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Fitting Vitara powersteering to Sierra

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:52 am
by DiddyZook
I have a 1.3l sierra ('89 1324cc) and the powersteering from a vitara to fit. I have the pump, lines, steering box etc.

My questions are:

What size does the pulley on the engine need to be?

What size belt do I need?

I have searched the Bible for clues on how to go about this, the best I could find was Christover's writeup. Is the bracket for mounting the pump the way Chris did it necessary or is there another way?

Do the lines need to be secured to the inside of the engine bay?

How have others mounted the resoviour?

I figure some of this will make sense when I start work on this tomorrow but any help in advance is appreciated.

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:07 pm
by Bad JuJu
I think you need a double groove pully on the crank.
Then wrap some thin rope round the pullyset while it is at its smallest adjustment and mark this measurement.
Measure the rope on a tapemeasure

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 5:53 pm
by DiddyZook
Okay got most of it figured out and can now start doing some work. But i still do not have a pulley to mount on the engine (I have the one on the pump). I assume that the size should be the same as originally mounted to the Vitara.

Can someone with vitara powersteering please measure theirs for me so that i can try and get the right size.

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 6:10 pm
by christover1
DiddyZook wrote:Okay got most of it figured out and can now start doing some work. But i still do not have a pulley to mount on the engine (I have the one on the pump). I assume that the size should be the same as originally mounted to the Vitara.

Can someone with vitara powersteering please measure theirs for me so that i can try and get the right size.
Mines very hard to get an accurate measurement from, but is approximately 140mm diameter. A bit larger than the fan belt pulley.
It is a 4 rib multi v belt.
Mine came off a Swift/Barina import fwd engine.
Most are interchangeable with most sierras. But I'm told some are different stud pattern, tho I've never seen it.

It works fine for mine

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:05 pm
by DiddyZook
Thanks Chris

I actually found some old pictures from when you did yours, and alongside the nice GREEN bracket I could see a bit of the pully and was figuring that it would be the same as the pulley for the fan and alternator.

If yours is off a Swift then at least I have something to aim for if I hit the wreckers in the morning.

Other than the fab work to mount the pump bracket this is turning out pretty straight forward so far. I had to stop as it got dark.

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:25 pm
by christover1
You will not only love it, you'll wonder why ya didn't do it ages ago :)

I just learnt that not all swifts have same waterpump. I used the swift 1 for its multi v pulley, and the waterpumps could not interchange the pulley, even tho they both bolt on to block the same.

But earlier swifts had a waterpump with pulleys of similar/same as sierras, so may just be an easier job...tho changing the pump wasn't horribly hard to do.

christover

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:43 pm
by DiddyZook
So, an early Swift/Barina is the right pulley if i also change waterpumps? or an early Swift/Barina is good, later ones change with the water pump?

What changed? the pulley profile (eg type of belt it carries)

I will take off the pulley I have and take it with me.

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:58 pm
by christover1
To clarufy I recently went to buy a new waterpump.
2 types were listed for swift. Mines a late model pump.
The early swift 1 looked exactly the same as a sierra, the later was what I had.

With mine, to use the multi v pulley on the fan part, I had to change the water pumps over. Was all the same, except where the fan bolted on (I'm guessing swift used a thermo fan?)
Of course no issue if you intend to use a thermo fan, but I had a boss made to fit sierra fan, but also guessing other fans would also fit)

But the earlier type appeared to be same as Sierra, if true, the pulley bits may just swap over, and the standard sierra fan bolt straight on.

All theory tho, at the moment, I wasn't aware there was that choice to look at).

Bet thats as clear as mud now :roll:

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 9:21 pm
by nicbeer
I am doing mine soon. entire vit 16v inc powersteer into a sierra. have got a flat plate adapter and mounting bottle near the orig spot from vit.

Nic

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:53 am
by DiddyZook
Okay, back at it, and I will eat my words (it is not so simple).

The steering box that came off had two bolts towards the front and one bolt towards the rear to mount it. The box going in has one bolt towards the front, two towards the rear. The spacing is fine, just reversed.

eg On old : .

On new . :




Is this normal? How have others dealt with this?

This seems like a bigger problem than fitting the pump.

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 10:16 am
by =SKB=
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 10:18 am
by =SKB=
Plenty of articles around mainly from US Samurai owners that have used this kit or made their own that is very close to it. The angled plate shows where bolts come through from behind plate for steering box while existing bolt holes in chassis are used to mount adapter plate.

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 1:40 pm
by christover1
I made two new sleeved holes.
Pulled out the half round recessed hole.
Plated and drilled 2 new holes with sleeves, same size as original.
1 original front hole was re used.

An adaptor plate would be easier, but I had no room.

that kit looks great idea.

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 1:53 pm
by christover1
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:15 pm
by DiddyZook
Chris

Fantastic :armsup: :armsup: If a picture is worth a thousand words you just got writers cramp.

I have mounted the pump in pretty much the same way as you (no pretty green paint though :cry: )

i am yet to mount the steering box. Going slow due to being taxi service for kids, get started packup get started packup and now it has started to bloody rain, the first in ages. I haven't got the pitman arm and tierod disconnected yet but by sitting the new box in place, i reckon i should be able to mount the box on a plate which then bolts to the original holes. the lower front hole now becomes the single front hole (so still using one original hole). Doubt that I will be driving this weekend though as I want to get another uni joint to replace the rag joint.

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 4:01 pm
by nicbeer
I have a square plate with bolts in it.

A bit like the below.

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Nic

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:19 pm
by DiddyZook
I like the look of nicbeer's square plate with bolts that it is almost exactly the same as I made up this afternoon. I bolt the steering box to the plate then bolt the plate through the chassis rail, one bolt going through both. Sits the whole steering box out slightly from the chassis rail (with the bonus of no cutting into the panel above the rail) but it looks to be fairly straight.

The steering column is about an inch too long. I have the old style solid bar so no chance of drilling out plastic lugs. The thought did go through my head that another 3" of body lift would help it fit :roll: :lol:

I will have to wait until wreckers open up next week and try to find one of the newer style shafts and another uni joint to replace the rag joint.

So if anyone has a spare steering shaft with a uni on it PM me.