[barbender]

Re - Suzuki Sierra Engine swap, I just read a great article on a G16b EFI conversion on auszookers, a great informative article with pics. My question, is the carb G16a conversion easier overall, also I can't find any specs on BHP/KW outputs of the G16a and G16b. Lastly, (in Victoria). as all engine parts are bolt on, are any engineering inspections required for full or club registration.

[Reubs]

Carby conversion would be easier - especially with a Sierra carby fitted. If that makes it more desirable is personal preference.

Carby G16 is about 60kW. EFI G16 is about 70kW.

I only mention G16 instead of G16a or b as I have owned both an EFI G16a and a carby G16b due to engine rebuilds and mis-matched blocks/heads.

[barbender]

Thanks Reubs, carby for me will be the go due to simplicity of "wiring", I am guessing the the G16 only is carby with the a and b being efi,

[Gwagensteve]

A g16 conversion of any type requires engineer approval in Victoria.
Engineering approval of this conversion will be required for club registration.

As per Reubs, There are G16A EFI motors too, so I'l'l refer to G16 Carby or EFI rather than the letter designation.

In my opinion the G16 Carby is the worst G series conversion for a Sierra. At the time of the development of the Vitara, Suzuki didn't have an engine larger than 1.3, so they did a quick and cheap job of stroking the G13 to improve torque. Whilst it does this, (torque increased about 20%) the engine is slack at the top end and feels pretty doughy compared to the G13 - exactly what you'd expect of a stroker.

Yes, it will hold a taller gear at lower revs. It offers little improvement in horsepower however. 47Kw/55Kw

It's now pretty hard to find an 8V carby vitara motor in good condition. The newest will be 22 years old. Unless you build a hybrid out of a swift bottom end, the motor will have done its days in a Vitara (which is relatively heavy) and so they're driven quite hard in cars that are by now worthless.

It's also well known that rebuilds aren't cost effective and cheap rebuilds seem to last no time at all.

A Vitara or Baleno G16 EFI swap really isn't that much harder, but the end result is very substantially better.

[barbender]

Thanks guys, getting to hard, I guess I will bite the bullet and stick with an original engine. I couldn't be bothered with the engineering side of a refurbishment.

As my Zook is a Sept 93 compliance plate I've got a 2 year project ahead of me so the vehicle will be old enough and be eligible for Club Plates. I will probably take up the 45 day registration option and will be lucky to do 3000 k's a year max.

I have 2 other fourbys a Delica and a Newish D22 Nissan which I use a lot. This is more of a retirement project.

I am happy to spend the money on a rebuild but I am still looking for the cheapest way around this, the the vehicle will not get a lot of use, but I don't want to waste my time on an engine rebuild that will last 10,000 k's. 40.000 I would be happy with, as that for me, if I keep it for 40.000 k's will be 10 or 12 years use.

Used engines to date in good running condition I have not been able to source.

Any suggestions at all I will be happy to take on board.

[steve125]

Engineering isn't that difficult, especially if it's just an engine swap. Leaving aside more power, EFI is a huge gain in ease of running. My carb g13 has idle issues, running issues, starting issues, etc, etc..

There is a low K Baleno in Melbourne, I'm not far away so happy to have a look at it for you (any excuse to visit the wreckers ).

[Gwagensteve]

barbender wrote:

I am happy to spend the money on a rebuild but I am still looking for the cheapest way around this, the the vehicle will not get a lot of use, but I don't want to waste my time on an engine rebuild that will last 10,000 k's. 40.000 I would be happy with, as that for me, if I keep it for 40.000 k's will be 10 or 12 years use.

Used engines to date in good running condition I have not been able to source.

Any suggestions at all I will be happy to take on board.

I proper rebuild will cost circa $6K if the engine needs machining and pistons, using Suzuki Genuine Parts. The $1500 "refurbs" seem to fail very quickly.

In my opinion, G series motors can't be honed - they ovailise their bores so when you hone one it quickly ends up a smokey as it was before. They need to be bored with a deck plate fitted. Most people aren't willing to spend more than the value of the car on engine machining... only to end up with the same 47Kw and all the same flaky carby problems they had before the rebuild.

If you're happy to spend the money on a quality rebuild you can spend less money on a G16B conversion and have a car that runs reliably, has more power and torque, and diagnostics.

I haven't touched on fitting a G13BB (Jimny motor) which bolts in without adapters and requires none of the additional work to sump, oil pickup etc that a vitara or baleno G16B requires, and makes 60Kw.

