BOOM! Whats up Speedhunters, whats up 2011!
My three year plan:
2009- Bring the heat
2010- Rock on
2011-The final countdown
So that means the goal for this year is to really go for it. In 2012 the world ends, so it's now or never. I'm really excited to be able to announce that I have a solid pit crew for this season thanks to Need for Speed and Nitto Tire’s help. I would also like to thank now, GTI, 6666 Customs, STACK, Holley, Royal Purple, KW, Part Shop MAX, Drift Works, Alpinestars, Earls, Wilwood, Twins Turbo, Replay, Driveshaft Shop, Gram Lights, Jordan Innovations, GM Performance Parts, and Robot Racing for their support in helping me rock this coming season as well.
Costa Gialamas from GTI will be leading Tom Roberts in a 2 man effort to setup and maintain my car at its best for each round. My long time friend Tommy Roberts (you likely know and love his gold s13 that has received a lot of coverage on here) will be my spotter for this year.
The front of the car continues to use KW coilovers, Part Shop MAX links, and now uses Drift Works front knuckles and will switch to 18-inch wheels with a 235/40 NT05 tire.
Tommy and I learned how to drive together, and progressed as drivers from street drifting all night or by doing tandem at local events over the years with each other. We have similar tastes and thoughts on driving style, and I think his input will be a huge help to take me to the next level in drifting. Through driving with Tommy, his dad (big Tom) started to help me work on my car. Starting with assembling hose ends and intercooler piping, then to wiring help, then to building my engines for pro am stuff, to Formula D engines, to rebuilding my engines while I'm drifting overseas, to helping out with pit crew duties at local Formula D events. He has been an invaluable help and Ive only ever paid him with burittos and hamburgers, maybe a sandwich if he is feeling healthy. They have both been a huge help and factor in my drifting and I'm very excited at the opportunity to form a “team” with them for this year.
The cage was redone by SPD, you can also see the oil reservoir for the dry sump oil system behind the passenger area.
I'm also excited to have Costa’s support this year. He has worked with Rhys, Dai, and Stephen Verdier in Formula D so his willingness to work with me I think is pretty cool. I think with his experience I have overall a very solid crew for this year and a cool group of friends to travel around with and have some fun.
The rear of the car is now using Drift Works rear knuckles, a dual Wilwood brake setup with SPD brackets, and continues to use KW coilovers, Drive Shaft Shop 500m axles, and Part Shop MAX suspension links.
I'm not going to dwell too deeply on the technical side of my build in this post. There is a solid article on MotoIQ.com about my car and its technical improvements for this season, seen here- http://www.motoiq.com/magazine_articles/articletype/articleview/articleid/1877/a-preview-of-matt-powers-formula-d-2011-rebuild.aspx
The goal of this article is partly to introduce you all to the “team.” I never really liked the word “team” in drifting. I’ve always viewed it more as my friends who just like to have fun. I think it’s still the same, but now we have a strong hunger to kick some ass in Formula D. Free lap dances after a good weekend?
What six years of drifting does to a car.
I also wanted to take this opportunity to explain some of my choices for the new direction my car has taken. After placing 2nd at Pro Am nationals held at the Red Bull World Championship event, Wrecked Magazine asked my plans for 2009, and I said “Street drive my car to Long Beach round 1 with a posse of 80’s dudes blasting the Final Countdown, and then retire from pro drifting.” Long Beach 2009 was my first attended FD event, either as a spectator or driver. I think I went to one D1 event in 2005. I had a ton of fun at FD, way more than I had expected.
In 2009, I didn’t really care about doing well… I don’t know if it was because I was new, a different person, or if it was just because it was not a very realistic goal based on my experience and platform at the time.
In 2009 I graduated from college and it was sort of a pivotal moment in my life. I never wanted to be a “pro drifter” or followed Formula D. I could get a normal job, keep my car how it was (“cool” – but also slow and wack competitively), keep drifting as a hobby and go drive a few times a year. Overall, life lived and experiences: average. Bold decisions made: none. Being an artist and architect of my own life: fail. Or, I could do something awesome and go for it. Try to do this drifting thing 100% and see where it takes me.
For 2010 Need for Speed approached me with a serious offer and I had a big and, at the time, seemingly difficult decision to make. Looking back at it, it was an easy one, and I definitely made the right move. Now I want to continue expanding my drifting, having more fun, doing awesome things, and living a rad life. Living the dream I guess. (Although the reality is that I have been working on my car all day every day for the past 3 weeks, it’s 2am as I write this, and I’m stressed about getting my car done! But, for the most part, it is living the dream. It’s pretty awesome.
