Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Okay I am sure that there a lot of opinions out there. And I will confess to not knowing a great deal about Vitaras but why is the 1600 a more popular conversion for puting in a Sierra when looking for more grunt?

Wouldn't a 2.0 lt or 2.7 lt fuel injected V6 give more power and torque?

The 1600 requires adaptors and engineering certificate so these can not be enough reason to not do it. Even if you take the vitara gear box as well you would have a substantially improved vehicle.

Other non Suzuki engine conversions are being done (4AGE. SR20, CA18, 4AGZE, etc etc even GM 3.8 lt V6) mostly requiring substantial modifications to the drivetrain.

The Vitara V6 has been around for a while now so surely there must be a few donors.

It must be do-able so what is the reason for going non-Suzuki in favour of taking this path.

hmm a good question...

6 cylinders cost significantly more to rego, and insurance companies get a bit narkier about the extra two pots....

more importantly, if my memory hasn't failed me, a local zook shop told me coz it won't physically fit.....

Spock

Rego and insurance aren't enough of a reason not to do it.

As far as the fit, I don't know of the answer, but when you consider the size of some of the other options fitted (GM 3.8 or even 4.4l in the US) and the relatively similar sized engine bays of Vitaras and Sierras. The Vitara bay accomodates both the 1600 and the V6. Short of putting two side by side and getting out the tape measure, I don't see a size problem. V6 is 3 cylinders deep, less than the four of a standard motor. V6 is not an excessively tall motor.

There is a write up somewhere on Pirate about doing it. The problem is that it is a very wide engine whereas the Gm 3.8 is a narrower but taller engine. Also the mucking around and the cost to get it in the engine bay isn't really worth the addition of only a small increase in power over the 1.6

The Chevy 4.3ltr V6 has been fitted to a few in the US (sierra's)

The only reason that i could see that you wouldn't fit one is weight.

If you look at Celia Barry's comments here somewhere you will see that even on the LWB vit the conversion that they carried out took the vehicle very close to the vehicle's GVM.

The testing to increase the GVM by way of using a barking and suspension system off a vehicle with a heavier GVM should not be that difficult, but would be a lengthy process.

Other way would be to supercharge the 1.6 with EFI, then you will have problems with the remainder of the drivetrain.

If you want more power and heavier drivetrain but still want a sierra you will have to upgrade your drivetrain to match. You'll have to work out if the conversion is actually going to be worth it.

It is an extremely valid question but when looked at seriously, the G16 conversion is the G-O.

1. A 1300 Sierra and 1600 Vitara essentially share the same type of motor (at least in the bottom end), a 'G' block engine, which means that the engines share "some" common componentry etc. The J20A (4 cyl) and H20A (V6) have different bell housings and are totally different engines in configuration, meaning bit more of task to mount the gearbox.
2. As the bell housing is close enough to being the same betwen a G13 and a G16 it is so much easier to mate the gearbox to the engine. There is an extra 2x holes which have to be accomodated for when fitting a G16 engine. Essentially it requires an extra tag to be welded to be gearbox below where the split is and drilled to suit. There is quite a bit more than this to mate a J/H20 engine.
3. The mounting of the G16 engine isn't too bad, it mainly just needs the repositioning of the right hand engine mount. However, the J/H20 engines are not so simple for mounting.
4. The size of the J/H20 is not so easy to fit in the engine bay of Sierra. Have a look at the engine bay in a SV420/620 Vitara. There is more room between the guards of these models to accomodate for the bigger engines. They are wide track models for a reason.
5. It is debatable as to whether the drivetrain would cope with the extra torque of the J/H20 engine. I don't beleive it will. There is fine line between having grunt and reliability.

............these are only a couple of things to condsider, there are plenty more aspects to take into account.

Plus here in Queensland the DOT have said it's ok to swap, making it heaps easier to engineer...

Im not sure about how many there are about, I cant even find an interior part for my GV

3.8GM V6 fits, albeit a very tight fit. I have that conversion done on mine, and unlike 4wd monthlys' OTIS, I have the radiator up front. It can be done, but you will need a reshaped tranny tunnel, and it wouldn't hurt to run a 75 series transfer case ( cause its strong and offset like sierra diffs). But I can assure you that having that much torque wil result in some nasty driveline issues....ie broken diffs.

I used bundy diffs, and run 36's, and have never broken anything.

But If i could do it all over again I would just do a 1300 with single piont injection manifold off the 1600, and then bolt on a supercharger. If there stil isn't enough grunt .....then start with gear reduction.

I've been down that road mate, and my advise is to keep it simple. It will be much more enjoyable to drive..( and legal )

Pete