About this episode
Not the Upgrade Toyota Had in MindOne of the biggest complaints about the previous-generation Toyota 86 was its modest factory output of around 200 horsepower. Toyota addressed that with the launch of the second-generation GR86 for the 2022 model year, equipping it with Subaru’s 2.4-liter FA24 boxer engine, which makes 228 horsepower in U.S.-spec form. However, one owner decided to swap it out anyway, replacing it with something a little different – a Honda engine.More specifically, this 2023 GR86 was swapped with a 2.4-liter Honda K24 inline-four. The K-series is well known in the tuning world as a reliable and relatively affordable platform for making more power. According to MA-Motorsports, the shop behind the swap, the decision came after the factory FA24 suffered internal damage when its harmonic balancer broke off. The builder said it wanted to stick with a Japanese replacement engine, but made one thing clear: “No more Subaru.”Bridging Two WorldsThe K24 was installed using a swap kit originally designed for the 86, though the shop said it had to be slightly modified to fit the GR86. The kit also included engine mounts, a fabricated oil pan, and an adapter plate that allowed the car to retain its factory 6-speed manual transmission. Meanwhile, the stock ABS was replaced with a BMW Mk60 from an E46 M3.This build is claimed to produce 240 wheel horsepower, which would translate to a higher figure at the crank. More importantly, it already surpasses the stock output.The vehicle was bought exclusively to serve as a track car, which is obvious from the interior layout. The stripped-out cabin retains only the driver’s seat – an OMP unit – along with a Momo steering wheel and a custom aluminum dashboard. Other equipment includes an ECUMaster PMU-16, a Link CAN keypad, a Link 7-inch display, and an AiM Solo 2 for recording lap times.
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