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GARAGE LIFE> JSP Fab K24A Powered AE86 Build

AE86

When it comes to drifting, whether it’s professional, grassroots, or even street, the AE86 Toyota Corolla GT-S is one of the most iconic cars around.  The AE86 ‘hachi roku‘ and its 4AGE engine are a staple when it comes to drifting.  However some more adventurous and fabrication savvy people have opted to swap in different engines.  Not everyone is a fan of cross platform engine swaps, but I think pulling off a swap from a pure engineering standpoint is a feat of its own.  One of the most desired AE86 cross platform swaps is the F20C/F22C engine from the Honda S2000 as it is one of the most powerful 4 cylinder N/A (normally aspirated) engines available.

JSP Fab John Russakoff First Running K24 AE86 Megan Racing Nexen Tire Formula Drift

About a week ago, JSP Fab‘s John Russakoff contacted me about an exclusive update to his Megan Racing/Nexen Tire Formula Drift competition car.  For those of you who don’t know John, he is one of the first in the AE86 community to perform a F20C engine swap into the AE86 Toyota Corolla Chassis – stateside at least.  He has once again broken the cross platform swap barrier by putting a Honda K-Series front wheel drive engine into the AE86 while retaining the RWD platform.  Going to be the very first fully completed and running K-Series AE86 in the US (and maybe even the world), he definitely had some hurdles to jump over when it came to engineering and fabrication.

John Russakoff F20C AE86 Street Car Volk TE37V JCCS 2010 Long Beach Queen Mary

To give you a little flashback this is John’s old street car, a F20 powered AE86 sitting on Volk TE37V wheels with JBlood rear widebody over-fenders.  I remember last year watching him drift this car at Willow Springs’ Streets of Willow track during the Just Drift All Star Bash.

John Russakoff F20C AE86 Corolla Street Car

The F20 with a custom made “TOYOTA 1600” wire cover can fool even most knowledgeable of car enthusiasts (I know people it has fooled).

JSP Fab John Russakoff First Running K24 AE86 Megan Racing Nexen Tire Formula Drift

Onto the K-Series build. JSP’s new sponsor, Saul Salceda at Mission Critical Performance, fully built an Acura TSX K24A Block with a RSX Type S valve head for this conversion job.  John had custom fabricated a JSP RamHorn turbo manifold for the swap.  The build consisted of a Mission Critical 5 axis CNC ported K20A2 head, DC5 Integra Type R cams, ARP head studs, Supertech 12.5:1 compression pistons, Brian Crower connecting rods, Cosworth head gasket, Supertech valves, springs and retainers all sitting on an MCP blueprinted sleeved and .050 over bore K24 block.

JSP Fab John Russakoff First Running K24 AE86 Megan Racing Nexen Tire Formula Drift

John installed a mock-up turbo on the manifold, with a Turbosmart 45mm wastegate to use to check for clearance.

JSP Fab John Russakoff First Running K24 AE86 Megan Racing Nexen Tire Formula Drift

This Garrett GT3071 turbo is identical to the one he is going to use on the final setup.  This one, however, was destined for Jeff Abbott‘s green Formula D NB Miata.

JSP Fab John Russakoff First Running K24 AE86 Megan Racing Nexen Tire Formula Drift

Instead of having to R&D and build an intake manifold from scratch, John took the preexisting RBC intake manifold from a 2006-2011 Civic Si K20Z3 then cut and welded the plenum backwards for his RWD setup.

JSP Fab John Russakoff First Running K24 AE86 Megan Racing Nexen Tire Formula Drift

Here’s a little peek at the block (for those non believers) and the Mission Critical adapter plate that was built for holding the block to the transmission.

JSP Fab John Russakoff First Running K24 AE86 Megan Racing Nexen Tire Formula Drift

As for the clutch, John sent a test block and transmission to Clutch Masters, where they were able to R&D a completely custom twin plate clutch within a couple of days for his build.  Consisting of both K-series and F-series components this clutch as it sits is a one of a kind prototype.

JSP Fab John Russakoff First Running K24 AE86 Megan Racing Nexen Tire Formula Drift

Just to get into a few details, Clutch Masters had to use a K-series flywheel with an S2000 center spline for this setup to work.  You can see here that John has been busting his ass getting this swap done, so a few giant Band-Aids, to cover some burns, was all he needed to keep moving.