Need for Speed and Nitto wanted to sponsor me again for 2011 and were down to help me step up my game. First thing needed, a pit crew. Second? For me I thought the best plan was to get a simple and more effective motor, and moderately improve the suspension. Nothing crazy. I think a bad ass engine is what will take my car to the next level. Plan, think, compare, mediate on this for a few months- LS7 it is.
The GM Performance Parts LS7 is equipped with a Dailey dry sump system,
Katech Cam, and Quarter Master 7.5 inch twin disk. It is otherwise stock
and should make low 500hp on a pump gas/110 leaded mix.
I’m not a car dork, a purist, a soul drifter, or anything like that. I’m
a guy who likes to have fun, and drifting is something that is very fun
for me. This is why I don’t think “V8,” which is really some junk
blanket term, is lame. I don’t believe in convincing you or that one is
better than the other, however, I will say it does have a factory
semi-dry sump, titanium rods, titanium intake valves, stock 11-1
compression, is lighter than my old ka-turbo, and pumps out 500hp on 91
octane in stock form. It’s not some poopy engine out of a Suburban. It
should be pretty fun to drive, and upshift to 4th in a second gear
corner for no reason at all.
The GTI shop is filled with other race and project cars, drift and grip.
I don’t really care what motor is in a car, it has no impact on my life. I’m excited at the opportunity to improve on my car and make it more similar to the top competitive vehicles, to do better, have more fun, and do some tandem. Do you think Kelly Slater would seriously consider riding a wooden long board because its more soul? Right.
The boys for 2011, from left to right- Tommy, me, Big Tom, Costa.
Keeping drifting fun isn’t about “repping the turbo lifestyle” or some lame high school fan boy stuff. Do you seriously think anyone drifts to “defend the 4 cylinders worth and truth”? If someone did, I think they would likely have some sort of personality disorder. I could care less about what engine is in the car I’m following in tandem trying to bash my bumper and rub my tire against. It's about driving, mindset, friends, tandem, blowing minds, hanging out, living, doing it.
Analyzing and discussing the Drift Works offset rack spacers. Also can see Stephen Verdier’s
old drift car in its transformation into a rally cross car.
These guys don’t care either. Big Tom is probably your real father.
That’s really all I have to say at the moment. In conclusion, it’s the final countdown.
Full dry carbon bolt-in dash from Robot Racing.
It’s pretty late. I’m going to sleep.
Quick change diff for strength, new jack point for quick tire changes, and a custom rear firewall plated with heat shield to keep the fuel and battery from exhaust heat and debris.
I’m not sure if this article has made any sense…
Tranny tunnel top cut out to make room for the new setup, will be replaced with a fabricated cover. The new LS7 setup sits about 2 inches farther back than the KA setup did.
That’s it for now. The car goes to Twins Turbo this week, part 2 update soon. I can make it more technical if you guys want, what do you want? Dyno next week, testing thereafter, and then…paint?!?
-Matt
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
Rad. All the best for the coming season Matt!
rambling much?
Congrats matt.
Good luck this year Matt. More technical would be cool, but I don't really care.
Love what you had to say, keep up the good work powers. Cant wait to see how everything goes!
I've never been too much a fan of non-car people doing car related things but it's drifting so whatever. Just don't drive it like a bitch.
Looks like someone want's to be a champion of 2011... Good luck with that!
More technical
And i am looking forward to se you drive this season.. 
you are awesome. you have the best mentality ever. and feel free to make these articles as technical as you want. it's about time speedhunters discusses car specs beyond wheel sizes...
yeah, more tech :/ im guessing most of us r car ppl
Matt, you just became my driver this season. I like the way you think. "It's now or never."
Send some parts to Liquid Powder Coats! Can't wait to see this season
omg.... i click on this link to see some nice ass s14 with a sick motor....but all i get is a tubed up chassis with a v8, y is everyone doing this... these cars arent really street cars anymore, reminds me almost of a nascar with a s14 shell........ just my opinion
its do or die..keep your focus.. and come with the technical info!
yay another NASCAR
By the way, Wheres the Mattley Crew for 2011?
you just turned this shit up from 11 to 15
Matt. your car sucks, you suck, your not cool. The world does not end in 2012 you friggin hipster wannabe.
