Smallport 4AGE's are slightly easier to work on than bigports in FWD applications! I recommend an AE93 SX or GTi, plenty of aftermarket support for them aswell compared to AE82's where our parts are starting to become hard to find...

Smallport 4AGE's are slightly easier to work on than bigports in FWD applications! I

 

Much of a muchness really - apart from the TVIS and associated valving the basic engine layout is essentially identical.

What about on the bigport how the water pipes on the back of the head are connected to both the block and the head and are nearly impossible to get to the bolts on the block thanks to the intake mani lol

 

I prefer the smallport thanks to a few little improvements in the design through the motor

To the average home mechanic things like that aren't much relevance, if I was working on things on the back of the motor I'd probably be removing all the intake anyway. At the end of the day, routine items like thermostats, spark plugs, starter motors, alternator/pumps, radiator hoses, filters and drain plugs etc are all in the same spot on both engines.