What engine do I want in my AE86?

[McKenney]

I had a Redtop(AE92) bottom end, with all stock AE86 bluetop top end, TVIS eliminated, readjusted MAF(USDM car), an AW11 automatic ECU(better fuel mapping in the midrange, makes up for TVIS being eliminated), timing was set 20 degrees initial advance, TRD header, Buddy Club II exhaust. at 7800 rev limit was still pulling begging for more. The reason I ran this setup this way was my motor popped a head gasket and toasted bearings in the process. A friend GAVE me a redtop. Since I didn't have the adapter for bigport intake to smallport head, I swapped a rebuilt bigport head on and new OEM cams.

I have been building engines for 23 years now, yes the smallport has a very active port, but no matter what, the bigport will flow more air. It's not a downgrade. The more air you can get into and out of an engine, the more power you'll make. This is basic engine knowledge.