In our last article, we discussed the first four typical modifications for drift cars: drive train, tires, interior and exterior. This article will focus on the final three customization areas (engine, steering and suspension), and will touch base on some of the less well known mods that drifters often seek for their car. When thinking about drifting, whether professionally or otherwise, it is imperative that drivers know the ins and outs. Some may learn techniques easily, and others may have more funding for modifications, but it is important to understand balance, and further, that one without the other useless.

Before understanding engine modifications, one must understand braking horsepower. Braking horsepower is defined as the quantity of a motor’s horsepower without the decline in force caused by the gearbox, generator, differential, water pump and other supportive parts. In other words, real horsepower that is rendered to the driving wheels is less than what the vehicle is actually rated for. The differences in horsepower and braking horsepower are crucial for a drifter to understand in order for him or her to accurately modify their car for drifting.

When a driver is considering engine mods for a drift car, it is imperative that they monitor the bhp that they will be achieving with such modifications. Too much braking horsepower in a drift car makes it extremely difficult to control, even for the most advanced drifter, but bhp is still a preference, not something that is written in stone. Most drifters like to achieve a braking horsepower somewhere between 100 and 1000. However, bhp is less important than engine customizations, such as, cooling systems. Read the rest of this entry »