Option — Shōwa Car Tuning & Buyers Guide (2000 Edition)

There are many ways to enjoy the Hachiroku, but the high-revving 4A-G is an engine that is especially fun to modify. These days, rival 1.6-liter cars encountered on mountain roads and circuits are often high-powered, so the light tuning people used when the Hachiroku first appeared may no longer be enough to win. That brings us to tuning—and surely the 4A-G calls for naturally aspirated tuning, right?

...this carburetor setup really appeals to enthusiasts. The FCR conversion kit, which has become popular in recent years, is now an essential item for modern naturally aspirated tuning. Why is it called a conversion? Because this carburetor was originally made for motorcycle engines. Uk谷 Shokai developed a kit to fit it to the 4A-G, solving the intake-manifold and throttle-cable issues. With carburetors, the engine revs more freely and produces a distinctive intake sound—that is the biggest appeal. And since it uses four individual throttles...