How can you love drifting and not being a car guy! Damn i realy don't like formula D!
To some extent it does matter what engine the car has its like saying i dont really care about anything about my car but that it drives? The fact is we are car enthusiast and both the time, effort, parts and makeup of the car that creates some individual character and DOES count if it didnt then why be in the game? Despite your awesome attitude this just seems that you have chosen another generic Nascar build and for that the character appeal, and differentiation that you have brought to drifting in the past couple of years seems to have been lost.
great article, alot of it really makes sense, seem's like you spend to much time thinking about defending yourself against the x-fanboy's, and x-fanboys get a grip, driving a slow semigloss metalic green drift car in a competitive series gets old real quick, matt has made his own direction, not one the internet told him he had to..
Hey NASCAR-calling, 4-banger low-power loving fanbois...
I believe Matt is telling you to kiss his ass with your whack street-cred mentality. This guy just jumped from middle-of-the-pack FD pro to what very much could be a top runner. Why? because he doesn't care about YOU. He is the one drifting professionally, while you are stuck watching. He's the man, you're a whining bitch.
Gee, who looks more lame?
Driftmonkey....I just lost every single ounce of any respect I may have had. Go drift on the street and get arrested.
I guess Daigo Saito is just as whack, huh?
Matt, great article. Thanks for sharing.
Have fun out there !
Hopefully his 2011 paintjob become's as awesome (or better) as his 2010 one.
G'Luck mate.
matt powers= sellout
WTF man going to a v8 ruining drifting...
Hahaha just playing dude car sounds like its gonna be sick. Good luck for the 2011 season!
Glad to see you got a motor that will actually be competitive. It sounds like you are trying to convince yourself that a V8 is "ok"... Honestly, at this point, who cares?! If you are competing on the pro-level you have to be competitive in every way. Anyone who is absolutely stuck on the anti-V8 trip should just do what they do and lead by example. No need to make a stink over it. Hopefully you got the skills to put that motor to good use this year. ROFL!!!!
I'm stoked to see how this build will turn out and i like how your outlook on drifting is to just go out and have fun no matter what is under the hood.
That what life is about anyway is just going out and having a good time doing what you love
Question.... r u thinkn of putting a super charger/turbo on top of that LS7... jw
Good luck this season
Perfectly understands why you got a V8... dosent understand why you have to bitch about it... Come on Matt, i still love you no matter V8 or KA... Rock hard this year and stop bitching please..
Looks awesome man! I think the car is heading in the right direction.Cant wait to see how it turns out!
P.S. Loving the V8 swap!
@Jay Dub:
Speedhunters does not cover spec/ technical stuff because there are no staff members that know that stuff; thus "wheel fitment" only.
Remember 90% of people these days want to see cool cars and pictures taken with a DSLR.
If you want to learn a bit more about car engineering, I would recommend you read http://www.motoiq.com. Those folks know what's up.
Here on the other hand, they focus more on video games, RC cars, slammed/ drift cars, and not much else.
haha he uses the most screwed up sentence structure and flow i've ever seen, but it makes it kinda fun to read.
Being able to change the final drive ratio will be an enormous help in itself.
Very nice bud..
is that an orange harbor freight speed jack lol?
What's the deal with the black brake rotors? I'm confuuused.
Get the car done, jump in and kick some f***ing asses!
Mattley Crue FTW...
Much Respect 4 Silencing the Haters
People still Fighting the V8 vs. 4Cyl Battle are Stuck in the 90's
its a new day and this is Integration at its finest.
Japanese Chassis + American Power = WIN...
@ 240forlife FD is not really about streetcars anymore its become a respected race series. its all about GO Big Or Go Home, While I support the Street Drift Culture Even more than the Pro Drift Series, I dont think adding a motor a Well Rounded as the LS makes it any less streetable...
You can't really believe in that 2012 nonsense.
will look forward to you making some smoke with your new powerplant.
understand its whats needed to keep up , but i will chuckle when a rotary or some other Japanese super motor spanks your "rocker"nascar ass.
F2F2goFuSlf. Your car probably doesnt exist. You suck. Your comment sucks. Being tuff on the internet isnt cool you friggin loser with nothing to do but down other peoples shit.
Do work this year Matt, your killing it.
Thank god! Making some good decisions! Good luck his year Matt.
