[seanzook06]

I am looking at putting a g16b and aw4 in my sj70. From what I have heard the coilpack baleno motor is the pick of the g16b's. How simple is it to get the ecu from the baleno motor to Work with the Aw4 gearbox? The other option is to simply buy a donor Vitara and use the motor and auto from the one car. I have heard that Vitara g16s are prone to cracking blocks so would prefer to avoid that if possible however.
My other question is in regard to the donor loom. I am assuming that in order to use baleno motor I will need the loom from a donor motor, and. If I use Vitara motor then I use the loom from the Vitara, is this correct?

[Gwagensteve]

Yes, the TPS signal from the ECU will work with the Vitara AW-4 TCC. The AW-4 only uses the TPS signal and coolant temperature from the ECU. There is good reason to leave to coolant temp disconnected, as it inhibits overdrive when the engine is cold.

The Vitara engine is a very easy fit - even the sump may work depending on your setup - radiator hoses line up and everything; the biggest issue is bonnet clearance for the crossover pipe. Baleno is significantly more work. The coil packs are nice though as they are much less vulnerable to water ingress and the EFI is much better.

if the block is currently not cracked in your donor of choice it shouldn't crack now so long as you permit enough coolant flow out the back of the head.

Yes, loom needs to match the donor engine and ECU.

As much as I am aa fan of the Baleno engine, I think if you want an AW-4 I'd recommend finding a complete Vitara donor. It's completely possible to mix and match, but the amount of time you will spend sourcing/making/troubshooting small parts will drive you crazy.

A good example - it seems that nobody selling an AW-4 sells it with the flexplate, flexplate to converter bolts, flexplate spacers, and flexplate to crank bolts. Identifying and locating them is a pain. Rinse and repeat for a whole bunch of other stuff. I also think there is something to be said for having the complete TCC and ECU looms in one piece and already wired for the Economy/Power and OD-off switch, along with the check engine and transmission status lights. things like the VSS in the cluster etc is all a bonus.

My Sierra was an early 1.0 and they have very basic and old school looms. (glass fuses, no latches on any plugs etc) and with the amount of wiring I needed to add to the Sierra when I converted it to G16B/AW-4, I decided to use the whole vitara loom (body and chassis) as I was easier to strip out the things I didn't require like A/C, power mirrors and locks etc, then to try and graft the whole engine and TCC loom into the 1.0.

[seanzook06]

Thanks for the detailed reply, looks like hunting for a complete donor Vitara is the go for simplicity. I might even finally update my build thread whenever it gets done.

[Gwagensteve]

Depending on the specifics of your car, there are quite a few other parts which are useful or might come in handy later - power steering 5.12 diff gears, the vitara rear diff, the fuel tank, radiator, front brakes (especially if it is a LWB) I even have a vitara tilt steering column in my car which is almost a bolt in. Whilst none of these things are critical parts of the engine swap, it's surprising how much of a vitara is useful. When I initially set my G16B up, I also used the vitara airbox. It's not the best thing in the world but it does the job and is one less thing to buy/problem to overcome.

As part of the Vitara loom/steering column swap I how have three speed wipers and a three speed fan which feels quite fancy for a Sierra. Depends on how far you want to go.

[seanzook06]

Definitely worth it then,I have already been on the hunt for Vitara Power steering. also gives me parts to create Vitara full float rear, and 5.12s will be useful seeing I am looking at running 35s