[Santos]

I had 4 cylinder bored out and chem-bathed for $250 cash. Left it there and picked up at the end of the week with the understanding that they would fit it around other jobs. Also got USA made rings at trade price. Not for everyone but if engine building is an a genuine interest like for me than its possible to cheaply build something.

I never liked the G16 engines for all the reason Gwagen lists + for some strange reason the starter motor would always fill up with sand in my friends LWB vitara (i know most likely the VIts engine bay configuration doing that)

The g13bb is probably a lot more viable these days given the engines are 16-18 years old as well, one thing that was tossed around as an idea was getting a single point injection intake manifold (1.6l swifts was it?) and bolting on a carburetor to eliminate fuel lines/fueltank/ecu/wiring hassles. I have no idea if the jimny motos is coil-pack or dizzy? If so you have to get hold of some vit 16v 1.6 bits

[jdk81]

Jimnys are cam and crank sensed.

1.6 swift is dizzy, and would need some messing around to make carby. Vit cam and dizzy, and few other issues.
Would be shit as still carby and as much effort as mpfi.

Both which need engineering.

Doing a coilpack baleno is worth the effort.
A few extras (check discos build thread), and its a super neat install, totally worth the effort.

[barbender]

Thanks for all the info, I will do more research before I make a decision whether to rebuild the original engine or replace with a G16/G13 EFI derivative. I can do all disassembly and re assembly myself so I would only have to pay for parts and machining. What date was Discos build thread as I can't find it.

[dakota]

hi sorry to tread hijack just doing the conversion also and have a quick question with the ben t kit do you still use the thin adaptor plate between the engine and the ben t kit

[barbender]

Message for Santos, the bore job, was that for a Sierra Motor or for a G16 derivative and what site did you get the rings from in the U.S.

[Santos]

barbender wrote:

Message for Santos, the bore job, was that for a Sierra Motor or for a G16 derivative and what site did you get the rings from in the U.S.

g13A
Was about 3-4 years ago , work was done here in Sydney (Cromer, northern beaches )
Got the rings through the rebuild shop not online. Think they where hasting rings can't be sure, had chemo same period

[fordem]

barbender wrote:

Message for Santos, the bore job, was that for a Sierra Motor or for a G16 derivative and what site did you get the rings from in the U.S.

Low Range Off Road has reasonable quality pistons & rings - I've used them on a 1.3 rebuild.

[barbender]

I just downloaded the videos (9) from Low Range Off Road on the Sierra rebuild, very comprehensive an informative, I have rebuilt both car and motorcycle engines before just not a Suzuki Sierra.Parts from Low Range are reasonably priced, soon I will tear down and have the crank, cam,bores etc measured and see what needs machining, unless of course I can find a good second hand engine of the same type, within 150 ks of Geelong. I've definitely decided not to do a conversion, I'll keep it simple.

[Gwagensteve]

An engine rebuild is much harder and has a much less certain outcome than a conversion. I guess you haven't done an efi conversion before so you fear all the the things that "could go wrong." It's nowhere near as complex as it looks, certainly nowhere near as complex as a rebuild, and with one you're just back to standard performance and with the other you have more power and torque.

[barbender]

I may have located a low K's 85,000, 1 owner 1993 Barina. This vehicle runs well and has been regularly serviced, This topic has probably been covered before but what is required to fit the Barina engine, I can see the distributor is different, is it just a case of changing housings, exhaust manifolds etc, is the carby the same as the Sierra. any advice greatly appreciated.

[Gwagensteve]

Sump, oil pickup, camshaft, distributor housing, manifolds, possibly water pump (there's a few ways to deal with the belts and pullies)- personally I'd swap to the polyvee belts from the barons which are superior and allow easy fitment of an EL/EF falcon alternator- a huge improvement.

[barbender]

Thanks Gwagensteve, good to know whats involved, cheers

[Santos]

if the k's really are that low it may be worth the effort

[Gwagensteve]

Based on Km's and likely use it's probably the best 8V carby suitable G13 around. The advantage that it should have polyvee belts is an advantage too.

[Reubs]

Early Swift/Barinas I have seen use a 3 rib alternator belt. A 4 rib belt is already marginal with a 100A+ alternator.

[barbender]

Missed out, on the Barina unfortunately by a 10 minute phone call, gotta hate that. Just a question for Steve, all the parts you listed for changing on the Barina engine, I assume they are a straight swap from the Sierra engine - other than belts and pulleys. And is the Barina Carby the same as a Sierra.

[Santos]

Straight swap, different carb & intake manifold

[jdk81]

Different water pump and wp pulley.
Wont fit the sierra fan.