Step 2.8: Suspension Overhaul

Over the past couple months we have been developing our suspension to meet a new type of driving style, competitive drifting. This emphasizes a balanced car, not the kind that can lose traction running over a pebble. It uses many serious adjustments to suspension geometry and steering angle to produce a car that not only slides, but does it aggressively, predictably, and with lots of speed.

Tonight I installed S14 to S13 rear subframe conversion bushings from SPL Pro Suspension. Due to time constraints we decided to leave this one up to those who had already traveled the path, and their package does not disappoint. The kit includes spacers, allowing us to adjust our rear roll center and squat characteristics very quickly on track, a key tool in adapting to different courses and drivers.

To correct roll center in the front as well we've made modifications to the subframe. These corrections put the car's front suspension components in a more natural state, closer to the angles they were originally conceived to operate in. This has many advantages for our car, and I cannot wait to feel the difference.

Many custom builds involve more extensive modification to the subframe. For now we've chosen to go with a simpler option. This makes our impressions of how the car has changed much more precise, as we continually add other changes, creating a product that performs and is easy to replicate. We hope to offer a lot of new services for the S13 and S14 chassis after some serious testing. Stay tuned, there's lots more to come.

Alexander "Axle" Riser 
Driver, Team MSA | MSAStore.com | BCRacingDirect.com

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Step 2.75: Lighting

Well...at the last event, we had a slight mishap.  During a tandem event.  The lead car hit a cone, sending it into our Driver's headlamp.  Shattering it on impact.  The footage can be seen here.

So after driving one-eyed for a while, we decided it was time for a permanent sleepy eye look.  We pulled a set of Rigid Industries Dually lights off the shelf and made the surgery.  And WOW the light output.  These suckers definitely lit up the road and did their job.

Rigid Industries Dually  LED Lights as Headlights

Rigid Industries Dually  LED Lights as Headlights

Bryan Lin
CEO, The Motorsports Authority, Inc. | MSAStore.com | BCRacingDirect.com

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Step 2.5: New Shoes and Piping

Sitting pretty at a Fabricated Motorsports Even in Mineral Wells, TX.

We quickly found she liked to burn through tires.  Without a tire changing machine at the events, we couldn't keep continuing this way.  Our next choice of wheels were some XXR's again in 16 x 8.75 in Chromium Black.  Beautiful wheels, and complimented her and her accessories quite nicely.

Not being able to belt out her lungs to the full potential, the car was taken to A.P.E. (Arkansas Performance Exhaust) and got some new piping in place.  Jason and Zach did a beautiful job as usual.

New Practice wheels in a highlighter lime green w/ Black Spoke.

We also acquired some used wheels.  Not very wide, but great for practice.  However, they were white, ugly, and pitted.  Kim just couldn't ride out that way.  Could you image the laughs?  So we scuffed them down, and repainted them.  We wanted to do something a little different.  Something a little wild.  The results was a highlighter lime green with a black MSA spoke.  And I have to say, boy were these flashy.

She was loud and proud.  And every moment at this event was definitely an enjoyable one.

Photo Courtesy of Proper Garage

Bryan Lin
CEO, The Motorsports Authority, Inc. | MSAStore.com | BCRacingDirect.com

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Step 2: The Cage and Implants

The first few runs were great, and kudos to Axle for many long and restless nights to get Kim ready for her first event.  BOY did she look great tearing up the track.  She dug into the dirt once and it made a scene.

Car felt good.  The slides felt good.  But something was missing.  With the big sweeper and a few other turns, smoke was just almost absent.  The car drifted very well and balanced itself very well, but just didn't have that showmanship that it should.  To the drawing board.

Parked at the Pits looking pretty.  Traction Optional.

Event Photo Album HERE.

First on the discussion was the roll cage.  In order to get any type of Tandem Action (more than 1 drift car on the track at one time), the rules state a roll cage is required.  That was no problem.  With the help of our good friend, Rodney Beedle, we got it done.  Making some fantastic welds and putting the bars as physically close to the shell of the car as possible, we were given back a car with an amazing cage.

