Joakim Ögren – Building A Mad Nissan 200SX Drifting Beast

The modified car culture has exploded in the last few years and one would be hard pressed to keep up with all the genres. Whether you love it or hate it, though, you will keep running into drifting on a regular basis. That’s how big of an international foundation this young sport and subculture has already reached.

Building your dream drift car is a long and hectic process that can take up to several years. Today’s guest owns a build that carries it’s unique aspects and we will hear the story behind the madness from the horse’s mouth.

Wonderful to have you for the interview, Joakim. Lets start off with a a formal introduction.

My name is Joakim Ögren. I’m 27 years old and I live in the Northern half of Sweden. I’m also the owner and head driver of High Coast Racing Drifting Team & Motorsport

You have a unique drift car, what’s the story behind the build?

It all began while I was in high school. I noticed an S-chassis for the first time and that was the moment when I realized that I wanted one for myself.
Around the same period of time people were making 2jz engine conversions from the Toyota Supra, producing awesome cars and I completely fell in love with the engine sound and the idea of it all! However, it took a year or so after having purchased my own Nissan Zenki S14 and a blown SR20DET engine that I started researching and buying parts for my own conversion project. The aim was to make it road legal.

This car build hasn’t exactly been a bed of roses. Long story short, I first placed a big order of parts from a company in the UK that imported car parts from Japan. The 2jz-gte engine with gearbox and Nissan Skyline R34 GTR rear axle assembly never arrived because the company went bankrupt. Their landlord over there just locked up the place, and there went my order along with the money.

That was just one out of the many hiccups of my almost 7 years of owning this car. Nonetheless, throughout all the setbacks that transpired in the course of this project, I never gave up. During those difficult times, which also cost me a fortune to get passed, the car was made into what it is today…A mad beast that looks good, sounds good and sticks out from the crowd, as it should!

Video from Northern Drift Series 2016

When did you start the build?

Basically the day I bought the car, but the decision of taking it from being just a road legal car into a pure drift car happened around 2012-13.

What has been done and can you share the mods of your current build?

Pretty much everything on this car has been customized. The only thing that is not modified yet is the roof. The engine, gearbox, and rear axle were replaced, and the roll-cage was installed. The entire front end was rebuilt to fit all the radiators as well as the piping for the intercooler.

In more detail:

• Engine: 2JZ-GTE.
• Manley rods.
• CP Pistons with higher compression.
• Race King Bearings.
• Brian Crower 272°.
• Turbo: BorgWarner 300sx-e 66mm.
• Gearbox: 4-speed sequential shifting dogbox with straight cut gears. Made in Sweden.
• Differential: Skyline R34 GTR.
• Chassis: FAT Steering kit in the front.
• Japspeed/Driftworks adjustable arms in the rear.
• Driftworks CS2 Coilovers.
• Brakes:XYZ 330mm kit front and rear.

We always ask this question. Can you recall and tell us about your feelings the first time you drove it?

I’d never had such an adrenaline rush ever before! After we came home from the dyno a couple of years ago making 640whp on stock internals on the engine, we drove to a place to test it out. The excitement can’t be put into words, but at the same time I was scared when the throttle was maxed out and on full boost. I thought to myself, what a monster…Am I supposed to tame this beast?

How has it evolved since? Anything you are doing to it now?

Compared to what it was 1 or 2 years ago, a lot has improved; from finding the parts that didn’t work to redoing or replacing those. The list goes on…Taking the engine apart and forging with better rods and pistons, race bearings, and the installation of stage 3 camshafts with their proper parts.

Right now the engine is in pieces again, unfortunately because of a connecting rod bearing failure, but the engine is having billet main caps installed at the same time while it’s still at the workshop.

Your favorite thing about your car?

That it’s built and not bought.

Tell about the team helping you?

It started with a few friends who freely wanted to help out long before the car was ready to be driven for the first time, then soon after, we decided to call ourselves High Coast Racing Drifting Team & Motorsport and we’ve been growing ever since. The name High Coast comes from the area we live here in Sweden and it is known for its coastline surrounded by high mountains.

Despite everything, none of this would be possible without the companies that continuously help and support us. We are incredibly grateful to have them in our corner. Once again, a big thank you to:

• Mekonomen from Örnsköldsvik.
• Stellner Productions.
• Stolt Industriservice AB.
• Nolaskogs Slang & Hydraulic.
• Höga Kusten LED.
• L-M-R.se.
• Dynotech.
• GIK Turbo.
• C-parts Garage.

Thanks so much for taking the time, JÖ. Best of luck for the upcoming season and maybe see you at Gatebil Rudskogen. 🙂

Photo Credits: STELLNER PRODUCTIONS CO.