@240forlife: "Tubed up chassis" It's all stock from the strut towers back, only reason it's not stock metal infront of the struts too is to improve access. "almost a nascar with a s14 shell" have you ever actually seen a nascar? jeez.
.
I loved Matt's car when it was green, slammed and street looking, but I understand if you want to actually compete, rather than just mucking about - you've got to step your game up.
Anyone who actually calls themselves a car guy should appreciate a more powerful, less stressed, more reliable engine that doesn't weigh any more.
people started liking you because u seemed to have a grassroots additude which was style>performance, now u just switched the signs and now have lost what made u stand out in the first place. your car is alot like you, missing its true soul
The 80's is g** and so are all your friends. Keep losing next season bro.
Cannot wait till the car finish
lol this nascar mentality everyone seems to have about american pro level drift cars makes me laugh. americans have a long history of putting the biggest motor you can find in the smallest car (Shelby) that'll take it. this build is no different to a team orange D1 EVO build or any other car. This build is a car that you are building with the intention of winning, not just showing up to make up the numbers. good on ya.
loloLo0llol! V8 in a S-chassis, how original! I luv formula dorifto hurr durr
And I didn't know there were non-car guys who drift. You may as well take an old Escort and swap a V8 in it. What is the point in smashing a good chassis like the S14 just to have fun?
Your car was cool when it was green with the mismatched wheels.
NOW I AWAIT THE HATE.
awesome setup, good luck this season
die matt, v8 sucks
nice rant lol... Good luck and the only thing I didn't like was the 3 paragraphs dedicated on you don't care your car has a V8... hummm... ok. One was enough lol... Anyway, Good luck!!!
that cage looks very average, front legs not tagged, nor are the bent to match the body shape, rear legs not cross braced... nearly no triagulation...
car looks dope, dry sump with engine mounted as low and far back as possible is a winner no matter if japanese or american engine! yall who talk about matt are straight up fans foreal,..no denying that. then yall get butt hurt when he changes his setup so he can be more competitive in a PROFESSIONAL sport. if yall want to keep it "real" then get off the man's nuts, yall dont even personally know him. oh yea they remaking the movie bodyguard and got casting calls for the celebrity stalker, so all yall powers fan boiz should hit that up!
matt i still think your awesome. love what your doing with the car, been following you since the first time speedhunters featured you.
MATT POWERS in no longer my fave.... simply because he swapped the engine and joined the Band wagon (put an american muscle car engine in for more power) deal... so much for keeping character and soul into your car from your grass roots days. But I cant blame him, hes gunning it for 2012! im just saying hes no longer my fave because his car to me has lost its presence true soul.
Dont hate the player, hate the game.
Professional drifting is becoming more and more about power. The ability to outrun (or even just keep up) with competitors is integral to scoring the points. Hard to win when your out powered, no matter how hard you drive. And thats the awful truth.
The people who hate on V8's just because their V8's, and who call it a "NASCAR" build are the people who don't actually drive. Their the people who sit at home behind their computers, maybe do some mods to their cars, but never actually go to the track and drift. Matt has the right idea by doing a more competitive setup. He wasn't going to get very far with his KA in FD, especially if it was blowing head gaskets every other day. Drifting is about having fun, and you can have fun in any RWD car. No matter what motor you run, or what car you drive. You can't have fun when you are constantly stressing about just keeping your car running for each event. Matt isn't a grassroots drifter anymore, he's pro, and at a pro level he needs to be competitive.
You think if Japan had more V8's available to them they wouldn't be using them? The only reason Japanese drifters use SR's in their chassis still is because of how easy they are to find, and because their super cheap over there. Also there are a lot of companies in Japan that did massive R&D on stuff for SR's. Plus they have a lot more SR tuners than we do here.
Matt isn't selling out, he's stepping up his game, and if any of you were trying to drift on a competitive level you would all be doing the same.
And before anybody gets their panties all in a bunch, I don't have a V8. I have an SR.
lame.....all this BS american muscle in imports in Formula D.
ur car is now shit....im waiting for madmike to loose his rotary and drop in a V8
well we are know that you are a sellout now, hopefully with this motor we will see if your actualy good or not, because you really suck! and the wins you have got its by heiter the other cars spins out,broke,or something but never seen you actually win with your own talent, your car its now up to the level hope you unmature personality its up to the task two.
Why are people comparing this to NASCAR? Because it has a v8 in it? You mean like GT-spec Skylines or Supras? Funny how no one makes that comparison. Bunch of bitches in here, I'm surprised you kids aren't crying about the Sparco steering wheel being used rather a Nardi wheel.
