[Zoro]

Morning all.
I've got an 89 Vitara 2 door, slowly building her up into something that I can get in trouble with.
Problem is, like everyone I'm in desperate need of reduction gearing. I managed to get a transfer case which is apparently out of a 93 2 door, and I plan on buying gears for this, getting them to work, then dropping it into the zook.
Is there any difference between them? I remember seeing somewhere on here that the tcase is rubbish before 92. They also don't make years for them for pre 91 models, which is strange if the cases are the same.
Any way I can check to see which case I actually have? Bought it from a wreckers and he was a little vague about it.
Also, pretty sure my engine is carby, but the air intake bit of alloy has EFI written on it.
Just starting to get into all this car business, so sorry if my questions are a little dumb.
Luke.

[Gwagensteve]

You have a Japanese import Vitara with a throttle body fuel injected motor.
Transfer case is the same for all models of 4cylninder Vitaras. The 4.2 gears will fit.

[Zoro]

Cool. Thanks heaps. Is there actually any difference between the tcases? Trying to work out why lror don't sell reductions gears for pre 91 models. I emailed trail tough, and they said reductions gears for pre 91 don't exist. Maybe it's a similar thing to the 1530 Richmond locker that actually fits the vitara. Anyway, thanks again.

[Gwagensteve]

I don't beleive there is any difference between cases. I wonder if 1991 was the first model year for the sidekick in the U.S.? Steve.

[christover1]

I have a spare transfer case that my gears won't fit unless I put a later model countershaft in.
Other than that it looked same.
Later models should be better to fit gears to anyway.

[Gwagensteve]

Maybe that's the difference then.
Is the countershaft interchangeable?

Steve.

[christover1]

I was intending to fit the countershaft and bearings into my 93 case, then refit my 4:24 gears.
It fitted in ok with its own gears, but I had to refit my original countershaft to use the 4:24's.
Was a length of shaft and position of things problem.

So I'd say good chance it could be done.

[Gwagensteve]

In any case, Vitara transfers are all but free and far cheaper than the gears. As most in wreckers will be newer than 1991, it won't be any big deal to fit a later case with gears.

Learn something new every day though, eh.

[fordem]

Gwagensteve wrote:

I wonder if 1991 was the first model year for the sidekick in the U.S.?

The first Sidekicks in the US market were released in 1989, with the same 1.3 carbureted engines previously used in the Samurai, 1.6 TBI versions were also available that year.

[Zoro]

Sweet. Well the plan at this stage is to buy gears and fit them to the '93 case. Then hope the 93 case fits properly. If that all goes to shit, I'll look to use the original counter shaft as Chris suggested.
I'll be sure to take some photos along the journey for the next sucker to follow.