[Derek66]

Got a short WB Vit with g16a and 3sp Auto - The auto trans stuffed up and it is difficult to find a replacement and we have been given a price of $1200 to repair.

We have sourced a 91 or so crashed Vitara Estate Wagon with EFI ( TBI?) which can be puchased with a fully reco motor ( lot of receipts) and the five speed for little more than the auto repair.

1. Is this a straight forward conversion?

2. Will the different diff ratios in the Auto and Manual require the diffs to be swapped over as well?

3. Is the wiring of the EFI straight forward or are we better to put the G16a head/Extractors/Inlet Mani and Carb on the other motor to avoid complication.

4. Are there any other considerations about this swap that we should be aware of before we purchase the crashed Estate


Look forward to your advice

[got_bar_work]

The 3 speed auto r trimatics
U should be able to find them for next to nothing

[Derek66]

We made enquiries and we noted on this fourm that they are scarce, and that pursuing autos was best for the 4 speed models which rely on engine electonics with the g16a doesnt have -

The five speed, even with the work to put the clutch pedal in, is probably going to work out cheaper and quicker for the long term.

If we could get onto a cheap, three speed that was reliable we would do that.

[Derek66]

Are there any hidden issues in this conversion given that we are talking taking the running gear out of the LWB EState to put into SWB Vit

[Gwagensteve]

Yes there are some things you need to know.

Spend lots of time with the tape measure.

The EFI and Carby chassis are different. The gearbox crossmember is in a different position - it's not a bolt in.

The speedo drive in the back of the LWB transfer will have a different ratio, so you'll want to swap all of that from the LWB

You would be best to pull the body loom and instrument cluster from the LWB. At the very least, you'll need the VSS from the EFI car, but if you have it all from a donor car, swap the lot over.

You'll need an EFI SWB or X-90 fuel tank. The LWB tank is different and won't fit.

You'll want to use the 5.12 diffs from the 5 speed LWB. If you use the 4.6 diffs from the Trimatic car the gearing will be too tall.

It's quite a lot of work to build something that suzuki already made.

there's no doubt the G16B/AW-4 (automatic) is way superior to the carby/three speed, but converting everything to get a 5 speed G16B car I couldn't be bothered.

Were the quotes you got for a rebuild drive in/drive out or wholesale? If you drop the auto alone off and ask the job to be done "in your own time" I bet it couldn't cost $1200. I had rebuild quotes for $600 on mine including a bunch of improvements and HD parts.

Just some thoughts.

Steve.

[Derek66]

Thank you for your response GwagenSteve = we were about to get ourselves in a bit deep I think- this shows the value of the forum= we are sort of back to sqaure one but at least we dont have a pile of parts we cant use.

We were looking at it being a straight forward operation but its not to be.

[joeblow]

if you decide to go and put a 5 speed in the tailshafts will be the same and the gearbox crossmember will be the same between a 5 speed and 3 speed auto. yes you will need diff gears from a manual, and its easy to change the pedal box. the only huge difference is the shift hole, the t-bar and 5 speed are a little different.



i'd just buy a cheap efi lwb.

[Derek66]

Joeblow - we were going to be bringing the whole vehicle ( LWB) home so we would have the diffs the pedal box, everything. In order to get the SWB vehicle going we could swap the heads.Carbi/manifolds from the G16A so that we didnt have to stuff about with the EFI side of things/fuel tank VSS lom and so on - couldnt we?

Without going into too much detail we want to get the SWB going again asap -

[joeblow]

if its a 5 speed lwb than just chuck the manual in the swb, crossmember and talshafts from the shorty will be fine. also, put the lwb diff centres in the swb. if it was me i'd be ripping out the loom and engine also.


for future reference people.......



the lwb efi has the same crossmember position between auto and manual. its only the tailshaft length that differs.

[Derek66]

Joe - We were just about to pick the wreck up - have gone and got the trailer etc - I dont mean to question your judgement or experience - but we are about to lay down the money and GWagenSteve's advice stopped us in our tracks- the info about the tape measure etc, cross members.

I just want to check that we can definitely put the five speed in - as a straight forward swap over.

Thanks for taking the time and providing the advice

[joeblow]

i did a conversion like this about 3 months ago......one of many i have done on swb vehicles and lwb vehicles. a 5 speed from a lwb g16 WILL go into the shorty using the same crossmember and trailshafts. you will have to mod the tunnel or make an adaptor for the 5 speed gear boot. (easy)

remember, use the shorty crossmember and bolt the 5 speed and its rubber mount to it.

[Derek66]

Thaks for that - we will go ahead with

[Gwagensteve]

That's a fair point - the 5 speed and 3 speed auto crossmember will be the same.

The LWB manual crossmember is different to the SWB crossmember.

Steve.