AHHH YEAH! TGR REVIVES THE LEGENDARY 4A-GE POWERPLANT WITH REISSUED HEADS AND BLOCKS!
For anyone who’s ever lived and breathed JDM car culture, three little characters mean everything: 4A-GE. Toyota’s bulletproof, high-revving 1.6-litre 4-banger became one of the most iconic engines of the ’80s and ’90s, powering legends like the Corolla Levin and Sprinter Trueno AE86, and earning its stripes as a tuner’s dream worldwide. From drifting touge roads in Japan to drag strips in South Africa, the 4A-GE has seen it all. Now, Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) is making sure this legend keeps living on. As part of the GR Heritage Parts Project, TGR has announced the reproduction and reissue of two crucial 4A-GE components: the cylinder head sub-assembly and the cylinder block sub-assembly. These aren’t just dusty re-creations either - Toyota’s engineers have modernised them with the latest simulation tech, updated machining methods, and stronger materials. The goal? To keep AE86s (and countless engine-swapped cars) alive and kicking for decades to come.
First introduced in 1983, the 4A-GE was Toyota’s first twin-cam, 16-valve mass-production engine, co-developed with Yamaha. Depending on the generation, it produced anywhere from 82 kW to 121 kW stock, but its real magic was in its free-revving character, light weight, and how ridiculously tunable it was. It became legendary in the AE86 Corolla and Sprinter Trueno, cars immortalised by drifting culture and, of course, the Initial D manga and anime. But that was just the start - the 4A-GE also powered icons like the first-gen MR2 (AW11), AE82/AE92 Corolla GTi, and even found its way into countless kit cars, Formula Atlantic racers, and backyard swaps.
In South Africa, the 4A-GE gained cult status as the engine swap of choice, dominating drag strips in everything from old Corollas to a fleet of Nissan Champs. Tuners pushed the motor far beyond its original remit - today you’ll find SA-built 4A-GEs running deep into the 7-second quarter mile zone, with outputs well over 700 kW thanks to wild turbo builds. Not bad for a 1.6-litre that started life making just over baby power.
What’s new with the reissued 4A-GE parts?
Cylinder Head Sub-assembly:
Combustion chambers get extra machining to reduce compression ratio inconsistencies. Intake ports now feature a coated finish, smoothing irregularities before polishing. Cam cap knock pins - originally only partial - are now used throughout for easier, more accurate assembly.
Cylinder Block Sub-assembly:
Cylinder bores benefit from modern honing for pinpoint machining precision. Stronger, higher-rigidity cast iron boosts durability. A reworked crank-cap structure improves long-term strength.
Bonus:
Thicker intake/exhaust port walls and added mounting bosses mean these blocks can drop more easily into transverse setups, opening the door for front-wheel-drive builds.
This isn’t Toyota’s first throwback move. The GR Heritage Parts Project already covers more than 200 parts across eight historic Toyota models, including the A70/A80 Supra, 2000GT, and Land Cruiser 40 Series. The AE86 now joins the club with fresh support for its most vital organ, ensuring owners can keep driving, restoring, and racing their cars without resorting to worn-out or aftermarket alternatives. As TGR puts it, this is about more than parts. It’s about preserving the emotional connection enthusiasts have with their cars - the sound, the feel, the memories.
Take a look at the YouTube video from the TGR men in white coats that shows off the remanufacturing of components for one of Toyota’s - and the world’s - best engines ever, the bulletproof 4AG-E and its variants:【GRヘリテージパーツ】AE86レストアプロジェクト｜w/4A-GE構成部品復刻 完了 | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing
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