Sorry for posting these Qs... but I am busy and don't have much time available |removethispart|@ the moment.

I am considering possibly getting one of these here in a year or so. I want a true 4X4 that is able to get in the mid to high 20s mpg in stock form with the abilities of upgrades to make it near or |removethispart|@ 30mpg. It will be a daily commuter... with occational light off-roading/exploring... and beach fishing. (so stock tire size, lockers, and mild suspension lift only)

Can these trucks cruise |removethispart|@ 70mph for day-long trips?

What kind of fuel economy would I expect to get from a man. trans... while cruising |removethispart|@ 55-60mph for long distances on flat ground?

I hear that the 1.6 ended up getting MPFI |removethispart|@ some point. What year was that???

Is the multi-point fuel injection just that... or is it Sequential multi-port fuel injection??? I would love to hook up a mega-squirt kit and write my own 3D or 2D fuel map. The 2D would be for regular MPFI. Would be easy to convert to Sequential and eek out a bit better fuel economy.

Does the truck have a mechanical fan or a electric fan? I would be willing to upgrade the alternator too so that does not matter as long as I could squeeze out a few mpg.

Does the 4dr have some good rear seat comfert and leg room? I do have a new child.

Is it true that you can convert these to manual locking hubs... to free up some fuel economy???



Thanks!

Marty

30mpg is about normal for a well maintained 1.6L 16V that has stock tires.

I am running 31" MTR's and get from 20 up to 30mpg depending on if I drive like grandma or like my son, LOL

a stockie can run 70mph all day long and then some.

All 16V 1.6L engines have a multi port injection. MS can be used without many issues at all.(though MS will not pass a OBD inspection)

They all have a mechanical clutch fan, no need for a electric fan.

A GM12Si alternator can be installed very easily, a TT install bracket will be needed, it is cheap at 25$

Tons of rear leg room on the 4dr

You can convert the wheel hubs to manual very easily, though you will not see any mileage difference at all.

In "city" driving conditions, I get about 23-24 MPG with 235/75/15 tires.

And I echo great08's comments. I've taken my Sidekick on hours-long trips at 70mpg without issue.

- Andy

Awesome.

That was music to my ears.

Thankyou for answering my questions so quick.

Now I just got to start setting some cash to the side. I can't wait to have a 4WD vehicle to introduce my family to the outdoors with.

Marty

You cant beat the Zuk's for taking the family out to see nature, cheap and dependable within reason.

I had a 90 tracker that only had 8v. got good gas mileage and i NEVEr got that thing stuck anywhere.. I even tryed Lol

i got a 96 tracker 16v,im not hit the highway everyday but at the highway i go 55-60 mph at 3000rpm,at 65-70mph almost 4000rpm,so i dont know if 4000rpms are good for long periods

I run the highway more then anything else on my 96 Tracker with 235/75 R15 tires.  Depending on the gas station I get 26-29mpg pretty regularly.  It has been tempting to put a cruise control in a few times for the longer drives though.

I can't tell you how many cars I have been in that do around 4k rpms on the hwy. Should be fine though. My thumper/single cylinder 650cc motorcycle does about 5k rpms |removethispart|@ the same speeds. I have done several cross country trips on it of over 5k miles each. Many do trans-continental/around the world trips with them... with no problems. So the sidekick with smaller pistons should be fine. Typically an engine with a low red-line... like 5k rpms... does not like to be revved high. Ones with a high red-line do not mind it as much.

What is the redline of these engines?

What year did the 1.6 go to 16V?

 Cruise control does sound nice. I use it religiously to keep me and my lead foot out of trouble while on trips. I know there are aftermarket ones for motorcycles. So I am sure there are some for every other vehicle out there too.

My ole 02' Honda civic Si ran at 4k rpms at 60mph from coast to coast 4 times in as many weeks without a hiccup at all and just popped 320K miles on the odometer

so 4k is ok,thanks for the answer

When maintained according to schedule these are tough, durable and frugal little engines. I put 6k on mine traveling around the country in a month, not a hiccup. And that's turbocharged, still getting 22mpg on the highway with 32" tires!

i see between 22-26 depending on 235/75/15, a little less on my 28x9.5 interco tsl's only complaint is the 2 door soft top and wind do not mix

What is the redline of these engines?

What year did the 1.6 go to 16V?

 Cruise control does sound nice. I use it religiously to keep me and my lead foot out of trouble while on trips. I know there are aftermarket ones for motorcycles. So I am sure there are some for every other vehicle out there too.

The 1.6s redline is 6500.
The 4 doors got the 16V in 92.
The 2 doors got the 16V in 94 (for CA and NY models).  In 95 only the 4x4s got the 16V (unless they were a CA or NY model).  In 96 all 2 doors had the 16V.
Yes, they make aftermarket cruise control systems for trackicks.  I've had a couple that had it. 
They also put factory cruise on a few of them.

Dittoes on the highway cruising.  My first four were all used for interstate driving to and from work (55 miles each way, minimum).  At interstate speeds they do buzz at 4K RPM but.... that's the way they were made to operate.  Keep the right oil in them, change it on schedule and these little trucks will get the job done.  Made several trips out to Fort Dix through the hills and mountains of Pennsylvania and West Virginia over the years in a '91 4 door 8 valve with a 5 speed.  Cruised at 70+ MPH... no problem.