can be done and I am all for trying something new it just may not be the best car for a beginner to learn on.

Over all I would say if you have no experience try to start with a S13 or if you can afford it an E30. If you know what your doing and wanna make something unique, or even build this in the garage while your learning on something else do the DSM.

Just my 2 cents

Here are a few options if you dont want the same silvia 240 drift car as 90% of the other people out there.

MK3 supra. They are cheap to buy, easy to upgrade, and are GREAT autoX cars. With the right tires and suspension package and even a mildly built engine (top end only) you will be fully capable of drifting it. They are heavy, which means they will make a TON of lateral G's and allow you to break the rear loose fairly easily. Then add in proper tires and you will gain the traction to control that coupled with the correct suspension geometry. The stock bottom end on a 7mgte in a MK3 will hold upwards of 700whp without coming apart. I have seen 771whp on a stock bottom end as a daily driver. The motor is beast, and 100 times cheaper to build than a 2jz.

Next, another great yet often overlooked chassis is the old 280z. A Fairlady with a small block V8 will make for a great little drifter. And with a lil custom fab work and some enginuity you can have a ton of fun. Most 280's can be picked up for next to nothing too.

RX-7= drift king
Supras are great for drifting, but you need to shell out the dough for an MKIV
240sx= your best bet at a cheap drift car. Definitely do a swap but think about an rb20 series engine for some massive power

Around here is is all about ls1 swaps. I have seen S13's, FD's, FC's, S14's. The next up and comer here has a ls1 swapped FD and it is a sight to behold.

As far as miatas go i see them spinning often. The short wheelbase makes them difficult to control as well as the narrowness of the car.

I do believe that Dan @ MAP has a RWD 1g he drifts. I know I saw it at the BIR Proving Grounds this past summer.

MAPerformance 2011 Proving Grounds - Drag Racing, Drifting, Auto X, Road Course, Nightlife and More - YouTube

He can be seen at around 6:40ish.

Tiki2777 said:

RX-7= drift king
Supras are great for drifting, but you need to shell out the dough for an MKIV
240sx= your best bet at a cheap drift car. Definitely do a swap but think about an rb20 series engine for some massive power

Click to expand...

Why would someone buy a 15000 dollar mk4 when u can get an mk3 and have it race ready for that???

Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

Rx-7 = not drift king lack of Tq makes powering difficult and the engines are finiky
Supra mk4= to expensive to fix/ upgrade and the weight requires higher speeds to maintain, not beginner friendly
RB20= expensive to import hard to find parts for

Lets keep in mind this is some one who wants to learn to drift not some one with experience. He needs something easy to control and easy to fix when he crashes it. Sorry but the truth is you will crash it and buying a MK4 supra is going to be a waste when you slide into a curb and twist the frame and can never get it straight again.

Associator, why did you respond to a thread that's nearly a year old?

that is a good question it popped up as a search result and I miss read the date on the first post. I hate the new year I'm always off a year until march ish. My bad