drift cressida with 4l falcon engine

[misk]

so i want to get into drifting on a budget - i know, everyone does, but im keen to have a crack using bits i already have and some ghetto skills i've acquired along the way.

my plan is to use an AU 4l engine with a big cam and high compression on E85, should be able to get around 160rwkw through a manual quite easily.
with a locked diff and a T5 manual box i figure that should be enough for me to get the hang of things on the track and then turbo it using another engine i have which has FG XR6T pistons/rods so will handle 420rwkw or so - but will only see around 300-350rwkw for the track.

i know enough about the 4l and falcons to do the conversion and to turbo it etc, i also know enough about whats required to enter an event, but i know little about cressidas.

i thought i should aim for the lightest, being the MX63, when it comes down to it, i'll be using the car for the chassis, brakes and suspension.
so comparing it to the later models, i would assume i should skip the MX73 and go straight to the MX83. is the difference in suspension and what not great enough to warrant the car being a little heavier (around 200kg odd as per wiki)?

i don't really need specifics, but in terms of chassis, brakes and suspension, what are the main differences between the models?

at first i will be doing the bare minimum to get the car ready for an event, so ill be doing things like welding the diff and using some springs from a heavier car and cut them so they're stiff and lower or something along those lines.

suspension will be the main thing i'll need help with, so remembering i'm on a budget but can do all the work myself including any fab work, what would be some suggestions to get the car more drift worthy?
ie. more lock, caster and getting the rear end setup better...
some advice on a basic/cheap/ghetto setup would be good as well as what a more serious setup would be while still being cheap.
i understand its hard to achieve cheap and good at the same time, but i'm happy to wait to buy the right parts at the right time kind of thing or try to make things work that aren't exactly meant for the car.

with the engine i will basically just remove the 5m/7m and wire up the falcon gear enough to get it running. i'll most likely remove the standard dash and dials and either use aftermarket gauges or some aftermarket gauges and the falcon speedo etc on a bracket of some sort.

hopefully you can understand my questions lol.
please don't hate me for wanting to do this conversion, i've got all the falcon gear i need except for the gearbox, but i have a turbo, manifolds, cooler etc.

how much power would a manual cressida need to be driftable - not competitive, just enough to throw around a track for basics as i learn the car and events?

i can get 220-250rwkw easily out of the 4l with a turbo and 7-10psi and ill be using a GT358a copy turbo, so will support enough power and boosts early and quick enough.
would my plan to use the car n/a with a big cam and around 160rwkw be feasible? or should i just skip that step and go straight to turbo?
also i assume the 4l will be a little heavier, but cant see it being a huge amount - will it be enough to throw the handling off?

i can steer a car, but have never attempted anything at the speeds that a track will allow, so there will be some learning curve involved, but i'm not jumping into a car with zero skills.
so while i need advice, there is quite alot of this build i am confident i can cover already, still, anything you want to add, just shoot.
i understand there are better engines to use, but i want to be a little different and really cant afford a complete conversion including every detail ie. stand alone ecu and what not, plus i can't justify buying another engine/gearbox when i have so much falcon gear and knowledge.
sorry for the long post thats all over the place...
this project will take some time for me to achieve and i'm just doing as much research and planning as possible before making any commitment.

thanks in advance

[MattC]

Ok maybe I'll get shot for this, but why go to the trouble of converting a Cressy to E-series Falcon running gear, when E-series Falcons are just about giveaways?

[misk]

cause i want the cressida chassis and suspension, cressidas are as much a give away as a falcon.

[zahmad]

If you've got the falcon gear, just do up a falcon. If you want Cressida chassis, get a Cressida + 1JZGTE...

[JadeEstevez]

If you are learning to drift with this setup (I think I read correctly) Why not do it in a Falcon? That way if you smash it, No one will hate you

Would also be a lot easier then the Cressida conversion.

[ctrain]

my ef does a wicked single pegga, drift that shit all night brah

[misk]

ok, so, like i asked, ignore the fact that im doing a conversion, thats not what i need help with.
if i wanted to do up a falcon, i would...

[dnegative]

The T5 has a chance of breaking
You will need to convert to hydraulic clutch
Don't buy a MX83, it will be 1400kg and it will need more chop than a NA 4L to drift well.......... would suit a KE70 perfectly however
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Go buy a XR6T that's been crashed from the auctions and put that in

[Valkyrie]

We've had two EA/EB Falcon's drift down here in Tassie. One was naturally aspirated and went okay, the other had a turbo strapped to it and ran in the state drift series. Both went quite well, but the naturally aspirated Falcon needed to be thrown around a fair bit.

We have one guy had a naturally aspirated AU engine in a Soarer, then he placed that engine in an MA61. He has strapped a turbo to it and it goes quite well. You'll need to remember that a Falcon engine will make a Cressida a little heavier in the nose. I run a 1JZGTE in my Celica and my brother has a 1JZGTE in his 180SX, and neither of them feel nose heavy. You will simply need to adjust your springs and dampers accordingly

I'd only look at the Cressida if you are going to turbo it. Otherwise just drift the Falcon. The XR6T engine and box would be my pick

[Shakotan_Aaron]

These arnt really ke70 corollas where you can put falcon springs in and sigma lca's, 86 short knuckles and be DK. Im guessing thats what you mean by ghetto?

Modified s13 coilovers have been made to fit the stock front struts in the past. rears also have simerlar mounting so could be made to fit there.

as for steering lock s14 rack has been done. either that or shorter knuckles. the stock steering ratio is a bit slow as these are not sports cars.

Cut and shut control arms in the front will help with inner clearance in the front.

if you can fab and weld some adjustable rear arms would be the go.

the diffs are pretty strong but the sub frame needs to be reinforced as they tend to bust.

Im a mechanic at a ford dealership and id hate to see one of these boat anchors in one. Being different isnt always good plus these plenty of money wasted in conversion cost. id also vote using a falcon. the cressida chassis isnt really anything spectaclar and setting it up is a bit exxy.

have you considered thing such as custom tailshaft, powersteering hoses, exhaust clearance (its tight around the steering), radiator, shifter position, clutch pedal/lines etc. in all honnesty id recommend getting a s13/180/r32/33. they are cheap as now. you can pick them up in vic for around 3k and all they need is a set of coilovers and a lsd.