Vivid Racing of Chandler, Arizona had a dream. After abusing a number of street cars at the track on the weekends, their dream was to build a purpose-built competition vehicle that could be pushed to the limits. After all, when a car shows up at a track on a trailer, it doesn't have to be running to get home. With the sport of drifting gaining popularity and more importantly, gaining massive support from a number of manufacturers, the decision was made to build a vehicle that would be competitive at D1 and Formula D events. After weighing their options, the decision was made to build their racecar around a first-generation Nissan 240SX platform. Vivid choose the 240SX since it could be fitted with a number of different powerplants and every suspension component they would need would be available through the aftermarket. A list of necessary components was written down on a build sheet and a budget of around $12,000 plus some sponsored components seemed like it would get the job done.

Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst

When a bunch of so-called experts put in their two cents about a project buildup, you usually end up with less than a dollar of loose change and a bunch of bills that easily put you over budget. Such was the case with the build of the Vivid Racing 240SX. When the last of the receipts were totaled, the cash cost of the project ending up at $18,000 (50% over budget). According to Vivid Racing, "We would have saved time and money if we kept to our original plans. In the end, we are still very happy with the results."

Competition Diet

With the build-up of the Vivid Racing 240SX, a focus was put on keeping the weight of the vehicle to a minimum. When it comes to motorsports, weight is always the enemy. The heavier the vehicle, the higher the stress put on the driveline. To minimize weight, the first step was to strip down the junkyard 1992 240SX to the bare shell. The shell was then placed on a frame roller and built from the ground up. Carbon-fiber doors, hatch and hood from Seibon helped to shed some weight compared to the factory steel components. Since the Vivid Racing team was interested in stuffing as much tire under the Nissan as possible, they opted for wide-body fenders from Chargespeed. To tie the fenders into the body, Chargespeed bumpers and side skirts were also fitted to the 240SX. The end result is a 240SX that tips the scales at just 2300 pounds, a savings of about 430 pounds when compared to the original weight.

Power Boost

In the power department, the goal was to produce over 300 horsepower at the wheels. To realize this level of power a host of options were available. Vivid Racing could opt for the ever-popular SR20DET swap or maybe even a more-exotic RB or VQ swap. Since the budget was somewhat limited and the power goal was on the conservative side, the decision was made to build the factory KA24DE powerplant. While the original 155 horsepower rating of the KA24DE is nothing to get excited about, a boosted KA24DE powerplant actually has a number of advantages over the SR20DET that often takes its job. First, the KA24DE has a cast-iron cylinder block. While heavier than an aluminum block, the cast-iron block is generally stronger, more rigid and capable of higher horsepower levels. This makes cast-iron blocks ideal for forced induction applications. Second, the KA24DE has a significant displacement advantage over the SR20DET. The extra 400ccs of engine displacement helps to bring boost in about 20% sooner than an SR20DET with all other factors being equal. Finally, the KA24DE has zero cost, since it comes with the car.

To ensure that the engine would be up to the task of generating over two times its original output, Vivid Racing opted to freshen up the KA24 with a set of CP pistons. The forged-aluminum slugs are tougher and feature a 9.0-to-1 compression ratio that's better suited for forced-induction applications. Up top, the only upgrade was a pair of S1 Jim Wolf Technology (JWT) camshafts. These cams are designed for excellent mid-range torque production, a necessity for a competition drift vehicle. The cams also allow this engine to spin to 8000rpm. ARP head studs and main studs were selected to keep the engine together even under high-boost situations.

The key to performance with the KA24DE is the addition of a turbocharger system. Vivid Racing enlisted a Vivid Racing tubular manifold and a Vivid Racing T3/T4 turbocharger system to pressurize the intake. The T3/T4-hybrid turbocharger currently on the vehicle uses a 50-trim compressor wheel for a nice balance between response and power production. A TiAL external wastegate works with an Agency Power manual boost controller to set the boost pressure to 22psi. When the pressurized air leaves the compressor, it is directed into the custom front-mount intercooler that utilizes a PWR core. The chilled air then meets the fuel in the intake. To provide the proper amount of fuel, an Aeromotive A1000 fuel pump and Sard fuel pressure regulator are teamed to keep the fuel supply constant in the Agency Power high-flow fuel rail. A set of RC Engineering 650cc/min injectors is pulsed by an AEM EMS engine management system. The EMS also triggers the spark that emits from the NGK spark plugs.

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