photos by: the author
Kelsey Rowlings was the Breakout Drifter at the 2019 Holley Inaugural Ford Fest
Being a media attendee of the inaugural Holley Ford Fest brought many surprises; from the original Bigfoot to the John Wick movie Mustangs. Naturally, there were lots of Mustangs on hand, a few of them we featured here already. But one car that we weren’t expecting to see, was an Aluminator equipped Nissan 240SX.
The Nissan is owned, built and raced by Kelsey Rowlings, a talented young woman who’s quickly making a name for herself on drift coursers all over the country. To the layman drift spectator, they may have been confused by the appearance of a 240sx competing in an all Ford event, perhaps speculating a traditional small-block swap between the flanks. For Kelsey, a pushrod 302 or 351 simply wouldn’t cut the mustard, so she set her sights a little higher.
Teaming up with Ford Performance for her powerplant, she ultimately acquired a 302 cubic-inch Aluminator engine. The Aluminator, for those who aren’t aware, is a pumped-up version of the popular “Coyote” powerplant. Of course, despite the automatic 500hp you would get from such an engine, it just wasn’t stout enough for Kelsey’s vision for the car.
It’s not to say that the Aluminator is a shoddy engine, in fact, it’s quite the opposite as you can see from some of the specs below.
- BOSS 302 connecting rod bearings
- Uses production 2015-2017 Mustang GT aluminum block
- Large rear sump oil pan with 8 quart capacity features optimized oil drainback and windage tray to control oil and improve high-rpm performance
- Tuned composite Mustang GT intake manifold with production drive by wire 80 mm throttle body variable runner control
- Four-valve-per-cylinder aluminum heads with roller-finger followers reduce friction.
- Boss 302 Valve Springs, M-6513-M50BR
- Mustang GT production camshafts
- Intake: 13mm lift 260 degrees duration
- Exhaust: 13mm lift 263 degrees duration
- Includes colder heat range zero (0) spark plugs, M-12405-M50
What Kelsey need was boost, in the form of a Roots-type supercharger from ROUSH.
Rounding out some of the engine details include custom solid motor mounts modified stock exhaust manifolds (for frame rail clearance), as well as the switch to Thunderbolt E85 racing fuel for increased power output. A Haltech ECU is what makes the whole thing run, and what Kelsey used to calibrate the car with its specific modifications.
Suspension changes are adequate, with a complete Wisefab V2 Angle kit, PBM rear drop knuckles and arms, and a modified rear subframe to fit the enlarged rear differential.
On the outside, cosmetic changes include a JDM stock rear spoiler, custom printed wrap, an Extreme Dimensions “Super cool” Body kit and 50mm overfenders. The hood, albeit it missing from this photoshoot (we elected to shoot it hoodless), is normally present and features a cowl for additional clearances and the same wrap as seen on the rest of the car.
In the cockpit, a set of Sparco racing seats, harnesses and other safety equipment adorn the cockpit to ensure that Kelsey is kept firmly in the driver’s seat with the utmost safety in mind. Ao obviously, an SPA Technique fire suppression system is mounted in place, as is a full Formula-Drift spec roll cage.
This car was purchased as a shell and built in seven months to create a unique and competitive car for Formula Drift Pro-2. It is the only s14 with this engine swap. The compression of the NA aluminator combined with the supercharger allows for amazing low-end torque making it the ultimate drift car.
The fabrication needed to make the aluminator engine fit in the S14 engine bay was extensive but worth it. After years of testing and making small changes, mostly to get the power steering system to work properly, team Drift Chick finally feels they have an extremely competitive car and look forward to the 2020 season (if Covid-19 doesn’t force all the events to be canceled).
Kelsey did want to take a moment to thank her supporting sponsors, which include Top 1 Oil, PowerSteeringKits.com, Road Unknown, Advanced Clutch Technology (ACT), Haltech ECU, Thunderbolt Racing Fuel, BC Racing NA, Konig Wheels, Sparco, Gary Yeomans Ford, Enjuku Racing, Mazworx, and Shift Up Now.
TECH SHEET
- CAR: 1996 Nissan 240sx
- OWNER: Kelsey Rowlings
- ENGINE BLOCK: Ford Racing; 2015-17 Coyote/Aluminator
- DISPLACEMENT: 302 cubic-inches
- CRANKSHAFT: Ford; Forged steel crankshaft
- CONNECTING RODS: Manley H-beam
- PISTONS: MAHLE; hard anodized forged with Grafal low-friction coating
- CAMSHAFTS: Ford; Coyote GT
- COMPRESSION RATIO: 10.0:1
- INDUCTION: Ford/Roush supercharger
- BOOST: 15-psi.
- OILING: Canton oil pan (modified), billet steel gerotor oil pump, Ford Performance oil filter
- EXHAUST: Holley 1-7/8 long-tube headers, Y-pipe and mufflers, w/dual 2.5-inch diameter tubing
- FUEL DELIVERY: FIC 120-lb/hr. injectors, twin E85 450-LPH pumps, Aeromotive Boost Reference regulator (58-psi.)
- TUNING: Adam Peeling, Haltech Elite 2500 ECU
- TRANSMISSION: Gforce GSR 4-speed Dogbox Transmission
- CLUTCH: ACT; twin-disc clutch and flywheel
- DRIVESHAFT: Driveshaft Shop, with loop
- REAREND: Driveshaft Shop 100hp axels, Winters Quickchange differential
- SUSPENSION: BC Racing ER Coilovers, Wisefab V2 complete Angle Kit
- STEERING: Grip Royal steering wheel, relocated KRC Powersteering pump
- BRAKES: Wilwood (front)/Nissan Z32 (dual, rear); Wilwood/Sikky handbrake, Wilwood pedal assembly
- WHEELS: Konig; Hypergram, 17×9 (front)/ 18×9.5 (rear)
- TIRES: Archillies; 123
- HP/TQ.: 700/620
Rick Seitz is the owner and founder of AutoCentric Media, and has a true love and passion for all vehicles; GM, Ford, Dodge, imports, trucks — you name it! When he isn’t clacking away on his keyboard, he’s building, tuning, driving or testing his current crop of personal projects!
