i think its ca18DE or ca18E..im not too sure about it..
i heard that s12's are really shytty..but its kool that its rwd..maybe some parts are interchangeable w/ zenki s13? idk
usually those cars are found in really crap condition..if its under 1k and your are willing to put alot of money in it..go for it..

 

That's an S12 chassis, and none of them came twin cam, but some came with the 3.0 V6 from the 300ZX. Most of them were CA20E, and some rare ones were turbo, CA18ET. It's about the same as a RWD Celica but heavier. The first thing you need in those cars is suspension, they bodyroll and squat really badly. It's independent suspension though, so not too bad of a car to try on.

I would still recommend an early 535i, but you're on the right track. Any decent fab shop should be able to weld a diff BTW, but remember it's pretty hard on the halfshafts. I think old Nissan pickup diff with the M12 bolts will work in a 200SX, or a Z31 diff too, ask Ostrich about that stuff though.


-Sean

 

s12 = trailing arms. No good, you can convert the s12/z31 rear end to coilovers. but still trailing arms.

J30s are identical in drivetrain as non-turbo z32 300zx's. the suspension is different and (obviously) so is the body, interior and such, but its the same engine and tranny and rear subframe as the Z's, but with a longer driveshaft (and in the J30"T"'s it even comes w/ HICAS) I so no reason why one couldnt use a Z32 5-speed. The only thing is you would have to make a bezel and shift boot for the interior, as j30's did not come with a 5-speed in this country, and you'ld probably use the z32 (2+2???) driveshaft.

I would love to see someone drift a J. Its the same chassis as the A31's Cefiro and they use those in D1 for christmas sake, why not a J? And i dont see why an SR20 wouldnt fit in thier either.

In case anyone tries to refute that statment, the J30 chassis code is A31. so PPPPFFFFFTT! (Nissan got some goober from jaguar to design the inside and out of a J, thats why they look funky)

 

DUDE, just go out and buy a 240!!!!! if its your 1st drift car then don't listien to everyone else. listen to me. 240's are cheap to buy cheap to insure, cheap to fix after you hit a curb (cause you will), easy to find parts in the junk yard cause there are 10 million of them already wrecked and destroyed. all these other cars people are talkin about don't fit all the criteria the 240 does. plain and simple. s13 will drift absolutely bone fucking stock, even worn out.

 

ohh, and tell yoru dad he's full of shit, there is no way an s13 is exspensive to ensure. go get an 89-90. single cam and twin cam swap it.

 

I got a 90 with a twin cam swap if you wanna buy it. 2nd gen RX7's are really hard to drift. My first non dirt drifting car was an S12 they accually work pretty good and are pretty resiliant. Whatever you get buy a piece of shit cause your just gonna fuck it up. You don't wan't anything your gonna get too attatched to cause then it really sucks when you beat the hell out of it. Believe me I know.....

 

Trailing arms aren't really so terrible ( I know I know, BUT they really aren't, they are just hard to get dialed in properly, try an older BMW, and lets talk about trailing arms again)

Oh ,ad the J30 is a Y32 chassis, basically a modified Q platform. Personally it always seemed like somewhat of a 4door S14.

-Sean

 

actualy trailing arms do suck to drift, but it can be done. it just takes alot of research and development. the GTO Ryhhs millan was driving was semi trailing arm in the rear. i would stay away from them as a beginer though. we've been over this before so all i'm gonna say is that semi trailing give unpredictable handling characteristics at and beyond the limit, which is what you don't want in a drift car. i'm not really a nissan person either but i have to agree that the s13 is the best chassis on which to learn and grow. and i think i covered all this in my n00b thread thats stickied at the top. read it thats what its there for.