either way guy.... thanks for falling asleep on me... but yeah, pics and videos will be coming probably next sunday the day after the event...


any tips and pointers for drifting on an open diff?? or just drifting in general? any tips for a rookie

 

um... tip for drifting on an open diff: don't

 

You obviously have no idea what you're talking about, here's a tip for you, when someone asks a question about doing a motorsport, leave the answers to the people that have done them.

As for drifting on an open differential, it's quite possible you just need to carry a lot of momentum into the turn, then try your best to never lift completely off of the throttle. Partial lifting is okay but lifting completely will desynch the wheels and you'll wind up shallowing out or spinning.

Andy Sapp, a professional drifter, used open diff for quite a while, as did Byron (a very competitive drifter). Now that I think about it, there are quite a few drivers that went out there and RIPPED on an open differential. It's just learning the car and getting that precious thing we call SEAT TIME!

SEAT TIME, SEAT TIME, SEAT TIME! Don't be like the rest of the posers out there, instead of just talking about it, be about it and drive. Then when you've gotten your talents up and you've saved some money, get a real limited slip differential.

Now some budget drifter will pop in here and mention welding the diff. I don't think this is a great idea, especially if it's your only car. Welded diffs do not have a such thing as neutral corner entry and if you attack a turn, it's either over steer or sever understeer.

I'll never run a welded diff, it's not a bright idea. They make very strong true-lock differentials (aka the 2-way gear/spool type) that lock hard on accel and decel but still allow differentiation when making normal, everyday, I'm running to the store to get some milk, turns.

-Dave

 

so basically, hit the turn hard, swing the *** out and mash the gas but stay off the rev limiter... as for the parking lot stuff i've done, figure 8s and what have it was pretty easy to break her loose especially in second gear, and was somewhat easily controlled... so i'm assuming i should do what i do in the parking lots around the islands, on the track...

throw the weight forward, turn hard, and mash the gas... right? as far to initiate the slide...

sorry guys, i can read lines in the road or track with autoX and RR, but i'm new to drifting other than controlled wide angle doughnuts

 

Well, I don't have much experience with the S14, but I can tell you that figure 8s and donuts in a parking lot aren't going to prepare you for drifting sweepers and switch backs at an event.

If I were driving your car, there would be three things I would count on when going into a turn:

1) Clutch Kicking, limited or open, a well timed clutch kick will throw your *** end out. From there, lay on the throttle, bang of the limiter if need be. The KA's are pretty good at cooling and you'll be moving so as long as you're not just in place doing a mind-blowing burnout, feel free to be as liberal with the throttle as necessary.

2) Ebrake, if your ebrake works, use it. I've seen some of the junkiest, poorest running cars get sideways and hold it because they have a strong ebrake that can pull the ***-end out.

3) Weight transfer . . . wait, let me rephrase that . . .EXTREME weight transfer, I'm not talking like turn out slightly then turn in, no. I'm thinking along the lines of gorilla steering inputs. Turn out HARD, turn in HARD, when turning in, lift off the throttle to transfer the weight and lay back on the throttle AS SOON as the tail end comes around.

People such as Byron and Andy would be better off for words-of-wisdom on that, but after riding with a few open diff drifters who do WELL, it seems that's what they do to get the tail out and keep it there.

It'll be a little tougher to drift with an open differential, but if you can COMMIT to learning with an open diff, when you finally get your limited-slip, you'll tear the course apart!

-Dave

 

i've read/heard that many a time... i'll think i'll stick with that....

after doing some research, i find that the "Feint" drift works best for me, and i can use that to swing my a$$ out and power over... i'm still somewhat at a loss as far as clutch kicking goes, is it like it says? you just kick the clutch at a high speed in a lower gear? i've tried that around town, just screwing around and it doesn't really do anything... it's probably just me..

as far as the E-brake drift, i think my cables are worn and i can't get full lock, is there any way to adjust em to make it tighter?

another thing a read is the shift lock drift, high speed, down shift and gun it... correct? cause thats what i basically do in the parking lots...

once again guys, bear with me here, i'm sure these tecniques are simple to you, but advanced to me.... also, i think i'll start a thread on this is the proper section to avoid cluttering up my build thread with random convos... so head over and check it out...

thanks Dave for all your help man, i'll be using it at the track this weekend brosive..

 

Sounds like you just about got it, just get out there and start practicing...

Shift-lock . . .I'd stay away from that in anything but a built car. Yeah, doing it once or twice is okay because you won't do THAT much damage, but if you go to a drift event and do it, you'll probably break something. Shift-locking literally uses engine speed to "shock" the rear end into locking up. As Newton taught us, an object in motion wishes to stay in motion along that given path. If you take that rotating assembly and force it to stop rotating, even briefly, that's excessive wear and will drastically shorten it's life.

Practice your clutch kick, practice feinting, and stick with that. Once you go on pass that, move onto using the brakes to initiate your drifts (left foot braking and such) in order to advance your skill.

It doesn't happen overnight, and you'll probably do horribly your first event, but we all suck at it our first time out there. I did, Donnie did, Smoke did, it's just part of learning.

I'll check out the other thread and explain a better method of each technique for your application above.

-Dave

 

well guys..... just got my S14 VLSD.... and i picked it up FOR FREE!!!!!!! woot woot... will be installing tonight.... pics and write up soon to follow so stay tuned!!!!!!

 

Though you had an SE? hmm, nice

 

it's an SE.... non abs and non VLSD.....


the diff i picked up was an open diff, and not a VLSD.... thank god it was free, and now that i'm a pro and diff removal and install, i guess it's time to get it welded.... a welded track diff for the parts shelf and an open diff for DD

 

you could have checked that b4 u put it in lol..

 

it was free... and who really cares? i mean if i had paid $200 for it would be kicking someones door in....

and it wasn't a complete failure, i got to have a good mini road trip with my girl, and the door lock actuator i picked out of his door works and i can lock my doors for the first time in three months....

it was just a big let down.... and i should have checked it while i was there.... even if i saw it was open diff, i probably still would have hauled it home and welded it for track duty... so either way, it's not like i'm out any money... i went to jax and back and used a little more than a 1/4 tank of gas... so yeah, no biggie...

 

Good times

 

okay so i got the diff (the spare), took it to my buddys house and got to welding it... got about 1/2 done before i ran out of wire on the spool.... UGH... so tomorrow i'll be gettng some more wire, and finishing it up... i've taken the liberty to include some photos of the welding process....

i'll also be media blasting the diff cover, and mayby painting it some weird color... perfect for an ugly welded track diff...

here's some photos.... don't talk chit about my welds, I'm a bit rusty...



this is where i ran out of wire on the other side......

semi clean diff cover... i'll be blasting it tomorrow when i get everything put back together..


oh and a little side shot of my buddys "Sil80"

 

Just keep going over it, I've never done welding, but I've seen the weld jobs that fail out and that's getting close, LOL!

-Dave