Does anyone know of a website or a list of parts that interchange between a '97 Sport model and a regular Sidekick? From what I have been able to find out so far, the frame, suspension, engine, brakes, and some body parts are different. I read somewhere that the Sport model and the later Vitara share some interchangeable parts. I think the 1.8L from the Sport and the 2.0 out of the later Vitara's are almost the same? I don't have a dealer within 100 miles of me, so bugging the parts guys isn't an option...

bump....I'm curious too

Front 3rd members do, as well I think the rears should but haven't installed one of those yet

The 4x4 transmission (minus the bellhousing) exchanges physically.  Unfortunately, the internal gearing - specifically fifth gear - is different.

I purchased a '96 that had a regular 1.6 Sidekick tranny installed.  Fifth gear leaves something to be desired.  The engine revs a bit too high in fifth.

The clutch system is hydraulic, by the way...

I was wondering more about dash, wiring harness etc. were putting a 2.0L from a 2001 tracker in a 94 4 door kick and were thinking about trying the sport harness and hydraulics for the clutch

would the 1.8 harness work on the 2.0?

The two engines are mechanically very similar, in some cases using the exact same block & head - however - there were significant differences in the engine management electronics & sensors - you might need the intake manifolds & sensors off of the 1.8 as well as the ECU & harness.

There were also differences between the early & late 1.8s as well - I'm not certain which years had what, but early 1.8s had a separate ignitor module and late 1.8s had the ignitor in the coil packs - you'd probably be better off with the later ECU & harness.  One way to tell which you have is to look at the coli pack connectors - you want the 3 wire ones.

Edit - I'm at my desk now - so I can look stuff up.

'96 & '97 had the separate ignitor module, '98 has the ignitor in the coil pack, which is how the 2.0 is set up.  The 2.0 uses a different cam position sensor to the 1.8, the 2.0 has the MAF sensor out near the air filter housing, I'm not even seeing it in the 1.8 drawings, it's most likely a part of the throttle body, the EGR & IAC are different.

If you can get the intake off of the 1.8, and since you're looking at a '97 the ignitor & coil packs, it might be "do-able"

thanks fordem that gives us what we needed to know, we will just have the OEM harness modified

TP+1!