(^118) themotorhood.com
J
ason McKillop’s hunt for the perfect
vehicle didn’t go quite as planned. In fact,
you could say he went well and truly off
track from what he’d set out to purchase
way back in 1995.
On the hunt for a new four-wheel-drive work
ute for his fencing business, Jason inadvertently
stumbled upon an LJ Torana sedan. He loved the
look of it and had cash in hand, so a deal was
done that saw him heading home in the least
likely of work vehicles.
The car remained as purchased, with the factory-
fitted 186ci engine stroked out to 225ci, and,
despite what you may think, it did get used as a
fence post and wire hauler for a couple of years.
Then, with the annual Wanganui Street Drags
looming, it struck Jason that, after years of
spectating, he actually had a car that could
compete — little did he know the impact this
realization would have on his life thereafter.
Before hitting the event, Jason decided that a
touch more power might be required to make
the levels of smoke he was keen on. Roy Eaton
was just the man for the job, and, before long,
a built 308 was ready to be dropped into the
Torana’s tiny engine bay, along with a Turbo 350
transmission and a nine-inch diff.
By the time Jason finally hit the Whanganui
strip, the event had moved from its home on
Heads Road to Taupo Quay, where it’s still held.
Jason loved the drags and loved the new power
of the car even more, but, the more he drove,
the more he realized that the power still wasn’t
enough — cue build number two.
As Jason puts it, “I began racing at Taupo Quay
and in Bell Block, until I decided on the need
for more speed and had Engine Rebuilders in
Whanganui make some changes — adding new
pistons, lifting the compression, changing to
a solid cam, and installing a set of 304 heads.
By 2007, the car was ready to race again, and I
managed to win my bracket at the Taupo Quay
drags in 2007 and 2008.
“One of the best pieces of advice I got — and
followed — was from a Wanganui Road Rodders
frankie
(Frankie)
#1