auto trans into narrow track sierra with j20a

[springcart]

Hi all . I have sj51 sierra with a j20a vitara engine and was wondering if anyone has put a three speed auto behind this engine ?
I dont want 4 speed auto because of the electronics.
Would there be tunnel mods ?
any feed back would be great .
Thanks Grant

[Gwagensteve]

no, I haven't put a trimatic behind a j20A, but can't see why you couldn't.

Yes, you will have to mod the tunnel, even if you have a BL.

You will need some pretty big tyres though - it's going to spinning pretty hard even on the highway with stock gears.

The AW-4 4 speed auto is one of the easier autos to shift as all gears are solenoid controlled. There are kits available (www.AWshifting.com) and it has a lower 1st gear and a high ratio converter so all round it's a lot better auto.... but I can't see a reasonable way to get one in a stock wheelbase shorty without going to a kicker/cradle big 'ole mess of work under the car.

Steve.

[joeblow]

3 speed auto....waste of time. you will find it has poor gearing for both on-road and off-road situations. and the mods needed to mate it to a j20 could be a headache.

[greg]

According to Droopy_Pete, the J20A has the same bolt pattern (bell housing patern) as the G16 series of engines, so i expect it should bolt straight up without too many dramas.


Grant - can we see some photos of the engine in the engine bay? The J20A is still my dream motor choice and I'm curious to see how the clearances are around the brake booster, and what you have done for radiator fan setup etc...

[WRXZook]

Here is one.

[GRPABT1]

I researched the J20a a while ago, the bolt pattern is the same but some mods had to be done to the spline on the gearbox/clutch or something???

[springcart]

Thanks Guys I have a 2" body lift & running s4 rock hoppers with 33"and was just hoping for Quicker gear changers on short circuits without smashing gears (dont know how to put up photos)

[Gwagensteve]

you'll be up at over 4500rpm @ 100kph with that setup with a three speed.

Steve.

[sic_zook]

ive got a 3 speed vit. auto withe the transfer removed n a sierra jacksharft running off it 2 a sierra transfer with series 1 rockhopper n running 5.3 diff gears (hilux diffs) n 37 creepy crawlies n i sit on about 5_5.5 grand at 110 on the m1 n had 2 widen the tunnel about 30mm each side n 50mm body lift. do u have the 4 speed auto atall

[springcart]

No just running standard 5 speed but it likes to make black oil . So Im not sure if it can handle the power increase? Has new bearings and have changed the oil twice in 1000 kms 80/w90
With this mod there is no proplem with fowling any thing you just need a 2" body lift . The thermo fan needs to be mounted on the front of the radiator and custom made extractors. The alternator on top is 24 volts for the winch, oringinal alternatior is below inlet manifold






sorry about the dirty engine

[greg]

does anyone know what gearbox comes in the J20A vitara? is it the AW4 like other 1.6 vitaras of similar years?

Springcart - "standard 5 speed" - i presume that is the Sierra 5 speed? in which case, what was the deal with the spline issue on the gearbox / clutch?

Does the engine come with a belt driven fan? i.e. did you consider moving your radiator forward?

thanks again.

[cj]

does anyone know what gearbox comes in the J20A vitara? is it the AW4 like other 1.6 vitaras of similar years?



Does the engine come with a belt driven fan?

Yes & Yes

[cj]

Springcart - "standard 5 speed" - i presume that is the Sierra 5 speed? in which case, what was the deal with the spline issue on the gearbox / clutch?

From what I know you need to machine a 1.6 flywheel (could possibly use a lighter 1.3 flywheel too but I'd think the weight of the 1.6 would suit the 2.0 better for offroad work anyway) to suit the 8 bolt pattern and clear the crank and and you just use a normal 1.6 clutch kit. You also need to machine a bronze pilot bushing but apparently there is a pilot bearing from something else that will fit but I don't know what it is.

[greg]

so then to summarize, the 2.0 could be fitted with it's matching AW4 just like a 1.6 with AW4 could be fitted, but if you mix and match boxes, there could be some trickiness in the bell housing / spline department.

[springcart]

Yes I am running a sierra 5 speed and I used excedy clutch assembly from Bursons P/N szk-6288hd The kit I got to do the engine conversion came with the flywheel and spigot bush.
No to the fan Question .I was going to put the radiator in the back to get it out of the way But the engine mounts are fully incapulated so the engine dosn't move .All I had to do is move it 50mm to the left to fit the power steering .Also moving the radator forward would have got in the way of the winch and I wanted to keep the grill

[greg]

Hey Springcart,

FYI - Trail Tough now sell Vitara 2L to Trimatic adaptors, and the bearing support plate for the back of the trimatic too.

http://www.trailtough.com/index.php?pag ... &Itemid=53

and

http://www.trailtough.com/index.php?pag ... &Itemid=53

cheers.

[Remydog05]

To dig up an old thread

Can anyone see a reason why you couldnt match a 1.6Vit aw4 with a J20a?

I understand there will be the wring etc , but I mean more so the coverter,etc

From what I know the bellhousing would be fine.

[Rotazuk]

So long as the j20 bottom end is the same as a j18 ( which I believe it is ) it will bolt up fine . You need the flexi plate from the j20 , oversize three of the 6 torque converter bolt holes and bolt the 1.6 torque converter on . i put the flexi plate hard against the crank shaft and then bolted the spacer and the plate on the aft of this . I left out the thin shim between the engine and gearbox .

Next time I pull the box off I amd going to fit it on as normal as I thonk it will fit fine , i measured it up and wanted the torque converter to sit forward so it engaged the end of the crank . Once it was bolted up I think it would have been fine factory so to speek ( spacer , flexi plate and then plate all bolted onto the crankshaft )

hope that makes sence .

[Remydog05]

OK

The hard part sounds like finding a Flex plate from a J20a!