[Kimtown]

Hi guys,
Been a very long time since I've posted here

I bought a 01 auto soft top jimny a few years ago with plans to build it into a pretty tough off-roader for weekend use, due to money constraints (in that I had none) I had to put it on hold while I was paying off my mortgage lol.

Anyone I've got some spare cash laying around and it's time to start the build from ground up. Basically my jimny is stock standard at the moment sitting on a set of 29 centipedes (which will be upgraded first)

I'm going to start with the engine first as the 1.3 I have is gutless as all hell, then moving onto the transfer case, possible lockers, body work (chop into a single gab ute + guards etc), suspension then all the other bells and whistles.

Question I am asking, since it's been a long time since I've researched anything Suzuki relayed, are the m18 engines still the best for conversions for jimnys? Is there any other really good 4 cylinder engines that would perform as well? Or even an Rb20 if it would fit with the thin chasis rails?

Also if I were to go down the path of the m18, is it worth keeping the auto or swapping to a manual. I remember guys on here were big on autos back in the day because they are so much simpler to drive off road where you can focus more on lines than shifting gears, but when I drive my jimny it really does seem to be lacking. I'm not sure if it's because of how poor the 1.3 engine is. Every now and then on a hill it struggles to turn the wheels lol. Obviously a transfer case will make a huge difference, but it still seems crap lol.

Cheers guys.

[henno]

My personal opinions are as follows.

Firstly, I think you have this list out of order:

Kimtown wrote:

I'm going to start with the engine first as the 1.3 I have is gutless as all hell, then moving onto the transfer case, possible lockers, body work (chop into a single gab ute + guards etc), suspension then all the other bells and whistles.

You said that your plan is for a tough offroader for weekend use and with that in mind, for the cost of the M18 conversion you could probably lock at least one axle and probably gear the transfer accordingly. You already said the 'pedes were going so I am assuming new tyres are a given regardless. The order of mods for my (once again, personal) opinion for a weekend toy would be tyres, locker/s, gearing (gearing bumped before lockers if large tyres are fitted) then suspension and then M18 and 'bells and whistles'. Very rarely will a weekend toy get stuck due to a lack of power, unless more power is to mask a lack of gearing and/or a locked axle.

Kimtown wrote:

Question I am asking, since it's been a long time since I've researched anything Suzuki relayed, are the m18 engines still the best for conversions for jimnys?

Depending on your model Jimny, probably.
EDIT: Just read it was a G-series engine. M18 is a no go, use a G16.

Kimtown wrote:

Or even an Rb20 if it would fit with the thin chasis rails?

Horrid idea. Heavy, shitty, too much work. The bang for your buck is just not there, sorry.

Kimtown wrote:

Also if I were to go down the path of the m18, is it worth keeping the auto or swapping to a manual. I remember guys on here were big on autos back in the day because they are so much simpler to drive off road where you can focus more on lines than shifting gears, but when I drive my jimny it really does seem to be lacking.

Lacking what offroad? An auto is hands-down superior offroad. The jimny auto needs some love though, if you plan to beat on it (a cooler, et al).

Kimtown wrote:

I'm not sure if it's because of how poor the 1.3 engine is but it feels like I really need a clutch to kick it a bit more. Every now and then on a hill it struggles to turn the wheels lol.

There are guys that turn the wheels fine with engines that have KW figures I could count on my digits without even taking my shoes off. The M13 makes the sort of power that three of tanshi's engines strapped together wished they could make, and his thing gets along just fine. Sure, it won't overtake anything other than a golf cart on the street but it 'turns the wheels on hills' just fine.



So my overall opinion is make the M13 work, if it's a weekend wheeler. The auto will be great if you don't cook it. Lock an axle, gear it when you big tyre it, and go and drive.

[Angus Martin]

A 2001 Jimny will have G series engine IIRC, so this leaves you with the G16B being the easiest/best engine conversion, best of all from a Baleno of a similar year

[greenzook89]

Angus Martin wrote:

A 2001 Jimny will have G series engine IIRC, so this leaves you with the G16B being the easiest/best engine conversion, best of all from a Baleno of a similar year

However soft top Jimnys are a bit odd, being made in Spain, slightly different parts to tintops, could be a G, could be an M. They really are the coily of the Jimny world.

Having said that, everything that henno said is right.

A properly geared/locked auto Jimny (with a big transmission cooler) and some 31's would be a great weekend toy to hit the harder tracks, and if you damage the body, well, its only an ugly soft top

Seriously though, unless the 1.3 has a terminal problem, spend the money on tyres/gears/lockers. In that order.

[JuniorJoel]

Second/Third what henno and greenzook have both said. Lockers, Gearing, Tyres is where its all at. Depending on wether you have a G series or M series motor i personally wouldn't worry about touching the motor. From what i have had/seen there both pretty good motors and what ever the motor lacks you can make up for by gearing it appropriately.

Depending on your choice of tyre size will vary slightly what path you will go down, and whether you'll want chromo axles/CV's ect.

[Kimtown]

Thanks for the advice.

G series engine, more complex trying to convert to an m series? What are the major differences?

JuniorJoel wrote:

Second/Third what henno and greenzook have both said. Lockers, Gearing, Tyres is where its all at. Depending on wether you have a G series or M series motor i personally wouldn't worry about touching the motor. From what i have had/seen there both pretty good motors and what ever the motor lacks you can make up for by gearing it appropriately.

Depending on your choice of tyre size will vary slightly what path you will go down, and whether you'll want chromo axles/CV's ect.

Are aftermarket chromoly axle and cv's for jimnys still unbelievable hard to find unlike sierras? When I purchased this that was the case at the time. It would be nice if they were easily available now

[greenzook89]

G to M series will be major changes to wiring and gearbox. You can get a G16B from a baleno/vitara and fit that however. Its a lot more straightforward than messing about with M series.

M series is a completely different motor, only similarity is they are a 1.3 4 cylinder.

Tanshi (ADD Engineering) in the business section can supply chromo goodies aswell as other parts to suit Jimnys.