In 2010, John Nguyen’s KE70 started life as a very basic corolla with chopped springs, suspension arms and Sportmax wheels. However, his goal to eventually drift it for competition, saw a complete tear down of the car to a bare shell in 2011.

Written by: Paolo De Leon / Photos by: Christopher Lim

What you see is the result of a two year long build that was fueled by his passion for cars and drifting. Having to juggle a limited budget, John substituted big dollar parts for trial and errors.

Anyone who’s done a complete overhaul of their car would appreciate the feeling of driving it for the first time. Nothing is more rewarding than taking out your pride and joy after months of hard work.

John also happens to work on SR20′s everyday as a mechanic, so I’m sure you can guess what’s sitting in between the two strut towers.

Loving the fully sick Venetians on the rear window, old school!

And, keeping with the old school theme. A must for any pre-1985 car has to be fender mirrors.

It may not be very noticeable, but the KE70 is wearing a Skyline GTR 2000 front lip spoiler.

The interior may look a little messy, but I’m sure it’s purposeful. Comprising of the usual essentials, a bride bucket seat, Nardi deep cone steering wheel and Dildo shifter. There’s also a little peep to the custom switch board John incorporated in the centre.

Gauges to keep things in check! – Water temp, boost gauge and oil pressure.

The goods!

John’s dropped in a Redtop SR20DET motor with a 2871, which I’m sure would be a huge improvement in amount of power that originally came with the car.

Specs

Interior:
-Modified shifter tunnel
-Bride fixed bucket seat
-Bride ergo passenger seat
-Takata harness (drivers)
-Rpm race gear harness (passenger)
-Nardi deep cone steering wheel
-Dildo shifter with a lotus flower
-Reversed and modified s13 gear stick
-Drift/rally hydraulic handbrake
-Race tech – oil pressure – water temp and boost gauge
-Custom dash switch board
-AE86 half cage
-Venetian blinds

Exterior:
-Fender mirrors
-Weld on custom rear flares
-Skyline gtr 2000 front lip spoiler (pgc10)
-Front bumper vents
-Fire proof foam filled chassis

Engine/Drivetrain
-S13 sr210det redtop
-Turbosmart bleed valve
-GKtech rocker stoppers
-GT28/71
-Oil catch can
-Water/methanol injection kit
-Custom Engine and gearbox mount brackets
-AE86 cross member with lowered spacers
-AE86 engine mounts
-AE86 peddle box
-AE86 clutch master
-Oil cooler and filter relocation kit
-s13 alloy radiator
-Thermo fans
-Custom tailshaft
-R31 diff modified to fit the ke70 3.9 gear ratio with a mini spool
-Sard fuel pressure regulator
-Custom surge tank
-Modified fuel pickup
-Bosch 040 fuel pump
-VL pick up pump
-Custom 3′ exhaust system with resonator and split 2 1/2″ tail pipes

Wheels/Tyre
Sportmax 002 15×8 -0

Brakes/Suspension
-AE86 techno toy tuning camber tops
-S13 tien HE drift spec coilovers
-R31 LCA
-TC sportline Caster rods
-Front s15 4pot calipers
-QFM hpp pads
-S13 hubs
-280mm 4stud slotted rotors
-RA60 rack ends
-TRX tierods
-Ajps panhard rod
-Sirra kyb shockers
-Pedders for EL springs
-Custom twin rear brake adaptors
-Girlock rear calipers for hydraulic handbrake