JSP Fab John Russakoff First Running K24 AE86 Megan Racing Nexen Tire Formula Drift

The main brain controlling the swap is a Hondata K-Pro ECU which is going on the passenger foot rest.  If you’re lucky enough to get a ride-along, just be careful with your feet when in the car so you don’t set off his fire extinguisher or break his ECU.

JSP Fab John Russakoff First Running K24 AE86 Megan Racing Nexen Tire Formula Drift Roll Cage Wiring Harness

This was how the car looked just a week before the it needed to be shipped off to Florida.  As for a ride a long, I didn’t see a passenger seat in his car so I don’t think you’ll have to worry as much.

JSP Fab John Russakoff First Running K24 AE86 Megan Racing Nexen Tire Formula Drift

When I arrived at the shop John was working on the wiring for the K-Pro which was sitting on top, rather then inside of the car.  He then told me 2 straight weeks with no sleep was the only thing that let him finish the build before Formula Drift at Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida.

JSP Fab John Russakoff First Running K24 AE86 Megan Racing Nexen Tire Formula Drift

The things I really admire and appreciate about builds like this are that nowadays, with all of the big money sponsors and V8s that are popping up, it’s nice to see that 4 cylinder engines still have a fighting chance with just a little bit of help and some really good driving.  It’s definitely a one of a kind, and its going to be one hell of a sight to see.  For those of you that are going to Formula D Palm Beach in Florida, stop by the Megan Racing trailer to check out this first-of-its-kind completed swap.

To see what else John has cooking in his lab, check out www.jspfab.com and also check out his sponsors Megan Racing, Clutch Masters, and Nexen Tire to name a few.

:: Mike Kim

PS: Special Thanks to John Russakoff for giving me a heads up about this build!  Also thanks to his sponsors for making this swap possible as I am a former AE86 owner and a huge Honda K-series fanatic!

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17 Responses

  1. Wow… Someone finally did it.

    I know Max from Illegal Garage in norcal has been working on a K20A powered Hachi for a while now… But John finally made it happen, Kudos.

    The last I read about Max’s K series build is that he just finished making the bellhousing using a W58 & K series bellhousing, then had a new bellhousing formed from the two pieces he welded together.

    Stuff like this makes you wonder what is next for the 86 platform..

  2. JacobPhoto

    Argh…. I might drop him off my Fantasy team because of this. He was mr consistent and mr reliable earlier this year, and picked up some big points for me. But I don’t know how much I trust a new untested setup on a track that nobody in the series has driven before. Plus, the lack of sleep is likely to catch up with him.

    I wish John the best, but I don’t know if this was the best move mid-season.

    Isn’t he also building an S2000 for competition too? That’s a lot of work to be doing mid-season!

  3. Mike Kim

    @ Travis Umrao – thats pretty awesome that he’s been working on that at illegal garage

    @ JacobPhoto – I understand where you’re coming from with a new swap but one thing I had a chance to discuss with John when I went to his shop was that the build is something that k-series fwd drag racers have been doing for a while. Mission Critical fully built the motor and I think they dyno’d it as well. For sleep, I’m sure he spent every day since the car was sent off last friday sleeping haha. Only one way to find out and we shall see! I’m hella excited about it too! And as for the S2000 I cannot speak of anything at this time :)

  4. Dang…JOHN!!! this is a sick ass swap. Mad props to this guy always coming up with some crazy stuff……cant wait to drive with this new beast!!! This will be awesome!

  5. Looks like the K24 RWD swap is catching on eh?

    A guy just put one of the Honda engines in his S13 down in Aus.

    Very keen to see something like this in action one day!

  6. I don’t know man, I remember seeing an S2000 get its butt handed to him by a Civic Type R (with K20) in a Best Motoring DVD a couple years ago. haha

    Seriously, love this engine and love 86’s! Looking forward to seeing how he does in comp in Fla.

  7. Edward Uche

    Happy for John man, cool guy and love the street car he drove @ ASB last year. He used to skateboard too! Props.

  8. oldsailor80

    Lot of great builds here. Need to find a 4A bellhousing for my build. Need to accomodate a G52 tranny. Anybody know where the bellhousing might be?

  9. Pingback : K24A powered AE86 - EK9.org JDM EK9 Honda Civic Type R Forum

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