ANDY CHEAL’S

JC 13b Starlet

Long-time readers will recall Andy’s KP Starlet appearing on the pages of NZ Performance Car back in 2006 (Issue No. 119). At the time, it packed a 5K set-up for circuit racing, but it saw little track use before the power bug bit. After a friend convinced him to do a rotary conversion, all things piston related were sold, and, within days, Andy was the proud new owner of a JC block.

All the fab work to marry the two together was carried out by Chris at CageFX, and the stock engine was set up using a stock Series 5 turbo, which made 190kW at the wheels and ran a PB of 12.7s before developing a gearbox issue. While the box was out for repairs, Chris acquired and strapped on a GT35R, then slapped it all back on the dyno. Unfortunately, that combo “was hit with dyno-itis and the engine blew up” according to Andy. Once the pain had lessened, another JC block was sourced, and, as he was crewing for the Datalogit FC RX-7 drag racing team, Steve and Alice offered to strip the new engine to check its health and make sure it was going to be OK with the bigger turbo. Of course, this was when someone suggested that if it were ever going to be ported, it should be then. In fact, most of the parts used are identical to those used in the FC, so it’s geared up to hold some serious power, and the drivetrain suits, running an FD RX-7 five-speed backed by an XC Falcon driveshaft and Hilux LSD. Jacky from Jtune was enlisted to get things running right, and the combo now makes a respectable 225kW on 9psi. It’s also helped Andy lower his PB to 12.3s at 128mph (206kph).