As for Matt, since you stepped up your gear, I expect you to step up your game as well!
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
matt powers you are a mutha-nutsack.
looks awesome, please bust on the people that think v8s will ruin drifting more cause they are just stupid fanbois, can't wait to see it all together and sideways this year.
Mr. Powers is an example to all grassroots drifters that you can make it if you don't suck at life. I been drifting for a LONG time. I only follow the good ones and Matt is one of 5 I will spend time hearing about or reading about his conquests.
To all the V8 haters, inline 6 haters, anything that is not a 4 banger...
Get real.
Everyone is moving to the NA power setups. Here in Japan we swap the SR20DETs for the NA SR20DE... Why? Because you can drift for an hour straight without having to pit for a cool down. It's nice.
Awesome that you still use the S14
I think he's pretty much got as much street cred as any FD driver can.
As far as I know, this is the same chassis that used to be on zilvia with hot wheels and a KA and stoved in panel under the rear 1/4 window.
It's just progressed from a regular s14 to a street drift car to an awesome track car to a pretty haggard, but rad FD car, to this. I'm all for hating sellouts, but a young guy, in an old ass chassis that is half scabbed together, who is building it into a genuinely impressive competition car isn't really a sellout.
You should be happy he's trying to bring it in an S-chassis instead something newer and lame.
It's not like he's in a scion or a hyundai or something, relax.
It may not be true to the roots of drifting, but bringing streetier car to FD is basically bringing a knife to a gunfight.
i have to say, after hearing you vent... i respect you more. do what you believe.
and for those who think you're not a "car guy"... fine. you sound more like an actual DRIVER to me.
keep it up. give us more.
If you guys want the people champ here I am. Turbo Miata coming to wreck house this year. Ok maybe not but will be trying. Since my pile couldn't legally fit the v8 i"ll jump on the v8 sucks bandwagon. Lightweight,small tire, 4cyl, roadster crew ftw.
Awesome Matt!
So excited to see what happens this year!
Good luck!
can't believe this chassis is still alive and kicking. good luck this year matthew.
MAKE IT TECH!! love the build can't wait to see it/and you in action good luck!
Im a Giant fag, Ill admit it. The Japanese Drifters are nothing like me thank god, They are respectful and professional and have the skills none of us in Formula D could even image. Do not compare me to them as I suck giant Dick and Im so cool I dont care I should be set on fire put in a bin and thrown of a Jet fighter into libiya so I can be bombed to death. Im a total fucking retard. Putting motors like these in a USDM heap of shit 240SX? Why am I alive? Why do you let me do this. But since Im american I think Im so great and do it again. All us americans are fucking Homos and dont deserve to live.
Whats the exhaust going to be like? That engine sounds amazing with the right pipes
less tech more breasts. i read the motoiq several days ago and i've read your ZT thread in its meandering, most excellent, entirety. i wish you best of luck in FD and all your rad adventures.
Man... You haters know nothing about cars!
Do you haters know how expensive it is to build a turbo 4 cylinder to be powerful and reliable enough at the same time?
Yes, F1 did have 4 bangers with 1500hp... Now go try and get 1000hp from any 4cylinder to see the costs.
The LS7 weights almost the same as the KA, it will give better weight distribution, since it's moved back from the front axle, and lower CG. it'll also give better throttle response since it's Naturally Aspirated.
And the main reason Matt did it: He has a low budget. So cheaper is better!
I also dislike mixing manufacturers, like chevy engine in nissan, chevy engine in ford and vice versa. Of course a VK56DE would be awesome. But I believe it would cost way more than the LS7.
I would be thrilled to see a Chevette and other old school cars being pushed to the limits with the top dogs, with the least and cheapest possible mods, as is Matt's S13 instead of all the lame cars we get nowadays.
And to you folks bashing on NASCAR: Their engines take as much stress as a F1 engine. Going round circles is boring, specially when it's not a car you can buy on the dealer later, but technically the engines are awesome.
And no, this S chassis is not the same as a NASCAR chassis. It is a production chassis reinforced (which is nice), instead of a tube frame with a fiber body resembling a production car (which is lame).
To sum it up, I think what Matt's doing is an art worthy of any true car guy. To get the most out of the car in the cheapest way possible. And also having fun while doing it!
