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Nissan Silvia S15 Drift Build by Andrew Chval (370 WHP)

Discover Andrew Chval's 1999 Nissan Silvia S15 drift build, featuring a 370WHP SR20DET, custom livery, and a full performance overhaul. A dream build come true.

Mr2mivin

Nissan Silvia S15 Drift Build

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Andrew Chval - 1999 Nissan Silvia S15

Instagram: @ps13chval

Author, Photographer: Marvin Recinos

Instagram: @mr2mivin

Performance Stats:370WHP 330TQ

"If you can dream it, you can do it.” - Walt Disney

Childhood Inspiration for Drifting Dreams

Hey, I'm Andrew Chval. I'm 30 years old and was born and raised in Southern California. Ever since I was a kid, I was into anything that involved wheels and going fast. Bikes, skateboards, Heelys—you name it. If it gave me a rush, I was all about it.

My real obsession with cars started when I was 8 years old. My childhood friend's dad gave me a ride in his GT40. The way he ripped through the gears and the rumble of that engine vibrating through my chest—it lit a fire in me. From that moment on, I was hooked. Hot Wheels became my collectibles, and video games like Midnight Club, Gran Turismo, and Need for Speed helped shape my car style and taste.

Nissan Silvia S15

How I Fell in Love with the Nissan Silvia S15

I’ve been drifting for about eight years now. I started with S13s and S14s, but my ultimate dream was to drift an S15. Watching old Option videos from Irwindale with drivers like Tatsuya Sakuma, Ryuji Miki, and Masato Kawabata tearing it up in their S15s got me hooked on that chassis. The sleek body lines, aggressive aero—it all drew me in.

As soon as the Nissan Silvia S15 became legal to import to the U.S., I sold my S13 and bought an S15 straight from Japan. When it landed in California, it was mostly stock. That didn’t last long. What started as a few motor upgrades quickly turned into a complete tear-down and rebuild.

Technical Build Breakdown: My Nissan Silvia S15 Drift Car

Before I knew it, I had the subframes out and the car completely torn down. I focused on the small details and aimed to bring something fresh and exciting to the drift scene.

Nissan Silvia S15 engine bay

Nissan Silvia S15 Engine & Drivetrain

Engine: Built SR20DET

CP Pistons
Tomei Rods
Brian Crower 264 Cams, Springs, Retainers
Third Strike Manifold
Garrett G25-550 Turbo
R8 Coilpacks
AEM Infinity ECU

Drivetrain:

Ogura Racing Clutch Twin Disc
Nagao Adapter
RB25 Transmission
Kaaz 2-Way Differential

Nissan Silvia S15 nterior

Interior

6-Point Saito Bolt-In Cage with Door Bars & Harness Bar
N-Style Bucket Seats & Harnesses
Nardi Steering Wheel
GaugeArt Digital Display

Suspension & Chassis

Riaction Performance Coilovers
Swift Springs (9K Front / 5K Rear)
Heat Maker Knuckles
Apexi ExV Adjustable Arms

Cooling

N-FLO Koyorad Radiator
Third Strike Manifold Heater Tank

Aero Kit

Origin Labo Driftline Kit
Type 2 Hood
Snake Style Wing
Roof Wing
55mm Type 2 Front Fenders
55mm Rear Overfenders

Wheels & Tires

Front: 17x9 +12 VSKF – 235/40/17
Rear: 18x10.5 +15 Work CR Kai – 265/35/18

Nissan Silvia S15

Custom Livery Inspired by D1 Legends

What really sets my car apart is the livery design. Dylan from Joker Designs and I collaborated on it. I’ve always been obsessed with the look of the Top Secret S15 that Ryuji Miki drove in D1. Loud gold paint, chrome wheels—it all stuck with me. We took that concept and added a modern twist.

Finding the right shade of gold took a while, but Aaron Leavitt from Animal Style helped bring the vision to life. He faded the gold into black and airbrushed incredible details across the car. The textures, transitions, and custom touches all made this livery feel like something special.

The Crew Behind the Build

Big shoutout to Jason Kim at Rival Auto Works for building the motor and wiring the car from the ground up. Matt Vigo came through with clean fabrication, and Danny at Unrivaled Tuning got everything dialled in so the S15 runs like a dream.

Most importantly, none of this would’ve been possible without the support of my girlfriend, my friends, my family, and especially my 91-year-old grandpa, who kept me company at the shop. Having that kind of love around me kept me motivated.

What’s Next for My Nissan Silvia S15?

The S15 might be "done"—but you know how that goes. My next goal is to travel more and hit drift tracks across the U.S., continuing to hone my skills. I also want to start sharing more of the behind-the-scenes process—whether that’s through Instagram or possibly launching a YouTube channel.

This build still has more stories to tell, and I can't wait to see where it takes me next.

Nissan Silvia S15