Jason, in 1980 I installed the Kastner Turbo Kit. I ran alcohol injection
through the weber on boost pressure over 4lbs. Mixed Octane booster and mixed
reg. leaded with premium unleaded 50/50 at each fill-up. The kit was
available with a tame <sane> 4lb waste gate spring. I opted for a 10 lb
spring. The sound that thing made when under full pressure still makes my
heart pound and a big smile comes easy. It blew up around every 5000 miles,
which often coincided with the end of summer anyway. I was 21 and DROVE THE
HELL OUT OF IT!!!. But it didn't have to be that way. I think with the
moderation which comes with gasp - age. The turbo and tr7 could be a dream
combo. Regrettably, when down building the engine for reliability the last
time, several key components went into the trash, Though I still have the
turbo. Wait a second Let me go to the garage.....
10 min later.. ah yes here it is date 4-17-81 paid 1495.$us for the kit
Arkay,Inc.
>From Arkay literature, "the Arkay kits are designed and tested by kas kastner
who was triumphs competition manager for years and the author of the tuning
manuals offered by the factory..." the "stock" kit - 5 spd. 0-60 7.2
sec 0-80 13.8 sec
with my modifications, which included porting & polishing the head and a
Huffaker engineering ST cam & Dual valve spring kit. Even had a fuel cooler
can hooked up. Basically every hot rod trick I could think of She did 0-60
4.8 sec :-) :-) :-)
I have been unable to find any current info on the fate of the company. If
you find out anything PLEASE let me know.
Barry Kray
80 DHC
Jason Clark wrote:
> While waiting for my SO to get out of class last night, I browsed the
> local library auto books section and came across the following:
>
> Chilton's Guide to Turbocharged Cars and Trucks by Mike Stone
> (C) 1984 by Chilton Book Company
>
> In the chapter 'Who's Who in Turbo Kits' I read the following:
>
> {BEGIN}
> Arkay and its owner Kas Kastner leave little doubt that they are into
> turbocharging "sporty little cars" in a big way.... This is no surprise,
> however, if one realizes that the distinguished Mr. Kastner spent years
> terrorizing sports car tracks and a few competitors with his aggressive
> driving style and well prepared sports cars - cars he prepared so well, in
> fact, that he later became U.S. Competition Director for Triumph
> automobiles.
>
> (technical stuff, including stuff about VWs deleted)
>
> ...A Weber DCOE [is used] on the Triumph TR-7, and SUs on most other
> carbureted Arkay kits. In all, there are approximately 15 kits offered at
> present including three British cars (TR-6, TR-7, MGB)....
>
> Installation times will vary...the TR-6 system, for example, should take
> only 8-10 hours to install.
> {END}
>
> There's also a couple relevant pictures & captions:
>
> "Want more power for your TR-6? Call Kas Kastner at Arkay, the Triumph
> turbo expert." - pic of a TR6-turbo'd engine
>
> "Not even sure it was a TR-8 that blew you off? Arkay has a turbo kit for
> your TR-7. With a little work, it might even fit a Saab 99."
>
> The address and phone given was:
>
> Arkay
> 14009 S. Crenshaw Blvd.
> Hawthorne, CA 90250
> (213) 675-9161
>
> Not suprisingly, the phone is disconnected. Anyone know what happened to
> these guys? Anyone ever seen one of their kits?
>
> -jason
>
> Jason Clark
> gjclark@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu
>
> No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity.
> But I know none, and therefore am no beast.
>
> Shakespeare, _Richard III_
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