[Ratman407]

So I have a gti motor that I picked up cheap but have no idea if it runs or not although looking at it I can’t see any problems with unknown kms
To rebuild it I’m looking at $1100 or so in parts alone

Or

I can get a whole running vitara for around $500
With around 170k on it but it’s running so Might need a rebuilt might not

Witch one is the cheapest to fit into the car ?
And for mostly a daily with a bit of 4wding which engine would make more sense ?

[Gwagensteve]

Easiest to fit to the car is vitara. (Yes, this is controversial but it’s true)- g13b is almost as hard as a G16b baleno but nowhere near as good.
Best outcome in a 4WD is vitara -higher torque and flatter torque curve)

Just make sure the G16b doesn’t use coolant. Many have head cracks.

[boostedbrick]

Having owned a couple of 1.6 Sierras, and driven a GTI Sierra I prefer the 1.6. I felt the extra torque from the 1.6 made it a lot nicer to drive, but gearing could have been in issue here (its around 20NM more for the 1.6)


1.6 swap is easy, gearbox adapter and play round with the drivers engine mount and its bolted in. Not sure what the GTI swap needs

[Gwagensteve]

You can probably use the fuel system, power steering, and a bunch of other stuff from the vitara too.

[Ratman407]

Been offered a Baleno for $500 and it’s a cool pAck
So which ones best the vitara or the coil pack

[Angus Martin]

Coil pack

[Gwagensteve]

You have two options now, and I’d find it hard to make the decision.

A) put the vitara motor in as is, mothball the baleno. If the vitara motor gives trouble, you have a new core to swap the vitara manifolds and cam onto

B) put the baleno motor in complete, which requires sump and coolant line mods but then installs neatly and has some advantages over the vitara (more power, better efi, less issues with water, neater inlet/no MAF.

C) put the baleno motor into vitara trim now and swap it in

[Gwagensteve]

Coil pack Baleno motors basically don’t crack.

[Ratman407]

See what happens I guess and which one I can get cheaper
I have a spare normal 1.3 to wreck for parts what do I need off it ?
Sump and pick up
Water pump pipe
Fly wheel

Anything I’m missing ?

[BlueSuzy]

The G16b's are good if you find a good one.

I've had 2 potatos with my last build. One lasted 3?ish years, My next one was making milkshakes before i put it in the car apparently..Looked fine beforehand though. Both 98+ Twincoil Balenos. I will never trust another.

[Toomanycars]

Getting a loom made for any of the EFI motors will cost $400...You will also need new extractors or get Baleno exhaust manifold. You will also need bigger stronger Holden Commodore VL 6cyl inc Turbo Engine Mount NEW PAIR RB30E engine mounts $50 , If you do the Baleno you will also need an adapter plate. Both GTi and Baleno need throttle cable made up to reach 20cm further.. Also upgrading the alternator with a Ford EL Mitsubishi one.. You also need a fuel pump from a efi fuel tank cause both use in tank pumps..You will need to replace some fuel lines because the increased pressure will burst you old ones..You dash stuff including taco wont work any more unless you do a LOT of moding with a Baleno dash...Hhhhmmmm Have I forgotten anything...oh yes.. you will need to replace the waterpump on the gti with a different one so you can run your fan, after you have modded the fan spacer plate or ...you will have to get an electric fan and make sure the loom maker puts it in the loom...You also require a different dizzy or a 90 degree rotor cap and a rotor out of a Mazda 323 turbo 89ish vintage as well as a 90 degree water exit and then make up some pipe work to get the coolant to the front of the engine.... not to mention none of your intake stuff eg snorkel air filter box weather original or gti, will fit without doing a lot of modding and you can't use a pod in there as it will flood and kill your engine..You will also need a new GTi coil if you go down that road and you will need an O2 sensor hole in your manifold.. You will also need the hands the size of a baby pygmy to get in behind the back of the engine and to get the rotor cap off you need to take out the engine or at lease undo the mountings including the rear gearbox mount so you can pull the whole lot forward, this is despite having to bash the living daylight out of the back of the engine bay to get it in there to start with.. 40mm minimum but 50 is better. Hate to think what is going on under the dash after 10 minutes of gentle persuasion with a 8lb sledge hammer. As far as driving them goes, we have one of each Baleno 1.6 efi and GTi.. Up a loooong steep hill in an 80k zone or a drag race in a 100k zone, there is no clear winner. You are comparing a high performance 1300 against a 1600 daily ..No better replacement like displacement is all I can say about that.. A non coil pac 1600 Vitara with a GTi head would be the best option but I hope you have deep pockets for that one...

[Gwagensteve]

Quote:

not to mention none of your intake stuff eg snorkel air filter box weather original or gti, will fit without doing a lot of modding

Baleno can use the Maruti inlet hose leaving your stock airbox in place.

Quote:

you will need an O2 sensor hole in your manifold..

Huh? The GTI uses a unique manifold pattern so you'll need custom extractors regardless.

Quote:

Hate to think what is going on under the dash after 10 minutes of gentle persuasion with a 8lb sledge hammer.

I'll tell you. You'll smash the heater box and jam the fan rendering the car impossible to demist.

GTi conversions are awesome though because they don't need an adaptor plate......

Quote:

A non coil pac 1600 Vitara with a GTi head would be the best option but I hope you have deep pockets for that one...

Why does this myth persist? The G13B head flows LESS air than the G16B head. Whilst there might be some advantage in cam timing etc by having 2 cams, you're starting behind the 8 ball. The midget sprint people worked this out long ago... and in any case, peak CFM flow is pointless in a 4WD where we want the widest possible power band which means efficient cylinder filling at low rpm to generate torque.