Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hey guys, I've just been through a few of the old threads on engine upgrades, as I'm interested in installing either a toyota 4-AGE twin cam or a vitara 1.6 efi engine into my sierra. But in a few of the old threads it was mentioned that it would be wiser to leave the factory suzuki engine in the car and recondition it as replacement engines can be a big headache because of installation and reliability. Is this still the general feeling everyone has on this subject?? my 1992 1.3L has done 195,000kms and is getting very tired so I will be looking at doing something shortly.

1.6 vitara !!!

1.6 vitara !!!

If I went the vitara, would it be better/ cheaper to source(import) a half cut, or look at local wreckers and strip engine, gearbox and stuff from there??

You dont want the Vitara gearbox cos then you have a gearbox too long, due to the tcase. The intergral transfer case issue can be resolved by finding a US 2WD Tracker or X90 gearbox... but other than the states I dunno what else shares same box.

Usually just buy an adaptor and use your sierra box.


Of course the other option... buy my Vitara so you have all the parts

A halfcut EFI is usually around the $2000-2500 mark. You'll probably find it will cost much more if you get a bare engine in the long run.

Vitara carbies also go for obscene money as well so keep that in mind if you think a bare engine carby seems cheap.

You allready have the gearbox, all you need is the Vit engine and its ancillary items, speak to your local engineer before you spend any $$$$, some don't have a problem with an imported engine if you have all relevant paperwork and data, others wont touch an import at all (or make it so hard for you that you give up).
If your are going to go out and buy an engine get the 1.6 vit, not the 4AGE, the Toyota motor is a fine engine, but the Suzy donk is all alloy (as opposed to the 4AGE's cast iron block) but it is not all about saving weight, keeping it all Suzuki has its own benifits, not to mention no hydraulic cluch woes and exhaust issues or having to buy spare parts from several dealers ect ect.
Find someone local who has a 1.6 vit engine in their Sierra and see how hard it goes, you will be impressed.
The other thing I have allways beleived is that low milage factory is far better than reco/rebuild/rewhatever, Mr Suzuki/Toyota builds a quality engine with genuine parts in an ideal environment, it is not thrown together with the cheapest Chinese/Taiwanese parts that greasy Bobs garage can find, with the 1st year apprentice doing most of the work.
I realise this is a gross generalisation and I may offend some very good 1st year apprentice's but I stand by it, as I am not going to risk my wifes hard earned $$$ on anything less.

Good luck what ever way you go.
Peter.

If you decide to go the toyota route try to get the 4agze as it is 1.6 lt efi with a supercharger so you get a lot of grunt where you need it (down low)as it comes on boost from the first revolution of the motor and if you dont want the boost there you can switch the supercharger off (just like air conditioning) but then again i am a bit biased towards toyota's as i own a surf but then i am chasing a suzuki for hardcore 4 wheeling

i was reading on the suzi shop forum that there is a 660cc subaru that had a super charger on it they might be good for 1.3 and 1.0 not sure if it would work maybe a bit of playing around with pullies and stuff

for any one interested the car it came off is known as a Sherpa or a Fiori

zukin4life wrote:i was reading on the suzi shop forum that there is a 660cc subaru that had a super charger on it they might be good for 1.3 and 1.0 not sure if it would work maybe a bit of playing around with pullies and stuff

Similar to the cap engines - 660 injected twin cam intercooled turbo.

Very nice to drive in a sierra.

after gregs woes with engineering the cap engine Im led to believe its not a good way to go???

muppet_man67 wrote:after gregs woes with engineering the cap engine Im led to believe its not a good way to go???

Only if you want it engineered

I just said it was nice to drive

I wasnt critisising what you said. just adding to it.

smiles all round happy happy hooray

you would need an engineers certificate if you were going to put a super charger or turbo on a engine wouldnt u