Pavlos Samaras drifting the Toyota GT86 built by Nick's Garage

International customer · Complete drift build

Pavlos Samaras
Toyota GT86

Built from scratch by Nick's Garage

SM Racing News

The project

More than an engine conversion

The GT86 was developed as a complete competition car for international drift driver Pavlos Samaras.

Nick's Garage built the car from the ground up, integrating its 2JZ engine, turbo system, drivetrain, motorsport electronics, cooling, braking, suspension and geometry around one competition objective.

International build capabilityComplete construction and continuing track support

Pavlos Samaras driving the Toyota GT86 2JZ drift car in Cyprus competition — Competition action · Powerdrift Club Cyprus

01 Public specification

Complete-system engineering

The established build record

The public specification focuses on the complete competition package and Nick's Garage's responsibilities.

Engine

Toyota 2JZ · Wiseco pistons · BoostLine rods · Tomei camshafts and head gasket · ARP fasteners · Supertech valves and springs · Nick's Garage head porting

Turbo system

Garrett turbocharger · Powerhouse Racing manifold · Turbosmart external components · custom intercooler system

Drivetrain

Drenth gearbox · OS Giken clutch · Winters differential · Wisefab axles

Chassis

Wisefab suspension and steering geometry · Nitron suspension · Wilwood brakes · carbon-Kevlar bodywork

Electronics

MoTeC ECU, display and power management · supported and integrated independently

Nick's Garage scope

Complete ground-up build · engine and vehicle integration · calibration · geometry · track support

02 Build gallery

Original Toyota GT86 donor car on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Original Toyota GT86 donor car

Front body fabrication on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Front body fabrication

Rear-quarter body preparation on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Rear-quarter body preparation

Rear chassis and differential installation on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Rear chassis and differential installation

Stripped shell fabrication on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Stripped shell fabrication

Nitron competition coilover on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Nitron competition coilover

Transmission-tunnel fabrication on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Transmission-tunnel fabrication

Roll-cage weld detail on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Roll-cage weld detail

Roll-cage construction on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Roll-cage construction

Roll-cage reinforcement welding on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Roll-cage reinforcement welding

Engine position and front accessory drive on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Engine position and front accessory drive

Rear roll-cage construction on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Rear roll-cage construction

Rear chassis bracing on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Rear chassis bracing

Suspension mount on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Suspension mount

Steering-column installation and testing on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Steering-column installation and testing

Coated exhaust manifold on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Coated exhaust manifold

Competition cockpit mock-up on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Competition cockpit mock-up

Chassis seam preparation on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Chassis seam preparation

Driver controls and cockpit layout on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Driver controls and cockpit layout

Crankshaft inspection and preparation on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Crankshaft inspection and preparation

Crankshaft detailing on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Crankshaft detailing

Shell transport during fabrication on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Shell transport during fabrication

Body preparation on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Body preparation

In the paint booth on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — In the paint booth

Preparation for the paint booth on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Preparation for the paint booth

Crankshaft and engine-block assembly on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Crankshaft and engine-block assembly

2JZ short-block assembly on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — 2JZ short-block assembly

Front suspension installed on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Front suspension installed

2JZ turbo engine assembly on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — 2JZ turbo engine assembly

Drenth competition transmission on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Drenth competition transmission

Engine short-block preparation on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Engine short-block preparation

Front suspension installation detail on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Front suspension installation detail

Electronics mock-up on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Electronics mock-up

Rear cooling enclosure on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Rear cooling enclosure

Clutch slave assembly installation on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Clutch slave assembly installation

2JZ engine installed in the chassis on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — 2JZ engine installed in the chassis

Transport to the fabricator on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Transport to the fabricator

Driveline installation from below on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Driveline installation from below

Turbocharged 2JZ engine bay on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Turbocharged 2JZ engine bay

Rear-mounted cooling system on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Rear-mounted cooling system

Side-mirror installation on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Side-mirror installation

Motorsport electronics installation on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Motorsport electronics installation

Pumps and power-management hardware on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Pumps and power-management hardware

Driveline routing on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Driveline routing

Transmission-tunnel cover on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Transmission-tunnel cover

Complete underbody and driveline on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Complete underbody and driveline

Engine installed — top view on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Engine installed — top view

Engine installation — bottom view on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Engine installation — bottom view

Carbon-Kevlar door and polycarbonate window on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Carbon-Kevlar door and polycarbonate window

Carbon-Kevlar door inner construction on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Carbon-Kevlar door inner construction

Carbon-Kevlar door-panel assembly on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Carbon-Kevlar door-panel assembly

Lightweight carbon-Kevlar door fitted on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Lightweight carbon-Kevlar door fitted

Rear cooling fans and ducting on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Rear cooling fans and ducting

Rear deck and cooling outlet on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Rear deck and cooling outlet

Rear cooling-system fabrication on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Rear cooling-system fabrication

Rear body assembly on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Rear body assembly

Rear wing and bodywork on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Rear wing and bodywork

2JZ turbo engine and intercooler installation on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — 2JZ turbo engine and intercooler installation

Carbon-Kevlar dashboard, competition controls and electronic dash installation on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Carbon-Kevlar dashboard, competition controls and electronic dash installation

Carbon-Kevlar dashboard, electronic dash and competition controls on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Carbon-Kevlar dashboard, electronic dash and competition controls

Completed carbon-Kevlar rear bodywork and cooling package on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 2JZ drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Completed carbon-Kevlar rear bodywork and cooling package

Completed rear cooling package on the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 drift build at Nick's Garage Cyprus — Completed rear cooling package and final workshop development

2JZ turbo engine and intercooler installation in the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 drift car — 2JZ turbo engine and intercooler system installed

Carbon-Kevlar cockpit and motorsport controls in the Pavlos Samaras Toyota GT86 drift build — Completed carbon-Kevlar cockpit and motorsport controls

Complete drift build

Built as one competition system

Engine, turbo system, drivetrain, electronics, cooling, braking, suspension and geometry were developed around the car's competition use.

View all projects

Pavlos SamarasToyota GT86

More than an engine conversion

The established build record

Built as one competition system

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Pavlos Samaras
Toyota GT86