Otto Graven Formula Drift – Update / Build
July 14, 2011 in Drift Builds
For those of you stuck under a rock, Otto Graven has been in the USA for the last few months, mixing it up with the US Formula Drift crowd in a bid to make his mark as the Rookie of the Year.
His initial project, the V8 350Z didn’t pass their stringent inspection and forced him to compete with the Turbo 350Z backup car he took along. He’s lucky that he in fact had a spare car available.
With the mid-season break, Otto and his crew of Speedy Webb and John ‘Afroslide’ Coetzee took about transforming the Turbo Z into a worthy competitor. Not an easy task, especially when you’re miles away from your home and your workshop.
What follows is the transplant of the Chevrolet Corvette Le Mans C5R motor into the Turbo Z33 chassis.
Big thanks to Monstermob and John ‘Afroslide’ Coetzee for the detailed pictures. Click for larger pictures.
First you strip out what’s not needed. Even if it means cutting off the rear arches.
Here’s the V8 stuff waiting to be transplanted.
The motor goes in.
Vacuum pump for the brake booster.
Close up of the fuel plumbing.
Throw more stuff away…
Build a set of custom headers (exhaust manifolds)
Completed header.
and skillfully wrapped in heat tape.
Headers fitted in place.
The old rear section – from the V6.
Otto doing some body work.
Speedy, what are you up to?
Ah! Now it makes sense… custom 100mm collector.
New brackets made for the oil cooler.
Starting to take shape…
The old VQ V6 Turbo chassis.
and what happens to the old chassis once you’re done with it? You lead it out to the field where it will spend the rest of its days…
Otto is a great inspiration for me. One of these days he will be number one in F1!!