s13 TA cars? (aka I want to race again)

[Budski]

so I've been going back and forth on my next project I want to do since I finally have a place with a garage. So after going from another GC8 to kustom to newer domestic to gasser I've settled on a 240sx. Its a cheap way to get back on the track, plus I can sell it in the end and have a larger lump of money to fund a bigger and better project.

Now the goal its to built a multi talented s13 coupe track car for TA, autox and even a little drifting (eek I know!). The big question though is why isnt there more s13/s14 cars in TA? do they lack in some area? Also if anyone know of some good build threads to look at post them up!

[Choku_Dorian]

<----- is also interested in this topic

[Kris@T.A.F.]

I heard its due to the suspension set ups, that the things in the suspension that make the such great drift cars hold them back on being great grip cars. I dont remember the specifics but there was a thread dedicated to this on another forum Im on. If I remember which one I will post it up.

[lester]

from the numerous videos i've seen revolving around racing in japan, I've seen some guys rockin s13's and s14's in grip applications. Now the videos weren't specific to drift or grip however.

I'm thinking you could make any car a TA car.

[spazegun2213]

DO IT!

There is no reason you cannot have a damn good time in an s13.

[TS4L]

I see no reason the S13 isn't a great track car, look at Bill's 240 from Dentsports and Kognition's car. These cars have plenty of capability, I wish I lived closer to a track as my car is finally getting its last few suspension mods and is ready for some TA. They are cheap and have great aftermarket support other than real aero parts and Kognition is working on that.

[nismofly]

I believe the problem with the S13 is with the anti-squat designed into the rear subframe, and possibly the same for the 14...I know for sure the 15 has the best geometry by far, which is why swapping a 15 subframe to a USDM chassis here is so popular.

[ZR8D]

woot woot for the 15!....sorry, just a little biased here.

Just to clarify things up a little...I'm no drifting expert by ANY means, but from what I've been told....

Drifters want grip too. That way they can go faster as they are breaking the rear end of the car free. If tires are too hard or too bald, it just makes for less predictions of how the tires will react based on the driver's actions. (at least that was how it was explained to me)

[nismofly]

Yeah true, there's very little different between grip and drift setups.

The 15 was just the ultimate evolution...if it wasn't such a PITA to get one here, even as a track only car, I'd probably consider one...but for the price you can get something that does perform better and carries less headaches.

PS: One thing I really like in Japan is how people will use time attack as a battleground, but their real competition is other similar chassis...so in our case it would be S13/14 (and 12's and 15's if anyone brings them out) competing against each other. I've read that people basically count being the fastest of X chassis almost as important as winning in class/overall.

So for example Kognition/240SX motoring s14's and DSG 13 competing for fastest S chassis within U-RWD, etc...

If this idea became more popular in the states I'd probably look more into building a far more serious 14/15... and still may regardless.

[Rdmndrifter]

From what i've heard the S13 has some balance issues, as well as suspension issues.

That being said, I have seen a fair share of TA S13's! There is obviously a huge amount of aftermarket support, and many cheap opportunites to build a track-worthy car. The track easily translates to drift as well.

So i'm going to say what everyone else has said and say the the S13 would be a great race car in general, and you should go for it!