We wonder if this Nissan 180SX knew what it was in for when it rolled off the
production line in 1991. Maybe, somewhere deep inside its ECU, it was thinking,
“Gee, I hope I’ll be one of those cars that gets tucked away in a nice warm
garage every night and only come out for leisurely Sunday drives.”
Boy, did life not turn out as planned for this machine!
During its time in Japan the car
received a host of mods that are popular in drift circles. It’s safe to say it
was a regular sideways slider.
Homeland modifications began with a HKS Super Drager exhaust, HKS pod filter,
HKS front-mount intercooler kit and HKS blow-off valve. HKS high-lift cams were
also installed, but the crowning glory was a HKS GT28/35 turbocharger. Upgrade
540cc injectors, a big-bore Z32 airflow meter, HKS F-CON PRO-V fuel controller
and HKS electronic boost controller were also stirred in. A
Cusco oil catch can, ARC sump and a G-Rex remote oil
filter kit and oil cooler served to keep things running safely.
The driveline was beefed up with a twin-plate clutch, lightened flywheel and
an aftermarket rear LSD that skips in tight manoeuvres. A C’s short shifter
provides snappy shifts to keep the SR turbo motor on the boil.
One can only imagine the counter-steering action this 180 has seen.
But the opportunity for this car to live a more laid-back life came in 2002,
when it was imported to
Australia. Who
would buy the car - a retired gentleman who wanted a conveyance to the local
bowls club?
Not likely.
The car must ‘ave rolled its pop-up lights heavenward when it got snapped up
by a fired-up young car enthusiast and drifter-in-the-making, Jamie Wilson.
Jamie has performed some major changes to the car in his two years of
ownership. The SR20DET mill has been treated to a Zetti tubular exhaust manifold
and a MicroTech LT8 programmable ECU, which allowed removal of the existing Z32
airflow meter. (Note that the fitment of a MicroTech system to this particular
car was covered in
MicroTeching a 180SX)
The exhaust was also treated to a locally-fabricated 3 inch front pipe to
join the existing HKS Super Drager system. Curiously, a standard type dump pipe
was fitted to the car when it arrived in
Australia. The
rear muffler has also been recently replaced after the HKS item was destroyed.
HKS pod filter is now equipped with a replacement filter element and lives
inside a custom stainless airbox that catches your eye when you pop the lid. A
matching stainless trim piece can also be found on the opposite side of the
engine bay.
More bling-bling comes from the HKS Aeroquipe airflow deflector, braided line
and polished rocker cover. The intercooler pipework has also been redone
locally, and you’ll find a compact Odyssey battery in the driver’s side front
guard to provide adequate clearance. The existing oil cooler also had to be
relocated slightly to accommodate the new pipes.
Power output is now a sizeable 233kW at the rear wheels (as measured on
ChipTorque’s Dyno Dynamics chassis dyno). This is achieved with boost pressure
set to around 21 psi.
Drifting is a sure way to destroy a set of struts in no time flat, so Jamie
opted to have the existing Tein adjustable coil-overs rebuilt. These should be
good for a while, depending how many gutters get in the way... The bushes were
also replaced for better chassis response.
The brake pads were also upgraded after the previous set got fried at Winton
raceway.
And the mods aren’t limited to under the skin.
If you check out our article on MicroTeching a 180SX you’ll notice the car
the car looks pretty mild with just a factory grey paint job. Looks a bit
different now, eh?
Jamie has gone for the Sil80 look by fitting a S13 Silvia nose with triple
projector headlights and a twin slat grille. A BM Blister body kit – comprising
a front bar, side skirts and rear bar - further alter the 180SX shape. ADD (Aspley
Drift and Drag) can be thanked for the body kit, along with many other aspects
of the car. Note the absence of a rear spoiler – Jamie wanted to give the car a
low, clean look.
The paint is, of course, custom. The attractive Rainbow Flake gold is applied
to all areas previously grey, while even the A-pillars, roof and bonnet are a
combination of Rainbow Flake and black. And, yes, there’s the essential
collection of drift stickers.
Rims are Lenso 17 x 7.5s wearing 225 wide rubbers – don’t ask Jamie what
brand they are, coz they’re constantly being changed...
Inside, the cabin is decked out with Nizmo gauges for boost, oil pressure,
oil temperature and battery voltage. A monster tacho and shift light is also
mounted on the dash, while an EGT gauge and second boost gauge are mounted in an
A-pillar pod. Yep, there’s plenty to keep an eye on! A Personal steering wheel,
aftermarket gear knob, Sony CD/tuner, Blitz turbo timer, drift handbrake button
and fire extinguisher are also installed. The door trims are re-trimmed red to
match a pair of Bride seats, which were temporarily removed prior to our photo
shoot.
Jamie has also had a half cage installed that – together with front and rear
strut braces – serve to noticeably tighten the chassis. Nobody ever said the
180SX is a giant in terms of torsional rigidity...
So where to from here? Well, Jamie plans to upgrade the intake plenum, go for
a 5 stud wheel conversion and work a bit more on his drift technique.
Arrggghhh, we bet this car wishes it never rolled off the production
line!
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