Because getting competitive with the best the money can buy is easy!
Good luck Matt! Cheers from Brazil.
LS7 makes me cry, this car used to be so cool, then competition came in and ruined it, like most things..
so an LSX engine has become a requirement for FD...fantastic. should be fun to drive....but every car will sound the same...
Another hipster with a boat anchor engine swap.
Yawn.
More power, more reliable, more controllable,. The Turbo 4 brigade have no argument..
And I'm sure all these sooky fan boys would stop they're crying if they ever experianced how much better it is to drift a V8 power car..
Best of luck to you Matt...
Keep it funky.
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
the name of the game of winning is adapting and thats what matt is doing. i think alot off ppl are pissed off because they thought they could relate to putting their street drift car against a pro drift car as matt did in '09. but street only goes so far. it takes guts to do what he did to get where he's at now. too bad you haters dont have any. you might be standing next to him if you did.
and whats up with this nascar crap. nascar engines are built waaaaayyy different than these drift v8s are. AND, all professional motorsports vehicles, regardless of the type of racing, require a full cage for driver safety. and what if matt was using a nissan titan v8 motor instead of a gm ls7? would ppl still call him a sell-out? probably. everyone always hates things they dont understand, and it seems there's A LOT of ppl who dont understand...
wow, torque a holic needs to get up off MP dick, sad really
OOTS' ls7 is finally in a car wooooo!
Torqu-a-holic and inertiaticism have it right. I personally HATE how everyone in formula D has a V8, but I can completely understand how a V8 thats got create throttle response, is lightweight, and reliable is the obvious choice over a 4 cylinder thats got the power, but a weak powerband and shitty throttle response. With that said, I will NEVER put a V8 in my skyline, at best I'll go with an RB26 or 2JZ, but I can at least understand where Matt Powers is coming from.
I love his mentality - kick ass, hope it goes well, and have a great time along the way.
AutoArt said:
The people who hate on V8's just because their V8's, and who call it a "NASCAR" build are the people who don't actually drive. Their the people who sit at home behind their computers, maybe do some mods to their cars, but never actually go to the track and drift. Matt has the right idea by doing a more competitive setup. He wasn't going to get very far with his KA in FD, especially if it was blowing head gaskets every other day. Drifting is about having fun, and you can have fun in any RWD car. No matter what motor you run, or what car you drive. You can't have fun when you are constantly stressing about just keeping your car running for each event. Matt isn't a grassroots drifter anymore, he's pro, and at a pro level he needs to be competitive.
You think if Japan had more V8's available to them they wouldn't be using them?
Matt isn't selling out, he's stepping up his game, and if any of you were trying to drift on a competitive level you would all be doing the same.
WERD!
Matt Powers... The Lebron James of FD?
GO HEAT!
Who cares what motor is in the car. If he's having fun and doing what he wants in life then I say go for it. I wish I had the opportunities he has right now. Good luck Matt!
For a serious technical writeup about this car, check out MotoIQ.com. For those that still hate, quite being morons. LS's are like ranch, they go good with everything.
Good luck to you Matt. Im not a drift fan, but I certainly respect the amount of work you put in.
FUNCTION > form - that's how it's done in motorsports, you are just a bunch of whiners!
really, how can someone win when bringing a knife (beaten-up KA) to a gunfight (out-of-box v8's)?
that's how you win: stepping up your game
The best of luck to matt in this new season.
.
@ torque-a-holic: hey, take it easy on the "add" button!
Great to see Nascar is doing well I mean Formula D. I know you tried your best to defend the LS movement but there is no defending it. I miss the old days when drift cars were more like street cars.
MOAR TECH!
heres what i have to say FUCK THE HATERS your the one doing the driving your the one spending and making your money and earning your sponsors so fuck the v8 vs 4 cylinder shit thats stupid honestly i think that engine is everything u needed to keep up with those guys and beat them i know ull make it to 1st place this time oround u have what it takes i really look up up to u matt i hope to make it to ur level one day but all i got now is a stock toyota corolla 1986 single cam lol not much to say there but im working on it
*facepalm* stupid hipsters trying to integrate drift culture into their own piece of $$%T hipster culture.. I'll be rooting against you Matt along with all your LSx V8 swapping no-talent a$$ clowns
Hey torque-a-holic, lay off the leaded gasoline hookah bro. Stop spamming you idiot.
Good luck next season - and don't listen to the haters.
