g16A or g16B

[Heath]

Been lurking on Tme looking for bargains (as you do) and have a question as to which engine is better.

The 16v head g16a or the 16v g16b?

Or is an 8v head with g16a or g16b better?

I am going to be after torque klow down for trialling and maybe running an auto (still not 100% decided yet). My mind may get made up for me if I find a cheap manual vitara before I find an auto one.

Is torque important with an auto? or is power better?

Heath

[Ben]

Don't worry too much about wether is a G16a or G16b. Worry more about wether its an 8V head or 16V head.

8V's have lots more off idle and low down torque, whereas a 16V has much more top end power. My 8V is pretty nice offroad as you can just let the clutch out with no throttle, and let it lug right down when crawling. A 16V is much more likely to just stall if you do the same thing.
On road though, the 16V goes a fair bit better as it has more power and revs more freely. Same goes offroad if you have it pegged in a bog or hillclimb though too.
The 16V is away after about 2000 rpm, so its only a matter of keeping the revs up a little.

Which is best probably depends on your driving style. I like my torkey old 8V as I have lots of traction (2x lockers and beadlocked simexes) and I have low gears. Most of my driving is in rough slow tracks in the bush.
If you had little tyres and no gears or lockers a 16V might be better so you can rev the sh*t out of it to get up the same stuff.
For trials I would probably say 16V, so you can get maximum power and live with being a little more carefull not to stall.

The 16V's do have a better crank that is fully counterweighted, so handles the revs a bit better.

Ben

[Dr_PC]

I am going to be after torque klow down for trialling and maybe running an auto (still not 100% decided yet). My mind may get made up for me if I find a cheap manual vitara before I find an auto one.
Heath

8V would be my choice

[zuky]

If you're going to run an auto go for the 16v, what the engine lacks in off idle torque it makes up for with power. And the torque converter if doing its job properly will soak up the gap between idle and 2000 rpm. You're doing well to stall either if your running an auto.

What ever you choose... MAKE SURE IT HAS INJECTION !!!!!

Hugo

[Heath]

Got a bid in on a vit manual with g16a (8 Valve) so we shall see. Now I have to find somewhere to put it and some place to work on it. I will have to do some nice talking with the missus.

Heath

[surf_tomo]

Mine is a G16A, does any one know the difference?

Tom.

[lneil]

From what I understand, the G16B has a better balanced crankshaft, and slightly different head gallery configuration. Runs smoother and revs better.

All the 8-valves are G16A's, while the 16-valves started as G16A , with the later ones being G16B.

[surf_tomo]

Oh ok yeah that makes sense then mine is a 1991 16v.

cheers for the info