First on the track is Alan Viado's red S14 daily drifter, powered by a turbocharged KA24DE. This motor has been making a serious comeback lately due to its larger displacement, which works so well at spooling turbos. So it had to be included in this test. The car is much cleaner than the 240s I'm used to seeing on the street. Inside and out, it's a really nice street/track car. Before driving it, Viado warns me that one of the pistons was changed the night before and that the rear diff is set really tight. Taking questionable motors onto the racetrack is always sketchy, but he tries his best to reassure me that it will stay together.
She's a smoker. Every time the turbo spools, I see a dark haze churning in the mirrors. The oil pressure gauge indicates that everything is fine, but the boost gauge isn't happy. It's only indicating one bar of pressure while the boost controller is set for 1.6 (later, Viado concludes that the smoke was from the motor running rich and a torn wastegate diaphragm screwed up the boost).
The lack of power costs it some speed coming onto the straights. But things aren't that much better in the corners. Any load on the driveline (either on throttle or off) causes the rear to step out. Normally loose is fast, but this is too much. Applying power in the corners requires a delicate process of opening the throttle gently, transferring weight to the rear wheels before really being able to get on it. The lack of boost probably helps it get through the corners. Overall, the car seems nicely put together, but it would be much more at home at an open drift day.
Alan Viado's 1996 Nissan 240SX (S14)
Engine
Engine Code: KA24DE
Type: 2389cc In-line four, iron block, aluminum head, turbocharged and intercooled
Internal Modifications: 9.0:1 JE Pistons, Crower rods, BC 264-degree intake and exhaust cams, Cometic head gasket
External Modifications: Turbonetic ceramic-coated cast exhaust manifold, Garrett GT2871 turbo, XS Engineering GTR intercooler, Design Craft Fabrication custom intercooler and downpipe, C&R dual pass radiator, Setrap oil and power steering cooler, Unorthodox Racing underdrive pulley
Engine Management Modifications: A'PEXi 550 cc/min injectors and R33 GTR fuel pump, AVC-R boost controller, AEM FPR, EMS tuned by Design Craft Fabrication
Drivetrain
Layout: Longitudinal front engine, rear-wheel drive
Drivetrain Modifications: ACT extreme pressure plate, street disc, Nismo slave and lines, tranny mounts, 300ZX (non-turbo Z32) pumpkin with KAAZ two-way LSD, Infiniti J30 axle (4.09:1 final drive)
Suspension
Front: A'PEXi N1 Pro coilovers, DC Sports carbon steel strut tower brace, Peak Performance tension rods, tie rods, Tanabe anti-roll bars, custom tension rod brace
Rear: A'PEXi N1 Pro coilovers, Peak Performance control arms, subframe bushings, Tanabe anti-roll bars
Brakes
Front: Brembo Gran Turismo 13-in. vented floating rotors with four-piston fixed calipers
Rear: Nissan Skyline GT-R (R33) Brembo calipers and rotors
External
Wheels: 18x9.5 (F) 18x10.5 ( R) Volk Racing RE30
Tires: Nitto NT-01 235/40/18 (F), 245/40/18 ( R)
Body: 1998 Nissan 240SX front facia conversion, Nismo front lip
Interior: Sparco Evo seats, harness, steering wheel and fire extinguisher, A'PEXi gauges, Design Craft Fabrication four-point cage