Vitara engine conversion

[inthemud]

Hi, I need some help making a decision. I have a 1995 Vitara (NZ new) with a G16B 16 valve efi & manual 5 speed. It has a water leak coming from somewhere under the injection manifold. I can't see the source of the leak. Still goes fine & no overheating yet. Anyway, I've been thinking about giving it a transplant for a while & have been looking a a J18a (Baleno) or 4age toyota. I'll be puting the G16b into an LJ81 project that I have. Has anyone had experience with Vitara engine conversions & the extras involved? Would appreciate the help.

[91Rangie]

Sounds like same problem hunter had with his suk he bought.
thought to be a head gasket. he had another engine to put in it so was'nt worried bout it.
All was revealled when he pulled the engine had a crack in the block

[MAHINDRACJ4A]

alot of options

supra engine, lexus v8, sr20det, rb20det, v8 diesel................

[Heath]

bored out j18 or you could do one of these 2 litre suzuki jobs I have read about. The j18a will bolt right in if I recall correctly (same basic bloc as the 1600's but the 2 litre one wont. The guys from Te Puke parts world would know as they made up an 1800cc vit a while ago (I think it was them), ask Shane.

Heath

[Rotazuk]

From what I have read a j20 or j18 will bolt to the gearbox , no idea on the mounts doubt it but you never know . The hassle with a j18 is its setup for a east west install , were as the j20 is north south . the wreckers want an arm and a leg for either motor .

the 4age would not be a good option in my optinion as its not much more performance for all the work , engine to gearbox would be an issue . Easyier to put in the lj81 as it has a divorced t/case .

Go for the j20 or then j18 , otherwise go overthe top and go with a lexus or rotary ( something different ) .

Slightly off track , the suzuki 2.0 and 2.5 v6 is a domestic market mazda v6 ( from the grapevine ) has anyone seen if the mid 90's mazda 626 and the like v6's are the same bolt pattern . I doubt it but would be a nice conversion if they were .

Chris

[MAHINDRACJ4A]

i was forced quite a bit to put a 12a Bridgeport into my mahindra , but was put off by a few other people saying that rotaries do not go good offroad, never really looking into either

[Rotazuk]

Its all about torque offroad they say . Well a suzuki does not have any to speak of esp the 1.0 and 1.3 in the 410 & 3's etc .

Also dig out a dyno of a 13b turbo and a 3.8 commy and there is not much in it . Yes the v6 has more torque but its less than 10% across the rev range . Also peak power is only a little higher in the rev range than the v6 , think the v6 is 5400 and the 13b turbo is under 6500 .

The goog thing is if you get it to spin up in a mud bog it will got to 9000 so not gear change , wereas the v6 would not rev that high .

Still whats on paper does not always translate on the road
We need to talk someone into doing it to find out .

Chris

[inthemud]

I've been looking at a few lexus V8's & 3.8 holdens also although, I'm not sure whether I want to spend too much on it. I'm sure I'll have to change the drive line (diffs, axles etc) to cope with the extra power. The nissans seem overly expensive- probably a good option for boy racers & drift cars I suppose. Anyway, if my block isn't cracked & it's just a frost plug or something minor, can I bore out the G16B or are the cylinders too thin- would it be a waste of time? [/quote]

[Heath]

Any news on this project?