I have a 94 sidekick 16v and i am replacing the engine with a 16v out of a 95 tracker.
The wiring seems to be off ,the tracker harness has connectors the wiring in
my sidekick does not seem to have plugs in the wiring harness ,it goes straight into the cab
do i have to use my old intake manifold. also do i have to unhook everthing off of the engine in order to get the engine out looks like a pain getting under the intake.

Thanks

The wiring connectors (that actually hook to stuff on the engine), should be the same.  You should be able to keep the original wiring harness and just plug everything into the new engine.  You will have to disconnect the wiring and hoses from the old engine to remove it.  Yeah, it isn't fun trying to get everything loose from under the intake, but it has to be done.

Do you think that the ECU computers are the same if the wiring harness are different?

ECMs will probably interchange.  They have different part numbers, but 94s and 95s are generally interchangable.
I wonder if you got a 96 engine, instead of a 95 engine.  Does the distributor on the 95 engine look like the distributor on your 94?  If not, then it is a 96 engine and there are several differences and you will have to use your intake on the new engine.  If it is a 96, then ECMs are nowhere near the same.

Thanks for the info..
I am not at the engine now but if i remember right they look identical other than the new geo engine has 3 plugs on the wiring harness that if they were roughted along the firewall where the origanal one is they would end up just past the distributor about 3 or 4 inches the wiring harness now goes all the way into the engine compartment it is about 2 feet longer and plugs look differnet. how could i check to make sure this engine is a 1995 is there #s on the block or distributer

Just look at the distributor.  If it looks like yours, it is a 95.  If it doesn't, it is a 96.  It is pretty obvious, if the distributor is different.
You could also look at the front of the oil pan, under the oil pump.  If there is an electrical sensor there, then it is a 96, if there isn't, it is a 95.

I guess you could post some good, clear pics of the differences in the wiring harness and plugs and we might be able to give you some more advice.

Thanks again I will look tonight. I just wanted to make sure, nothing worse than have something get fryed or having to re-pull if something was wrong.
If I have more questions tonight i will post some pics.

Thanks   Ryan...

BAD NEWS looks like it is a 1996   The distibutor is different and it has a sensor on the front of the oil pan. What are my options can I put my intake on this motor and is it posible to reuse my distributer? What esle would be different???

Yes, you can still use it.  Put your intake and exhaust manifold on it (you might be able to keep the 96 exhaust manifold...compare it with yours and see).  Put your distributor in.  I think that is all you need to change.

You might need to swap the water pipe that is below the intake, I had to do that when changing from an ODBC I JDM engine to my 96.  Beware that the rubber o-ring is a pain in the ass to find a replacement for, and put some silicone grease on it to help with the seal and to make sure it doesn't break when re-installing.

You can either disconnect the front sensor or replace the oil pan with the one from your 95, you don't need the sensor but it won't hurt anything sitting there. 

I would take the extra time and replace your water pump and timing belt while the engine is out of the car, then you know it is done and you don't have to kick yourself 6 months from now if they end up going out.

What is the easyest way to get the intake off? I got it off of the 96 new engine but it was a pain I had to take the intake in half to get to all of the bolts. Is there a short cut?

What is the easyest way to get the intake off? I got it off of the 96 new engine but it was a pain I had to take the intake in half to get to all of the bolts. Is there a short cut?

Not really any short cut.  I use a combo of wrenches, sockets, extensions and ratchets and can get to all of them. Yes, some are a PITA to get to.  I do not take the intake apart, to take it off.

Ok I'm changing the distributor over to the the other engine the distributors are different and the screws are in different places so it is hard to get a reference point on where to set the rotor. What would be the best way to get the rotor in its correct position?? Or at least close??

Ok I'm changing the distributor over to the the other engine the distributors are different and the screws are in different places so it is hard to get a reference point on where to set the rotor. What would be the best way to get the rotor in its correct position?? Or at least close??

Set the engine to TDC on either #1 or #4 (the crank mark will be at 0 and when you remove the distributor cap the rotor will either be pointing at the #1 or #4 tower).  Remove the old distributor and put the new one in so the rotor points to the same position.  Note that the rotor will turn a little bit, when you slide the distributor in, so compensate for the turning appropriately.

Thanks for the info.
One thing that I have learned from working on this sidekick is that the Japanese dude that put his thing together has very little hands and is stronger than HELL, man the bolts are tight.