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The S16 Nissan Never Built or The Mustang I Never Wanted To Buy

I have been doing this for a long time. Like a real long time. I'll try and make this short, but it probably won't be.

I got my first S13 in 05. Then I got an NA6 miata in 07. That was my first actual drift build. It was turbo and fun. I wish I still had the photos of them, but... photobucket.

Then I sold it for a WRX. That lasted less than a year and I got another S13. It was perfect. Coupe, S14 SR, A/C; it was the best S13 I'd ever driven. But I got T-boned and it was toast. So I got a cheap shell and moved everything over, and blew up 3 SR's in just as many years.

I also was gifted a '55 T Bird from my family which needed a lot of attention as well.

So I needed to make an adult decision, and that was to stop spending money on an S13. So I parted it out, sold my daily, and went car shopping.

I thought I wanted an FRS, but I drove one and it just didn't feel right. So my wife told me, "Why don't you go try one of the new Mustangs? They look pretty cool."

I wasn't sold, but I figured, "why not?" I went a test drove a GT. It drove like a muscle car. Not for me. Then I tried out the Ecoboost. As soon as I pulled out of the dealership lot, I knew this is what I was looking for. It drove like a heavier, more powerful, newer, s-chassis.

So in April of 2017, I bought one.

24 comments

Comments (24)

badhaircutted

Mar 16

I got the very cool opportunity to judge at Final Bout SSS in Houston last weekend. It was such an honor, and a great weekend, AND reminded me why I love drifting. It was also confirmation that everything I've done so far has been progress forward and the car drives so well and so predictable now.

I also got to drive a bit in my down time, and managed to blow the oil seals in my turbo after about 8 laps 🙄 but my friend Ryan had a stock one he just took off his car and I got it the next day and brought it home with me, so car should be fixed soonish.

Here's just a few pics and some in car footage with Geoff (pacotaco)

badhaircutted

Jan 29

I put in an oil cooler and some gauges. Boost (just cause it looks cool) and oil pressure because that was the only thing I couldn't monitor accurately stock. I love dash mounted gauges.

Edited

run.matsuo

Dec 21, 2023

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Great read.

terboboost

Dec 20, 2023

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This is a great build. Keep it going!

commit2buy

Dec 20, 2023

This thing is sweet

MalekZain13

Dec 19, 2023

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I used to drive an s197 mustang before getting my current hatch, I did a few things to make it look cool but didn’t go too in depth to fix all the suspension problems on it.

milliardo

Dec 09, 2023

damn those flcas are nuts. its cool how the tie rod passes thru like that.

Dustin

Dec 08, 2023

These are so cool to see done. With them getting more affordable I wouldn't be surprised to see these pop up more and more!

badhaircutted

Dec 08, 2023

Replying to

I hope so! They’re definitely more affordable now and most of the hard work has already been done to figure out how to make them driftable.

I have had a couple friends buy one, put coilovers on it, take it drifting and be like, "This sucks. This car is bad." I told them, "If you bought a stock s chassis, and just put coilovers on it, would it do what you want it to?"

There's a learning curve to them, but I don't see them any less viable than any FRS/BRZ/GT86.

Edited

sagekieran

Dec 08, 2023

Good car

Twotonezee

Dec 08, 2023

insane car dude! Super cool to see something different and super stylish!!

badhaircutted

Dec 08, 2023

Here’s the full, current list of what’s done so far.

Rolling

* Advan RS 19x9 +22 19x10 +25

* Advan Model 5 19x10 +45

* 25mm garageline spacers

* 245/35 (f) 265/35 (r) 245/40 (d)

Suspension

* BC BR type coilovers

* Fun Haver/RTR angle kit

* RTR front sway bar and endlinks

* Steeda subframe inserts and collars

* Steeda rear toe arms

* SPL RUCA

* BMR lateral links

* BMR rear sway bar endlinks

Drivetrain

* Kaaz 2 way diff w/ Motul MT90

* Ford performance 3.73 final drive

* Powerstop brakes/rotors

* Goodridge stainless brake lines

* Motul RBF 600 brake fluid

* Steeda 35 lb clutch spring

* Hydraulic handbrake plumbed inline

* ABS Delete

Engine

* NGK Ruthenium LTR7BHX plugs

* Tomei expreme Ti exhaust

* MAP 3” intake

* UPR catch can system w/ gutted PCV

* Cobb FMIC/Cold pipe

* CV Fab hot pipe

* DV+ BOV actuator

* Cobb accessport w/ tune+ tune

* CV Fab catted downpipe

* Turbosmart wastegate actuator

Interior

* Bride Zeta 3 seat

* Planted seat rail

* Nardi steering wheel

* NRG hub and quick release

* Vertex shift knob w/ 3” extension

* “Cuzco” drift button

* Raxiom LED interior lights

* Chase bays hydraulic handbrake

Exterior

* eBay rear diffuser

* eBay rear side spats

* Raxiom LED reverse light

* Gt350 front bumper

* Roush side splitters

* Kouki clear tails

sabotage_tyler

Dec 08, 2023

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Awesome to see somebody building one of these while keeping the wheels in the fenders and no NASCAR livery.