Kim's Roll Cage 

Kim's Roll Cage - Door image

But we couldn't leave it at that.  Remember, she had the ability to drift, just didn't do enough to show off those moves.  Next on the table were implants.  She needed a new heart.  One that had stamina and could really show off her skills.  An SR20DET was acquired from Carlos at Import Performance Shop.  Complete with most all the parts to perform the surgey, Dr. Axle quickly began digging in.

The old heart didn't prove too difficult to pull out.  We dressed up the engine bay, giving it a fresh coat of matte black paint.  The surgery went quickly and painless.  Well...maybe some of the usual busted knuckles.  She took it well.  Now, she was ready for the next big show.  And she performed well.

And the surgery was successfull!

MSA's Drift Car Lighting them up!

Bryan Lin
CEO, The Motorsports Authority, Inc. | MSAStore.com | BCRacingDirect.com

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Step 1: The Design

As nice as the two-tone was (sarcasm end here), we had to change the color scheme.  With many sleepless nights and energy drinks, Axle headed up the transformation process to get ol' Kim dressed up in formal wear.  It was rough in the beginning.  There were lots of rust spots.  Nothing that couldn't be handled.  A special Thanks to Ben Chase for assisting on the project!

While Axle was heading up the bodywork and paint, I began Photo-shopping and designing what would be the scheme for Kim.  What should we have as her formal attire and accessories.  Version 1 and 2 were born.  The vote was put out there for our Facebook Fans.

Version 2 was the clearly chosen winner.  But our wheels would be a matte black.  We then questioned would a matte black stripe look better?  Another vote was put out to our Facebook fans.  The gunmetal stripe stood its ground.  The results would be designing and cutting the vinyl at the very last moment.  And when I say last moment, it was finalized the night before her debut event.  After a few problems (blown up radiator..small things like that), we finally got her dressed and ready for the ball.

That night, she started her crusade to Memphis for a Traction Optional Event.  She did pretty well considering the amount of power being produced from her still stock KA motor.

Modifications at this point included:

- BC Racing BR Type Coilovers
- Coilovers with upgraded spring rates
- 16" XXR wheels wrapped in whatever tires were available.
- Competition Clutch Stage 4 Clutch
- Competition Clutch Lightened Flywheel
- Buddy Club Racing Driver's seat (stock in passenger)
- Suspension Techniques sway bars
- All new rubber bushings
- Welded Differential




Bryan Lin
CEO, The Motorsports Authority, Inc. | MSAStore.com | BCRacingDirect.com

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The Beginning..

The Car:
I bought this car back around 2007 with the full intentions of fixing it up and selling it - 1989 240sx Automatic with working H.U.D. (Heads Up Display). However, my mother-in-law was in desperate need of a car, and after fixing it up, I handed her the keys to a working vehicle in primer black.  She later decided that flat black wasn't her style, and her friend decided to add a little rattle can flavor.  Hence...the two-tone beauty in the photo.

After a little over a year of driving, it began to have some leaking and smoking issues.  The top of the motor was covered in oil from the leaky valve cover, and the underside...Oklahoma Red Clay.  So I found her a new vehicle, and I got this back as you see it.




The Driver:
In 2011, I got wind that my friend and long time Amateur Drift Driver, Axle, was having a rough time.  Under some financial burden, he had to sell off parts of his drift car and sadly wouldn't be able to drive during the 2012 season.  I thought, "here's a driver without a car and I have a car without a driver."

The Merge: 
Having purchased this car solely for drift purposes, the transformation had already started.  First, the 5 speed swap.  I had long ago bought the donor car.  Being an '89, I was excited at retaining the original H.U.D.  I then discussed arrangements with Axle, and it was a done deal.  The driver and car would soon become acquainted.

Bryan Lin
CEO, The Motorsports Authority, Inc. | MSAStore.com | BCRacingDirect.com

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