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1984 Isuzu Gemini 2.6 Turbo Drift Car

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DriftPanda

History

Check out my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/EliTheDriftPanda

This is my track-only drift car! I purchased this vehicle around 2011 with a G180Z engine, 32/36 carburettor, extractors and Lovell springs. After welding the diff and fitting seats and a fire extinguisher, I hit the track two weeks later and thus the "carrot" drift Gemini began. Over the following two years I fitted a slightly bigger cam, Koni Red shocks and an adjustable Whiteline rear swaybar, 4mm washer-style steering lock spacers and some Nolathane bushings. With a mighty 56rwkw, this car relied entirely on handling balance to stay sideways, but still managed to take it to the big boys, including an 8th-place result in a Stadium Drift round at Tailem Bend. After two years, I felt I reached the "glass ceiling" of this setup and took it off the track in 2013. Since then I’ve done a lot of serious modifications.

The first dyno day with the new setup resulted in the clutch exploding catastrophically... I pulled the car down, fixed what had broken, and took it back to the dyno. The ignition system and wastegate can't keep up - resulting in an overboost and a misfire over 5500rpm, but despite this we made 252rwkw with an awesome 848Nm of torque, and saw even more on some runs. We had to detune it with a low redline to avoid the misfire, and still made 212rwkw. The response of the new motor is fantastic, very smooth power delivery and torque from down low. The first track day with the conservative tune revealed a few other issues - the in-tank fuel pump let go, amongst other things, and the cooling system needs an upgrade, so it's back to the shed for more work before the next run. There's a lot of potential though, and I can't wait to get back out there!

Check out videos here:
http://www.youtube.com/PandamoniumDrift

Modifications

Engine: 4ZE1, JE forged pistons, Spool rods, balanced, ARP head studs, Multi Layer Steel head gasket, reground camshaft, stainless steel valves (42mm inlet, 40mm oversize exhaust), new head, forward facing plenum, XF throttle body, Gemracing tuned length mandrell bent T3 highmount exhaust manifold with external 38mm Tial wastegate, 450x300x90mm intercooler, front mount with 2.5" piping.
Drivetrain: MUA 5 speed gearbox (TF Rodeo) and remote shifter, 6-puck padded button clutch, custom tailshaft (pending) into RN25 Hilux diff, parallel 5-link with panhard rod.
Interior: Full weld-in steel rollcage by Rex Kelway, Bride driver’s seat, Daytona passenger’s seat
Brakes: FC RX7 ventilated disc front brakes, N14 Pulsar GTiR solid disc rear brakes, hydraulic handbrake

Vehicle Specs

Engine: 4ZE1: 2.6L L-4 EFI turbocharged

Transmission: 5 speed manual "MUA" gearbox

Body Style: Sedan

Trim: Facebook Eli "the Drift Panda" Duykers!

Colour: Orange

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1984 Isuzu Gemini 2.6 Turbo Drift Car

History

Modifications

Vehicle Specs

Comments

1984 Isuzu SBR 422