Project Car 2008

We are commencing work on the official Jap Performance Parts drift car for entry in to Drift Championshps in 2008. The car is based on 1998 Subaru Impreza Type R and will be stripped and converted to rear wheel drive by PR Developments, our partner Subaru specialists.

Paul at PR will prepare the chassis and install our (estimated 450-500bhp) Nissan Skyline RB25 engine with GReddy TD06 25g turbo. The engine runs with 9 fuel injectors, a top mount manifold, oil cooler, power FC ecu and uprated internals. The transmission will consist of an RB25 gearbox, NISMO triple plate clutch, and at this stage STi9 2006 spec hubs (114.3 PCD), shafts, arms and R180 diff from a type RA.

The full spec has yet to be determined, but we are really looking forward to building one of the only UK competition Impreza drift cars!

Be sure to look out for updates and magazine coverage. Below are details of the build so far:

The subaru was driven in to the workshop - a completely standard Sti type R v4 1998 spec:

next Jay and Lino remove all the front panels:

then the engine is removed and the front cross member and supension refitted:

The shell was then taken to Leicestershire for PR development to start work on the project - Afzal and Sajid from JPP with Paul and Dennis from PR

The engine to be used was removed from a 1994 R33 GTS Skyline drift car:

A close up of the 25g turbo!

A photo of Dennis when the shell arrived at PR development in Hinckley.

The first job was to remove the original gearbox top support bracket from the Subaru, at this stage it was unclear if the bulkhead would have to be moved.

Next Paul lowers in the engine for a first fit to see if we have enough space in the Subaru engine bay.

With a bit of persuasion the engine goes in, with enough clearance all round. The Impreza cross member is too tall for the RB25 sump, so Dennis marks out where it touches.

The upper part of the cross member is removed to make space for the sump. We will use the main shape of the Subaru cross member as the lower arms are mounted on it.

This much space will allow the sump to go through.

we decided to make the front detachable to allow for the engine to go in or out easier.

The brake servo is removed, both clutch and brake will have to be located inside the car as the intake plenum takes up that space.

The engine and gearbox are then lowered back in. The downpipe is fitted and clears the bulk head and floor.

We have around 2cm space at the bulkhead and plenty of space for a radiator at the front, we will have to use an electric fan instead of the RB25 original fan.

The gearbox doesnt sit high enough so the two original Subaru supports have to be removed.

The supports will then be welded to add strength.

Now the gearbox lines up well and infact fits perfectly in to the original Subaru hole for the gear lever!

To mount the gearbox, the Skyline mounting points are removed from the floor and will be used with the skyline gearbox cradle. The Engine cross member will be a mix of Skyline and Impreza.

The gearbox mount was fabricated and bolts in to the original holes in the chassis and the RB25 mount

The front engine mounts will have to be fabricated, dennis makes a simple mock up. The brackets will eventually be incorporated in the main subframe. At the rear of the subframe, the steering rack will be lowered, approx 1 inch. Once complete, spare subframes will be fabricated.

We decided to use the Impreza wiring for the front lights and fans, so all non essential wiring was removed - I don't think we will need airbags!

Paul stripped the front loom of all the aircon wiring, the plan is the use the Subaru rear loom and skyline engine and dash loom, we will use a skyline heater box and instrument cluster.

As the car will have an internal fuel tank, all the fuel lines will be re-run from the passenger side to the drivers side, where the RB25 intake is

It was also a good time to remove all the soundproofing, apparently all the sound proofing froma GC8 weighs around 10kg's!

We ran the engine wiring in through the bulk head, the skyline dash wiring will be installed next.

Next week we hope to complete the mounts and wiring, now the gearbox has been mounted, the prop shaft can be fabricated......any ideas for a colour scheme are welcomed!

We have decided to use the Skyline dash and engine loom and wire in the Subaru front and rear lights with the existing Subaru loom. We will be fitting a heater box to clear the front screen and decided to use the Skyline system as it would make the wiring easier. After some slight trimming to the casing it fitted well behind the dash bar.

The heater controls will just plug in, a carbon panel will be fitted to the centre to make a pod for all the controls and switches, the heater controls will fit at the bottom of the panel.

For now we will fit a GTS instrument cluster on top of the dash bar, more than likely use a Subaru steering column. Again the cluster will work with the loom used.

After some measuring we found that the brake servo from the Subaru would fit and after moving the engine we fitted the master cylinder and proportioning valve back in, this will save us a lot of work!

By refitting the servo we can use the Subaru pedal cage - the next issue was the clutch master cylinder, the Subaru one was too long to fit behind the RB25 intake.

After a bit of experimenting we found that we could use the Rb25 master cylinder (which was shorter) and the GC8 shaft which was the right length to mate to the pedal. The diamiter of the shaft and locating circlip were both the same! We will have to re-drill the two locating holes to mount the master cylinder.

Next week we will start work on the fuel lines, roll cage, v10 STi hubs, modified coilovers and Brembo brakes!

15th March

We raided the stores and found a load of bits to throw on the car! V10 STi hubs, v10 Brembos, v10 front lower arms, CUSCO rear lower arms, TEIN v9 coilovers, Kakimoto N1 exhaust, 4 x 114.3 PCD space savers, Full GC8 roll cage, v9 rear drive shafts, APP braided brake hoses, STi bucket seat, FRP vented bonnet, WRC style door mirrors, Drift steering wheel and boos...

The front suspension was assmbled with just the outer front cv joints, using CUSCO pillow ball mounts.

The rear suspension was all fitted - arms, legs, hubs, shafts and brakes.

Nuno was busy working in the car stipping the sound proofing from the back of the car

The heater boxes were modified and holes drilled in the bulkhead for the hoses.

The car eventually stood on its own wheels by the end of the day - a very satisfying moment to finally see how it will all sit, the height seems to be fine, although the sump is a little low!

The roll cage was lined up, all the bars will be fitted and then welded in to position.

We took the car to the first round of the EDC at the International tuning and Styling Show at Donnington, 5th of April 08. We fitted some WORK Emition GTR wheels and cable tied on the a set 22b arches that will eventually be fitted to the car. Even with the wide arches the rear wheels were and inch outside!!

We had a lot of interest in car, and a lot of surprised faces!

After a long break we finally got going again with the car. PR Development have fully seam welded the car, all the joints inside up to the bulk head and rear arches have been strengthened.

All the holes have to be sealed to make the cabin as safe as possible, the fuel tank will be fitted in the boot of the car.

After welding, each joint is sealed so it won't rust.

We then fitted the battery box in the boot and ran the cables through.

The fuel tank and kit was positioned in the boot, however the tank may be too small and be replaced later.

We made a start with the wiring, big job! the loom will be stripped right down to the eseential sections, the excess will be dicarded, I started by stripping out the audio and heater wiring, some of the Nissan loom will be merged with some of the Subaru loom for lights, wiper,s etc....will leave that bit to Paul!

Sajid