UNDER CONSTRUCTION

While having a car which delivers north of 300kW on tap isn’t the unheard of benchmark that it once was, when you’re cranking out 400kW from a 1600cc motor in a lightweight shell, well that’s pretty damn impressive. Paul Edlin tells us that the goal was always to build a fast street car which could lay down some quick quarter-mile times, and instead of taking his Hachiroku drifting like so many others would, he decided this 86 would receive the drag-car treatment.

It’s powered by a turbo 4A-GE that makes use of an AE101 4A-GZE block fitted with MRP forged rods and factory Toyota forged pistons, while the head has been rebuilt to Formula Atlantic specifications using Supertech 2mm oversized Atlantic valves, double valve springs, titanium retainers, bronze guides, a solid bucket conversion, all ported and polished, and fitted with a set of custom Kelford camshafts.

Boost is delivered through the MRP intake manifold courtesy of a Holset HX35/2 — all 37.57psi of it — which sits atop a Bams twin-scroll manifold with twin 44mm TiAL wastegates. The engine package is backed by a W55 box and Hilux LSD. Tuned by Ross Honnor at Top Tune NZ, the Hachi made 407kW.

To help deliver that power to the ground, the rear has been mini tubbed, and a Mike Shaw fibreglass 40mm widebody kit was fitted to pump the guards out to accommodate those Hoosier drag slicks wrapped around a set of 15x6.5inch and 15x7-inch Work wheels.

Paul hopes to run the car into the mid-nines after a bit of seat time and dialling in.