)
You are building a competition drift car, it does NOT matter what kind of engine or chassis modifications are needed to achieve this.
I don't understand why everybody is hating - I will agree in pro drifting in europe, the diversity of setups and cars is still much bigger but that's because the competitions are not yet on Formula D level at all.
As soon as more and more money goes into a series like this, and teams become more and more serious, it tends to become streamlined like that since a NA engine will always be a slight edge over a turbo in competition drifting. And on this level (Formula D), you have to step it up to keep up in the top6.
Not convinced you're on the same level as a driver as your car will be now, to be brutally honest. but I'm sure you'll tear it up good in 2011! Good luck.
(and no i'm not running a v8
Good luck for the next season Matt, rad car man!!!! Can't wait to see what livery its gonna be running
why couldnt he have swap a sr20? or a Rb25? or even a 2jz? its always about the easy route in FD...
all the best matt!its goin to be crackin!
Good write-up Matt! Makes me want to go follow my dreams! Good luck this coming season man! I know you're not going to pay the haters any mind because you seem like a smart dude.
@xtremeimport7: Dude, it's all about the reliability of the engine and cost factor... And nothing is as reliable as the LS engine..
240forlife said:
omg.... i click on this link to see some nice ass s14 with a sick motor....but all i get is a tubed up chassis with a v8, y is everyone doing this... these cars arent really street cars anymore, reminds me almost of a nascar with a s14 shell........ just my opinion
hahaha, matt pretty much just told you to shut the f*ck up, yet you come and complain anyway. his car, his way. Deal With It!
just read a couple more comments. matts gonna get someone killed.
HAHA, love it!
and this hasnt been a street car for over a year now, so whats everyone bitching about?
i really hope he is better than middle of the pack ...but than again this year he cares about drifting but he doesnt care what we think anyway?or does he........shut th f^&*up and finish top 3...
I think Matt just pulled a Lebron James, going from the most liked to be hated!!
All you little haters need to shut up and try to get into formula d and try to hang with the big boys with a sr20 or ka-t. Half of these people whining about how lame it is to drop a v8 in a S-chassis are little punk fan boys that talk about "drifting" more than actually getting behind the wheel. Why would someone want to spend more money building a less reliable and less powerful motor? The chances of a person running a ka-t or sr20 and reaching podium in formula d are slim to none. Matt is obviously doing what is right to be competitive enough to further his career in drifting and formula d so why hate? I hope the best to you Matt for your 2011 Formula Drift Season i know you will drive like a beast!
its easy to be so laid back about life and to say you dont care what engine goes in a car when you just call up you sponsors and they go and buy you one. want a pit crew too? sure thing matt, bet you dont give a shit about that either. it makes me sick how much money there is in american drifting. people claiming hes on a 'budget' yet hes rolling around with a carbon dash and willwood brakes, LOL! In all fairness, i couldnt really care what matt powers is doing, hes entitled to do whatever he wants and fair play to him, but i think its jokes the way people carry on like hes some bad ass against the grain street drifter type, when infact he completely sold out of that image ages ago. some of you people should take a look at whats going on in europe and australia to see people keeping it real, i mean people working their bollocks off to get funds and a car completetive in time for the season. americans automatically think big,expensive, flashy, is good. im not a 'JDM bummer' or whatever other clown expression is typically batted around the internet by people who disagree with this, i dont think some SR20ed 180sx is the best car to grace the earth, i just think everyone rolling around in a tube frame, v8 sequential beast is all well and good, but its just beginning to turn into a spec race rather than a skill competition, which is runining the spirit of the sport.its the exact reason inada and tsuchia have just split from the power wars of D1. i guess i think the organisers of FD at at blame for making the car regs the way they are
Right on Matt! Had a blast watching you race at the Ken Block invitational this year, can't wait to watch see some drifting again. Keep up the hard work! LS7 ftw!
wooooooooooooooooooooooh....
HELLO HELLO
BEST PART OF THE ARTICLE
"upshift to 4th in a second gear corner for no reason at all."
Tom you said it right on!. If you want it to go big why not an RB26 or a 2Jz motor or even an SR20DET instead of the KA? I gues in FD is allbout the high horsepower big engines and emergency brake "overpower" drifts thats it! ITs becoming kinda boring! Nissan's with V8s, Scions with V8s, Mazda with V8s.. come on!.... But on the other hand im a big fan of drifting so i will still follow FD. Good luck chasing those other V8`s Matt!