Drift Engine

Hey guys, so currently I have the stock VG30E on my car. I was looking into engine swaps for about a month or so now, and I can't quite figure out what I want. I know that it's all opinion and everything, but I wanted your inputs on the most satisfying drift engine. My friend owns an S13 so he has the famous SR20DET swap and he has let me drive his car multiple times. As a result, I really wanted the power of the SR20, but I don't want to spend that much money and kill my car. Everything on my car is stock currently. I know that a lot of S12 guys out there hate people putting SRs into the S12s so I just wanted to know a better engine I could put in. Or what I could do to my car to make the V6 better.

Long story short, I want the engine that can provide the most fun for drifting or the most power. Considering the SR20DET heavily, so I want your inputs on any alternatives at all. If I should stick with the V6, then what can I do to make it gain more power.

SR CA KA,  4cyl crossmember and s14 SE knuckles and hubs and get BC S12 coilovers

Starting with an SE the only real trouble you will run into with a CA/KA/SR is replacing the front cross member from V6 to I4.  You might try sourcing a VG33e and do a hybrid build using your cams.  Lots of parts out there for the VG but not much specific to the S12.  Lots of info in the forums here.  Good luck!

Thanks for your input, guys. One of my friends has a nice S12 and recently finished rebuilding and installing the vg33. I was thinking about that for a while too because of this. Anybody know anything else?

Do a VG33E with some aggressive cams in it, ported and polished heads, and a full exhaust and you should have more than enough power to go around drifting happily since you already have an SE V6

the VG30 to VG33 swap in my pathfinder was simple (by standards of an engine swap) and made a profound difference.  With Mr. 510's adapter you can even keep all of your old accessories.

I would stick with a vg30 not only they are fun and cheap to replace. They provide enough torque as a ka does and plenty of room for increase of power.

There is a few of us who drift a vg30.

^100% agree!

I rode in Julian's (Ju_S12_Turbo) S12 at All Star Bash and his car has waaaay more useable torque than my car but we have about the same peak power. His is the original VG30E for his SE with cams and headers. Mine is a CA20E+T on 10psi. We both make about 185hp to the wheels. He was able to keep up in tandem with sr/1J/v8 swapped cars all day. I always have a hard time keeping up in tandem with my ca20.

Keep the VG30 you have

Not like to advertise anything weird here.. But anyone ever consider the 2az-fe? Its a 160hp na motor.. Ultra torquey.. And can be pushed to 800+ on stock sleeves... Taka oano, and Tony Angelo both are still using it stock everything (including cams) with the exception of a stroker kit from BC and boost.. They are making 750 to the wheels reliably...

just a fart in the wind.. I know its Toyota but its the baby brother of the 2jz
Post Merge

If you are willing to do cross member swaps and lots of custom fab work there are lots of better choices for drifting than the KA/CA/SR and VG swaps we have discussed so far.  2az or 2jz would both kick ass but you won't get on the track nearly as soon.  Simply upgrading your VG30 will be the easiest option and will still put a smile on your face.  VG33 hybrid would be the easiest "swap" and your smile would certainly be bigger, especially if you added the same upgrades that you would have your VG30.  I guess the KA/CA/SR swap would be next easiest because you can source the cross member to bolt right up and the wiring is already pretty well documented so there's lots of support.  Anything else will be significantly more time consuming but I always give points for unique ideas and execution.  Do some searching here and keep the build thread updated and I am sure you will get tons of support from this group/site.

^agreed

If you can't do fun/cool drifts with your current vg (Assuming its running right), you should stop drifting hahaha.  I ran my stock vg for over a year with just intake, exhaust and msd stuff, then later I did cams, headers, valve springs and all of this on the stock Z31 ecu/maf set up and I had killer AFR's all the way to redline. Also don't be scared to run more tire PSI, For comps and full track I run 80psi cold, once its heated its more like 95 to 100psi. People says it will slow you down and all that jazz, but if you can't hold a drift you either need more power or more psi! hahahaha

Get rid of any rubber bushing you have and you will be able to use the power you actually have.

Look at these threads and you can see, it drifts fine with the vg

http://club-s12.org/retro4/index.php?topic=37025.0
http://club-s12.org/retro4/index.php?topic=33885.0

Thanks guys, I will probably just do the VG33 swap. Drifting it in the VG30 is fine, I just want some more power. From what I know, the engine is fine, but I'm not too sure about that. I'm doing a basic tune up with this week or next week so I'll see what it's like then. Thanks for all your help, guys.