SP Rides: Four-Door Drift Machine
By MICHAEL KITCHENS
Exterior: All fenders rolled and pulled, Big win type one body kit from JDM Chaser, JDM Window rain guard/visors
Interior: Grip royal steering wheel, Boost gauge twin turbo, shift knob
Engine: 1 JZ-GTE swap (JZX 90 motor and trans), drift motion light weight and polish pulley set, drift motion steel braided power steering line, drift motion steel braided fuel line (damper delete), 2 JZ-GTE water pump (non-hydro), 2 JZ-GTE map sensor, Greddy timing belt, Blitz blow off valve, stainless steel twin turbo down pipe, 3-inch custom exhaust, Magnaflow turbo race muffler
Drivetrain: 5 speed swap (r154), spec clutch, JZA70 clutch pedal, JZA70 clutch master cylinder, drift motion steel braided clutch line, welded differential
Suspension: BC racing coilovers, Xcessive manufacturing differential bushings, Serial nine solid subframe bushings, Tanabe Sustec front strut bar
David Gomez is a pretty big fan of drifting. While growing up in California, he was introduced to a wide variety of automotive enthusiasm starting with Hondas, but eventually, he laid claim to the drifting phenomenon and hasn’t looked back.
He’s owned a few drift-oriented cars including two spec’d out FC RX-7s, one N/A and the other a Turbo 2 which was worked over quite well. It was at this point that his military service brought him to Okinawa, Japan and his love for the drifting world was cemented.
Japan blew David’s mind; a five minute drive would include sights such as GT-Rs, Supras and RX-7s as a regular occurrence. Drifting is king on the tiny island and his interests coincided with the revelation of it. As he became better acquainted with the local car culture, he purchased several cars including an FD3S RX-7, another FC and then finally … a Toyota Chaser MKII.
Known in the states as a Toyota Cressida, the car is a four-door family sedan that just so happens to be rear wheel drive and is immensely popular in the drifting world. Sadly, the Japanese version had to be left behind on his return trip to the States. He missed the car so much that he purchased a Cressida and immediately set to work bringing its performance potential to a more respectable standard.
David did all of the work in his garage and even purchased a motor and trans before even finding the car — he had to, as the US spec were considerably milder and less wilder. The swap was a twin turbo 1JZ-GTE, also known as a JZX90 motor and transmission from a Japanese Chaser. In addition to the swap, a ton of JDM spec parts were either brought with him or imported over and installed. These included a host of 2JZ-GTE and JZA70 components such as the water pump, map sensor, clutch pedal and master cylinder.
The ride features a host of Drift Motion mods including a light weight and polished pulley set with steel braided lines for the clutch, steering and fuel lines. An HKS intake, Greddy timing belt and Blitz blow off valve decorate the engine bay. Gas iDavid Gomez is a pretty big fan of drifting. While growing up in California, he was introduced to a wide variety of automotive enthusiasm starting with Hondas, but eventually, he laid claim to the drifting phenomenon and hasn’t looked back.
He’s owned a few drift-oriented cars including two spec’d out FC RX-7s, one N/A and the other a Turbo 2 which was worked over quite well. It was at this point that his military service brought him to Okinawa, Japan and his love for the drifting world was cemented.
Japan blew David’s mind; a five minute drive would include sights such as GT-Rs, Supras and RX-7s as a regular occurrence. Drifting is king on the tiny island and his interests coincided with the revelation of it. As he became better acquainted with the local car culture, he purchased several cars including an FD3S RX-7, another FC and then finally … a Toyota Chaser MKII.
Known in the states as a Toyota Cressida, the car is a four-door family sedan that just so happens to be rear wheel drive and is immensely popular in the drifting world. Sadly, the Japanese version had to be left behind on his return trip to the States. He missed the car so much that he purchased a Cressida and immediately set to work bringing its performance potential to a more respectable standard.
David did all of the work in his garage and even purchased a motor and trans before even finding the car — he had to, as the US spec were considerably milder and less wilder. The swap was a twin turbo 1JZ-GTE, also known as a JZX90 motor and transmission from a Japanese Chaser. In addition to the swap, a ton of JDM spec parts were either brought with him or imported over and installed. These included a host of 2JZ-GTE and JZA70 components such as the water pump, map sensor, clutch pedal and master cylinder.
The ride features a host of Drift Motion mods including a light weight and polished pulley set with steel braided lines for the clutch, steering and fuel lines. An HKS intake, Greddy timing belt and Blitz blow off valve decorate the engine bay. Gas is vented through a stainless steel twin turbo down pipe and a custom 3-inch exhaust with a Magnaflow turbo race muffler.
For a family sedan, it has an aggressive stance thanks to the Big Win Type 1 body kit. All of the fenders have been rolled and pulled and feature the customary battle damage. The rare JDM rain guards give an added touch as well. The interior features a Grip Royal steering wheel and twin turbo boost gauge for monitoring. The car is dropped on BC Racing coilovers with some extremely aggressive polished wheels tucked into the fender wells.
The suspension has been further worked with the addition of Xcessive Manufacturing differential and Serial Nine solid subframe bushings. A Tanabe Sustec front strut bar adds more chassis rigidity.
Overall, the car is an excellent day-to-day grocery getter with the ability to get on it when needed. David believes that the mindset in Japan is a bit different: four doors can be performance oriented, so don’t be surprised to see this Cressida tearing up some extreme angle when the opportunity arises.
