304 build project (vs drift purpose ute)

[5lutevs]

for starters, i have only just joined this blog so hi to all, my name is Liam. I am currently working a 96' vs manual ute to have a go at drifting at barbagallo raceway in perth WA. the engine has roughly 250 thoughsand + km's on it and probably close to ten owneres.... so its not my pride and joy but more like that drift pig i want to burn tires with HOWEVER, this requires a fair bit of work befor i can really have some fun. i have recently overhauled the front suspension system and plan on going over the rear aswell. but more importantly, i have even more recently bought a vr 304 block (machined 30 thou) with a crank, rods and 30thou acl flat top pistons to match. AND IT BEGINS. i hope i can use this site and this thread as a guide when im unsure or need some ideas and maybe even help others out with simular plans.

My first question in on Cams! I am trying to decide on crane cams or crow cams and what stage, comp ratio, followers and head work. ANY IDEAS?

[Munz]

For starters the block with the flat tops and standard heads will sit around 9.5:1 compression. So I think that would be enough in regards to Piston To Valve clearance if your looking at a cam to be revving around 4000-7000rpm for drifting purposes.

Taken from another forum

Crow Cams are old school and ground on a wheel rather than by a Landis (cnc'd). Difference is the wheel wears and can have quite a variation between lobes and are a lot less accurate.
Personal choice go for a cam that is done on a cnc or landis machine more accurate

[304runner]

just spend you're coin on dropping a 1j or 2j if you want a off tap drift ute...

[GTS69]

depends on your budget but a top mount blower will give you best bang for buck with low down torque and help get the rears spinning with minimal fuss

[5lutevs]

9.5:1 aye. i've been off from tafe and the rest working to try put some money together and ill be getting my cam next week. i have to make a decision this week. ill be keeping the stock intake and ill leave the heads (for now... based on budget). after reading a thread on here (by green foam or something like that i think) about stock 304 cam choice i came up with crane 276 or crow 4503, i was already leaning towards crane cams so cheers for helping me clear that up munz the article basically said that anything more agro than these examples would put the performance down from stock as the engine does not the intake and further modifications to compliment the cam. i would also go a set of matching crane lifters. i am now stuck here as i havent taken much time to learn about pump and anit pump hydraulic lifters, allowable lift or retrofit roller lifters. has anyone here sussed this out?

as for 1j and 2 j engines, i havent researched them at all :S And being a first (budget) build for a bit of fun i am trying to keep it pretty basic and them hopefully build something much more intense over time without any rush... and a full time job might help

[flanker]

barbagallo raceway looks like a sick track. I'm guessing high HP cars would make the most of those long corners.

You'll probably want to build an engine to suit the track you drift on. Suspension of course, is something you should pay more attention to first, before even thinking about the engine. What did you actually get done on the front....and whats planned for the rear???

[5lutevs]

so far on the front im running monroe gt sport struts with ultra low king springs, done recently. i added nolethane strut mount bearings and nolethane sway bar links and bushes. i plan on doing a strut brace and a sway bar upgrade and mounts, possibly coil overs in a year or so to replace the monroes. feels a lot better already suprisingly. the rear ill probably go a set koni shocks with the adjustable coil feature around it and get a new set of springs, ive been told that running the rear end a bit softer helps with the transition during the change in drift direction so i might go sedan springs as the ute and wagan springs are more rigid or just go the ute/wagon springs and run the adjustable shocks soft.. then id overhaul the rear bushes, ill look into that a bit more, i have pedders torque bars that seem to work pretty well for now with no diff shudder. as i said im making an entry level car on apprentice wages haha

[flanker]

Sounds good for the financial position your in.

I personally wouldn't bother with coilovers, or adjustable shocks they are a waste of money. Only Adjustable swaybars, panhard rod and camber tops are worth getting IMO. Talk to someone knowledgeable about suspension who also deals in bilstein shocks, they can specifically have shocks built to drift spec (correct damper rates), purpose built and set for the ute you have. For not much money more, you can have custom springs made, at the right Lb rates for the ute and at the right height, instead of ricer boy king springs which aren't drift purposeful and will not benefit you. Everything else your doing sounds good.

You'll then have something properly setup for drifting instead of using bits and pieces from here and there, hoping for the best. Having suspension properly setup (that won't break the bank) can make the absolute most from a stock motor. No point spending money on the motor, if the suspension isn't setup properly.

[5lutevs]

so your saying i should specially order my springs and shocks but have them set for my ride height and load rates? that sounds cool. ill look into that! as for then engine im well on the way already now haha. the block is being honed and surfaced. rings checked and filed and cam bearings fitted all tomorrow. cam and lifters are on the way in the mail along with a full gasket kit . then ill need my timing chain and an oil pump and swap the rest over from my engine when i take it outta the ute and then im still unsure on memcals as i have heard you can get a tune on the basic computer

[flanker]

so your saying i should specially order my springs and shocks but have them set for my ride height and load rates? that sounds cool. ill look into that! as for then engine im well on the way already now haha. the block is being honed and surfaced. rings checked and filed and cam bearings fitted all tomorrow. cam and lifters are on the way in the mail along with a full gasket kit . then ill need my timing chain and an oil pump and swap the rest over from my engine when i take it outta the ute and then im still unsure on memcals as i have heard you can get a tune on the basic computer

Coming along well.

For your suspension settings, get onto a drifting forum, or ring some specialists up. They'll give you advice on what Lb rates to run your front and rear springs at, and shocks (they'll be custom made up to suit everything) for your ute (drift purpose of course ). Then simply fit it all since your doing the work yourself, you'll save a pretty penny. You'll get conflicting advice most likely, but at least after you've raced with it a few times, you can always get others made up to be stiffer/softer.

I can't remember the specs on my VN, but the front spring rates are around 300lbs and the rear around 500lb. Stiff as hell, and suited for the car. The shocks were custom made at bilstein in sydney to suit the vn as well and are drift spec. I just wish I didn't get custom adjustable coilovers for the front as when you adjust the spring rate... the height changes with it. I'd also get adjustable camber as soon as you can. I was running about 3.5 degrees when i was out, and the improvement is incredible. A lot of places told me I had to have my K-frame fabricated for it to work, this was simply not true. I found a bloke who fitted everything for me and adjusted it without cutting my k-frame, this might be the same on the vs.

I always wanted a drift ute, maybe one day

ps: don't forget the hydraulic handbrake

[braundog]

yep you can get a tune , i got one a while back on here of delcowizzard for my turbo v6 wags, dunno if he dose v8 thoe. but yes its possible mate. ! good luck mate. im in the process of putting a turbo on my vs ss ute! fun and games.

[5lutevs]

haha a turbo on 5L would be nice not seen too often either.

with flanker's talk on camber, what did you need to fit for your camber adjustment. i un-did the bolts bracing the lower end of my front struts and the little adjustment stopper pin in the hub assembly and simply moved my hubs as far in at the top and out at the bottom as they would go and then tighten the bolts. the tire just clears my strut and both camber angles are the same as they are as far as they'd go. this was simply for trial and error purposes and only made a slight difference in angle but the handling was noticably increased and the car doesnt pull to one side at all so there they stay haha

as for hydraulic handbrakes! i cant wait to install one I was learning handbrake entries over the weekend with the stock handbrake, this took some effort, and i loved it! this way pretty much means no understeer on entry. im looking forward to a proper set up though for use while already in a drift as with the stock set up i can only properly use it to start the drift off.