These Toyota 4A-GE cylinder head and block sub-assemblies have also been brought up to a modern spec.
To those who may have accidentally over-revved their AE86 while out on the touge, there’s fortunately some excellent news on the horizon. Such is as Toyota has recently announced that they are currently remanufacturing cylinder heads and blocks for the iconic 4A-GE four-cylinder, as part of their GR Heritage Parts Project.
Now in keeping with Toyota’s kaizen principle of continual improvement, the reproduced cylinder head sub-assembly has actually been redesigned to take advantage of advances in modern design and production techniques. The new design features additional machining that reduces the untouched cast surface area, minimising differences among individual engines that arise from slight variances in compression ratios.
Additionally, The intake ports now undergo a coating process to reduce pre-polishing surface irregularities. Cam cap knock pins, which were originally only partially used, have been added throughout for improved assembly workability too.
Responding to customer requests received during various events (possibly from a certain tofu delivery driver), certain intake and exhaust ports of the cylinder head sub-assembly have been given thicker walls as well. The cylinder block sub-assembly also now includes bosses and ribs for transverse mounting, enabling its installation not only in the AE86 but also in front-wheel-drive vehicles (like the AE90 Corolla and Carina).
It is perhaps worth highlighting here that only the 16-valve versions of this iconic four-cylinder are currently being reproduced by Toyota, with no mention of the hallowed 20-valve “Black Top” head being earmarked for remanufacture. Though it really shouldn’t be too long before that is eventually offered too, especially when considering that Toyota is currently also producing a surprising amount of other parts for the OG Hachiroku.
The AE86 has been part of the GR Heritage Parts programme since November 2021, with available parts including rear brake calipers, steering knuckle arms, and rear driveshafts. In fact, the GR Heritage Parts programme currently offers more than 200 parts for eight historic models, including the 2000GT, A70 Supra, A80 Supra, and various iterations of vintage Land Cruisers.
These newly-remanufactured 4A-GE engine bits, along with an AE86 equipped with an engine assembled using these parts and restored using currently available GR Heritage Parts, will be exhibited at the “Initial D 30th Anniversary 2days” event at Fuji Speedway in Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture scheduled for this weekend (13-14 September). Toyota hasn’t announced pricing yet for these new parts, but the work involved in its remanufacture could actually see them retail for as much as an AE86 was when new.
