I am currently selling on of my sammi's and I want to replace it with a Sidekick or Tracker.  The problem is I dont really know what I am looking for.  I want to run a decent lift on it hopefully the Calmini combo if funds allow.  I will build custom bumpers with a winch.  Basically its going to be a daily/some trail rig.  My other sammi is going to be the trail rig.

So what do I want for this setup? 16v or 8v? does it matter? power steering, or is it fine without it?  5speed manual vs. auto? also which gears come in the automatic diffs?

I would like an auto, so if it comes with the 4.62's or w/e could i swap them with the 5.13's and be fine with 31-32in. tires?

sorry for the amount of question.. just don't want to get started with the wrong rig lol


thanks, dylan

Given the choice I would say go for a 16V, much more power to turn bigger tyres. Power steering I would say is essential, big wheels buried in mud are hard to turn. I would always go for a manual but I'm English (its a culture thing), as you suggested the autos are much easier to regear now that the 5:83s have all but disappeared.
Auto and 5:13s on 31s, I would have thought that would work well but others have actually run this combination so I'll let them comment.

I recently bought a '96 4dr Tracker. 80K miles. 5spd. Stock. I really like it, I've driven about 8K miles now on City Freeway, Mountain Hwy, and on desert trails in AZ. Still have to get up into the woods. I do that all summer. I drove a few older ones with 8 valves, and w/o power steering and I'd say to try to get a newer one with 16v and PS.
On road,, I took long steep hills at 60-75mph in 4th gear at 4-5K rpms AC on with two men and a load of gear, no problem. Off road power is great.
For less than $1K in mods I'm going 1-3/4" coil spacers, shocks, 15x7 alloy wheels, 30x9.5 tires- etc... should be a real good rig for my needs, it's a decent off roader bone stock! I hate autos but I guess there are advantages, I hear they are reliable. Most clean low mile trackicks on Auto trader go for about $5K, found mine for $2.7 real clean, best money I ever spent. Two doors are less. You can get a beater for under $1K.

For some reason, the 4 door 1.8L DOHC Sports are hard to find lifts for. Rocky Road Outfitters has something that will work on them though. Be aware of that when you're looking.

I would stick with a 1.6....8V is 80HP, 16V is 95HP.  Parts for 1.8 engines seem to be harder to find.
Power Steering...if it doesn't have it, it is a bolt on swap.
2 or 4 door....your choice...4 door will always be a 16V engine (except for a few select 91 models).
3 speed auto will normally be 4.62, 5-speed and 4 speed auto will normally be 5.12.  Again, either are bolt-in swaps if you want to change.

I would look for a 95 (last year without air bags, easier to lift) with a 1.6/16 valve, and manual tranny.  I have 184,000 miles on my 4-door 95.  They just keep on ticking...