Since their debuts, the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ have always been popular amongst enthusiasts, partially due to their affordability and tuneability. Thanks to huge aftermarket support, there have been some insane ZN8 and ZD8 builds over the years, and the car I’m about to show you from Malaysia, is one of them.
When Victor Liew bought the GR86 from a grey-import dealer, it was largely stock, save for a TOM’S quad-tip exhaust system and matching diffuser. Dubbed ‘Kaiju 8’ by Tom, the car has been driven hard since he acquired it, seeing regular track-day action at Sepang International Circuit, drift events, and more.
Despite the GR86’s FA24 2.4L boxer engine being an impressive powerplant, it’s not what you’ll find in this Toyota. Victor chose to swap it out for a Honda K24. His reasoning? At around 187kg (412lbs), the K24 is significantly lighter than the FA24, which weighs roughly 226kg (498lbs). The K24 can also be mounted further back in the GR86’s engine bay, resulting in less front overhang than the factory FA24 setup. However, the biggest factor is practicality. In a car that is constantly driven hard, the K24 makes more sense: performance upgrades are easier to source and are significantly cheaper than FA24 equivalents in Malaysia.
This wasn’t Victor’s first experience with the swap, either – he previously owned a GT86 fitted with a K24. In his own words, Tom says his K24-swapped GT86 felt noticeably more nimble and agile, largely due to the Honda engine’s lighter weight.
Outside, Kaiju 8 is fitted with an Aimgain front lip, side skirts, and rear wing, along with the TOM’S diffuser (and exhaust) he bought the car with. The wheels are flow-formed Raxer RP10Xs, a locally-produced wheel designed in conjunction with Tengku Djan Ley (the Prince Of Drift) and Mcclubz.
The cherry on top is the TAKATA x Speedhunters tow strap. As a long-time enthusiast, Victor was a huge fan of Speedhunters, and this prized tow strap only finds its way onto cars he truly loves. It’s safe to say, this one won’t be leaving his garage anytime soon.
Inside, the GR86 remains mostly stock, and one aspect of that is something that Victor is very proud of. Despite being powered by a Honda engine, the original Toyota digital cluster remains fully functional, something you don’t see in all K-swapped 86 builds. The dash also features the autographs of Malaysian motorsport heroes Amer Harris, Tan Tat Wai, and Bullzai – three drivers Victor looks up to.
While the Kaiju 8 may seem complete, Victor still has plenty of plans in store, including a new body kit to give the exterior a fresh look. For now, however, he’s focused on showing the car at Tokyo Auto Salon Kuala Lumpur in August and then, if all goes to plan, stealing the ‘Sepang’s Fastest GR86’ crown.
