[fordem]

First the question - is the 10 bolt rear diff from the earlier Vitaras interchangeable with the 12 bolt rear diff from the later ones - is either one more desirable than the other?

Now the back story ...

Sitting in a scrap yard not far from me is a two door, 8v G16 carby, manual transmission Vitara, which, if I'm correct should have 5.125:1 ring & pinions, I may be able to get the complete axles at a good price. I believe, based on the chassis number, it will have the earlier 10 bolt rear diff which means I cannot swap the rear ring & pinion into my 98 GV, I would have to swap the entire differential.

The idea started out as being a way to get the 5.125 gears, just in case I wanted to go larger on the tires at some point in the future, and if I knew for a fact that it had the 12 bolt rear ring & pinion, I wouldn't hesitate - problem is - there's no way for me to find out without buying it. I already have spare front & rear axles from a twin to my car with the 4.875:1 ring & pinions, and I'm planning to get the front axle, as this will give me the parts to do the "shift-on-the-fly" delete, and I believe the stubby CV axle on the right side, so I'm trying to decide if I should get the rear axle too.

[Gwagensteve]

Yes, I believe the car you're describing will have 5.125 ratios.

as far as I am aware, the complete rear third member will swap over. I have 10 and 12 bolt thirds here and whilst the third member casting is different between the two, it's dimensionally the same. and will interchange.