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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: ratherbehunting on January 22, 2017, 03:52:46 PM

Title: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: ratherbehunting on January 22, 2017, 03:52:46 PM
I am planning to swap a 1999 Grand Vitara 2.5L V6 into my 1997 1.6L Suzuki Sidekick.
I have a complete donor Vitara that has an automatic transmission.
Also sourced a manual transmission, clutch, pedals, master/slave clutch stuff, ECU and gauges from a std transmission Vitara as I want to do the swap with a manual trans setup.
My plan is to replace the Sidekick wiring harness with the Vitara harness.
Question - can I modify the Vitara automatic transmission harness to accept the manual transmission?
I am hoping all Vitara harnesses are basically the same with options for either the manual or auto trans.
Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: fordem on January 22, 2017, 06:41:19 PM
What transmission does/did the 2.5 V6 have behind it?  From the wording of your post I suspect it's an automatic.

You're pretty much stuck with that unless you source an ECU and harness from a donor vehicle with the 2.5 V6 AND the transmission of your choice,  On the GV the transmission is controlled by the ECU and it will set multiple check engine codes when it does not see the signals from the transmission.

What engine does/did the two Vitaras that you mention have fitted?

You start by mentioning a Sidekick which suggests you're in the US, assuming that is correct and the two Vitaras are also US models, it's unlikely that they had the 2.5 V6, which would mean neither the transmissions, the ECUs nor the harnesses are compatible with the 2.5 V6.

On the flip side, if, by chance you do have parts from a Vitara with a 2.5V6 and a manual transmission, the electronics will be a piece of cake and your challenge will be shoehorning the larger engine & transmission into the space available - which has been done before.
Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: ratherbehunting on January 22, 2017, 09:02:12 PM
I'm from BC Canada. I had the donor Vitara VIN code checked by a dealership and they confirmed it is a 2.5L.
Was really hoping to use the automatic wiring harness and change the required plugs and wires from auto to manual.
Per my post I have a  Vitara manual ECU, transmission etc.  The wiring for the manual is pretty basic.
It's a bunch of work to label/remove the entire wiring harness from a manual Vitara.
Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: fordem on January 23, 2017, 11:26:13 AM
No offense meant, but as far as Suzuki model names go, Canada and the US are pretty much the same market.

The auto & manual transmission harnesses will be different, I can't tell you how much of a task it would be to convert an auto harness to a manual but it should be possible, pay a visit to the Suzuki forums (http://www.suzuki-forums.com (http://www.suzuki-forums.com)) and look at the top of the Gen 2 forum, there's a sticky thread with links to the factory service manuals, including the wiring diagrams, you should be able to get a better idea of how much work you're looking at.

Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: ratherbehunting on January 23, 2017, 03:27:40 PM
Thank you!!
Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: beagle..t on January 23, 2017, 08:22:30 PM
can you not find a manual wiring harness that would be easier, you could look at car part.com and search for a manual harness that way when you convert to manual it would be easier. I know you already have the auto harness but might not be worth the headache
Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: ratherbehunting on January 23, 2017, 09:58:44 PM
Will check it out.
Going to have a good look at the electrical schematics for the auto and manual.
Thanks
Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: BRD HNTR on January 26, 2017, 07:17:08 AM
The 2.5Lv6 can be squeezed into first gen kicker/trackers.  If you are planning on keeping IFS it is much tighter, and will require several fittings and a slight modification of the oil pan.
Changing out the complete wiring is possibly the easiest way.  Modifying wiring harnesses takes a lot of time to get it right (especially the first time).  I would really recommend at least buying the FSM for the model/year of your donor vehicle.
This will take some time.  Find your manual wiring harness.
What year is the motor out of?

This is a very long thread, but it may give you an idea of where you are going.  http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=22395.0 (http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=22395.0)
Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: ratherbehunting on January 26, 2017, 06:12:07 PM
BRD HNTR - thank you so much for that awesome thread.
Wow - you have done a ton of work to your Zuke.
I hooked up with Troy from Chilliwack and saw his project.
Will post my progress once I get into the swap.
Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: beagle..t on January 26, 2017, 07:10:58 PM
I will watch the wrecker done here for a harness for ya
Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: ebewley on January 28, 2017, 08:33:21 AM
Good luck with your swap.. as a person that's done 4 of them, I can tell you that it may be challenging but very worth it once you're done. My go to trail rig has had a 2.7 L V6 in it for 10 plus years and has been great!

We too have pretty much ALL of the manuals and documents floating out there for free download as well.

http://www2.zukiworld.com/tech-library-documentation-downloads-for-your-suzuki/ (http://www2.zukiworld.com/tech-library-documentation-downloads-for-your-suzuki/)

Is the place...

Good luck and feel free to post or PM me when you get going and if you have questions.

-Eric
Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: ratherbehunting on January 30, 2017, 07:47:08 PM
Thank you all so very much.
Love this forum - so much knowledge and assistance.
I'll keep you posted.
Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: kreator on March 19, 2017, 02:21:58 PM
If your still looking for a wiring harness for a2.5 and  manual trans I have a 2000 that I am parting out soon
Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: beagle..t on March 19, 2017, 08:35:20 PM
and if he wants it you can ship it to sumas and I can drive it to ya if you need it still
Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: ratherbehunting on March 20, 2017, 07:32:50 AM
How much for the harness?
Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: Toys-n-Joys on September 08, 2019, 08:47:30 PM
The 2.5Lv6 can be squeezed into first gen kicker/trackers.  If you are planning on keeping IFS it is much tighter, and will require several fittings and a slight modification of the oil pan.
Changing out the complete wiring is possibly the easiest way.  Modifying wiring harnesses takes a lot of time to get it right (especially the first time).  I would really recommend at least buying the FSM for the model/year of your donor vehicle.
This will take some time.  Find your manual wiring harness.
What year is the motor out of?

This is a very long thread, but it may give you an idea of where you are going.  [url]http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=22395.0[/url] ([url]http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=22395.0[/url])



I want to pull this off on my 1995 after reading online i think im going to sway away from the tdi swap and lean more towards a Suzuki engine swap. The h25a is a stout engine and its easier to find vs a h27a so im going to be on the lookout for a grand vitara or a Chevy tracker zr2. The complete drive train swap and wire harness seems to be the best bet.

Just wondering if i should use the odometer from the vitara ir try to wire up the tracker unit.

This fourm is full of alot of information and great people
Title: Re: Vitara 2.5L V6 Swap For Sidekick
Post by: Drone637 on September 09, 2019, 11:19:55 AM

I want to pull this off on my 1995 after reading online i think im going to sway away from the tdi swap and lean more towards a Suzuki engine swap. The h25a is a stout engine and its easier to find vs a h27a so im going to be on the lookout for a grand vitara or a Chevy tracker zr2. The complete drive train swap and wire harness seems to be the best bet.

Just wondering if i should use the odometer from the vitara ir try to wire up the tracker unit.

This fourm is full of alot of information and great people

BRD HNTR did a hybrid setup the first time, swapped in just the speedometer into the stock dash and used the original cluster for everything else. The second time around we actually pulled the dash and swapped all of the in dash wiring except for the heater controls, so we went with the complete Vitara instrument cluster.  We still need to get around to making a new cover as it didn't quite fit and we had to modify the dashboard.