Maverna

Dec 08, 2023

Super cool build. I've been on the fence of going to test drive one of these but after reading this I might need too

dannyp87

Dec 08, 2023

Can you kinda explain the factory dual pivot steering vs what you have now? It looks pretty strange. How did it behave before and after?

badhaircutted

Dec 08, 2023

Replying to

So if you look at the original setup, you'll see that the knuckle has 3 things that bolt to it: LCA, tie rod, and tension rod, in addition, the sway bar endlink mounts to the coilover. It's basically a copy of what BMW did on the e90/92 cars. It's not a bad system, but because of how the knuckle pivots on multiple points, it doesn't allow the car to self steer very well. You really have to guide the wheel like you're driving a simulator. People tend to blame the electric steering rack, but that's not the case at all. The rack in these is actually pretty good and has multiple feedback settings.

It's just very different from what I was used to, and I knew if I wanted to get better in the car, I needed it to drive how I wanted it to. So the new angle kit eliminates the tension rod all together and moves the sway bar endlink to mount on the LCA. The LCA is all one piece and the knuckle has an adapter similar to GK tech stuff. I'm not an engineer, but switching to this style of front suspension over the stock setup, the car is much more snappy in drift, it's easier to flick and catch, and much much easier to transition.

dannyp87

Dec 08, 2023

Replying to

Ok I see it now, that's pretty weird that the factory tension arm went to the knuckle rather than the control arm. Also I would think the sway bar end link would need to be able to rotate with the coilover to allow the car to steer, though I could be wrong.

Aeustin

Dec 08, 2023

Tyler I love you and im glad you have a car that works and you get to drive again. I miss your s13 still tho.

badhaircutted

Dec 08, 2023

Replying to

I miss it too TBH. But this was the best option, and I dont regret it. It's been fun to figure out over the years.

Edited

marcus915

Dec 08, 2023

i followed you a long time ago when I was 17 or 18 - still my favorite s550 to date. love the modern take on the schassis formula

badhaircutted

Dec 08, 2023

Replying to

Thanks, and thanks for making feel old!

badhaircutted

Dec 08, 2023

That brings us to more current day. I wanted the car to behave differently in drift, and, without getting too technical, the dual pivot steering was holding it back. So I got an RTR angle kit and finished out the rear arms. It completely changes the front steering geometry and converts it to a single pivot system, which is the Achilles heel to these cars imo.

The front of the car is pretty aggressive now, but god damn. It drives amazing.

I finally got the front suspension settings and ride height figured out. It's probably the best drift car I've ever built, and I think the ecoboost motor is a better/cheaper option over a K swap. If anyone is on the fence about a newer d car, I would highly recommend one.

I glossed over a lot of details (like how to retain steering wheel controls, install the hydro, and bypass airbag lights) but if anyone has questions, feel free to ask, or hit me up on IG at @badhaircutted.

Edited

badhaircutted

Dec 08, 2023

I then started adding more stuff. The stock diff is essentially a 1 way mechanical LSD, so I got a Kaaz 2 way as well as a Nardi.

I also added some more exterior bits like a rear diffuser, and a GT350 bumper.

The car was finally looking how I wanted it to. But It still wasn't drifting how I wanted it to. I also did some more bolt on stuff like intercooler, wastegate, downpipe, etc.

I took it out to Knuckle Up in Houston and some local events with Club Loose Texas.

I then got a proper seat and swapped out the knockoff Bride for a Zeta III and a Vertex knob. Interior tuning is underrated.

I've never been a big fan of hydraulic handbrakes, but I felt like this car could definitly benefit from one, so we made one.

Then we went back drifting. I got a truck too because this car had become too much to daily and I had a son. Color matching is sick.

Edited

badhaircutted

Dec 07, 2023

It didn't take long before I started collecting basic parts. Wheels and coilovers and some basic exterior stuff.

But as good as it felt to drive on the street, it still didn't drift quite how I wanted it to. Time to call my friends who are smarter than me to figure out why. I also added a Tomei titanium exhaust and some other small parts like a seat and a Cobb Accessport.

Russell from Walker Pro Motorsport came out to start measuring and making some suspension arms with SPL.

Before long I had some new front suspension arms and cut knuckles.

The car drove much, much better, but as I got more comfortable, I wanted more.

DRIFT

CLUB

the

The S16 Nissan Never Built or The Mustang I Never Wanted To Buy

DRIFT

CLUB

the