Nissan Drifter
Nissan Drifter
I know I'm gonna sound a little bit like a maniac but I'm starting my first project car. In case you're wondering what it is...well it's an SUV. A '98 Pathfinder to be specific. I'm planning on making it into a drift car with a little bit of work. (A lot of work actually. It weighs 3600 lbs.)
I have drifted in it before. I was being an idiot at my girlfriends house. Down her road she has a small cul de sac (however you spell it). I decided to try it just for the hell of it. To my surprise it actually did drift! Only a little body roll, and the road was dry.
I'll post pics with my progress when I start getting some money to do it. I do need some tips on how to lower it though. I found spring clamps but I don't know how those will hold up under all that stress. I can use some help.
I have drifted in it before. I was being an idiot at my girlfriends house. Down her road she has a small cul de sac (however you spell it). I decided to try it just for the hell of it. To my surprise it actually did drift! Only a little body roll, and the road was dry.
I'll post pics with my progress when I start getting some money to do it. I do need some tips on how to lower it though. I found spring clamps but I don't know how those will hold up under all that stress. I can use some help.
'98 Nissan Pathfinder XE (Project & Daily Driver)
Sleepers own all.
Sleepers own all.
- sdterrible1
- Posts: 354
- Joined: 06 Jul 2007 23:38
- Location: San Diego!
Re: Nissan Drifter
thats weird.. i drive a 95 pathfinder everyday and it def. isnt what i would say to be a good drift car/handeling car. i would start with something that u know is gonna work out in the end(240sx), and its your first project??
just my .2!
just my .2!
Drive a Datsun
Re: Nissan Drifter
First thing I'd recommend is a roll cage ! You're probably going to need it....
Jason
Re: Nissan Drifter
*SNIFF*SNIFF*....I smell 18 year old.
Re: Nissan Drifter
Probably will. With my luck I would probably flip a 240. lol.jason wrote:First thing I'd recommend is a roll cage ! You're probably going to need it....
'98 Nissan Pathfinder XE (Project & Daily Driver)
Sleepers own all.
Sleepers own all.
Re: Nissan Drifter
No...actually I'm soon to be 16.defdes wrote:*SNIFF*SNIFF*....I smell 18 year old.
'98 Nissan Pathfinder XE (Project & Daily Driver)
Sleepers own all.
Sleepers own all.
Re: Nissan Drifter
lakeworth florida?
im in wellington.
dont drift the pathfinder,, to much work to get it to where u need it to be competitive.
im in wellington.
dont drift the pathfinder,, to much work to get it to where u need it to be competitive.
Re: Nissan Drifter
1. Awsome to the localness.tyson87 wrote:lakeworth florida?
im in wellington.
dont drift the pathfinder,, to much work to get it to where u need it to be competitive.
2. That's the whole point of a project isn't it? Fun but difficult?
'98 Nissan Pathfinder XE (Project & Daily Driver)
Sleepers own all.
Sleepers own all.
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Re: Nissan Drifter
SUVs are top heavy and inherently unstable. On the plus side you have something substantial wrapped around you when discover this first hand. Does your WD-21 have the LSD option?
The Pathfinder was designed to be tall to sit above oversize tires and clearance for off road. Lowering is sort of against it's nature. Cutting a coil out of the rear springs will lower and stiffen it slightly and the front can be lowered by turning the torsion bars down. However this will throw the front alignment geometry out. I don't know... a car is a car, a truck (4X4) is a truck. Seeing one lowered is sort of like having it neutered. You still have lots of time.. save up for a car.
The Pathfinder was designed to be tall to sit above oversize tires and clearance for off road. Lowering is sort of against it's nature. Cutting a coil out of the rear springs will lower and stiffen it slightly and the front can be lowered by turning the torsion bars down. However this will throw the front alignment geometry out. I don't know... a car is a car, a truck (4X4) is a truck. Seeing one lowered is sort of like having it neutered. You still have lots of time.. save up for a car.
"Nissan 'shit the bed' when they made these, plain and simple." McShagger510 on flattop SUs
Re: Nissan Drifter
I have the R-50. Second Gen., Pre-Facelift. Yea it does have the LSD option.datzenmike wrote:SUVs are top heavy and inherently unstable. On the plus side you have something substantial wrapped around you when discover this first hand. Does your WD-21 have the LSD option?
The Pathfinder was designed to be tall to sit above oversize tires and clearance for off road. Lowering is sort of against it's nature. Cutting a coil out of the rear springs will lower and stiffen it slightly and the front can be lowered by turning the torsion bars down. However this will throw the front alignment geometry out. I don't know... a car is a car, a truck (4X4) is a truck. Seeing one lowered is sort of like having it neutered. You still have lots of time.. save up for a car.
Also, the Pathfinder wasn't built with off-roading in mind. It was built as an everyday commuter and family vehicle. It has some off-road and towing capabilities but not like that of the full-sized American trucks & SUV's.
'98 Nissan Pathfinder XE (Project & Daily Driver)
Sleepers own all.
Sleepers own all.
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- Posts: 263
- Joined: 24 Sep 2007 14:30
- Location: Sacramento, NorCal
Re: Nissan Drifter
Everybody else has suggested you don't do it, and I completely agree. You would have to go beyond gutting the car to make it light enough to handle well. You would have to do some sort of crazy swap or major tuning to be able to get the powerband in the right spot to drift well... You'll have to pretty much custom-design a frame if you want to get the suspension sitting low enough so you don't roll the car. Is it do-able? Sure... Practical for a 16 year old's first car and Daily Driver? Nowhere close.
If you're serious about wanting to learn to drift, a 240sx S13 would be a great learner's car. They're cheap, and need nothing but a 5 speed and a spooled diff to spin in circles and waste your money on tires.
FAIL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anKs5JMM39g
If you're serious about wanting to learn to drift, a 240sx S13 would be a great learner's car. They're cheap, and need nothing but a 5 speed and a spooled diff to spin in circles and waste your money on tires.
FAIL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anKs5JMM39g
- johnbureezu
- Posts: 638
- Joined: 07 Jun 2007 11:22
- Location: Sunny Diego
Re: Nissan Drifter
Your better off going with a minitruck with an skyline motor.
http://www.garageminiz.com/gallery.html
http://www.garageminiz.com/gallery.html
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Re: Nissan Drifter
Wow, well, if you really are planning to do this, I'd suggest chopping it as much as you possibly can without having to bend your head when you're sitting down in it to get the center of gravity as low as is humanly possible.