5 speed swap

[Gas_on_it]

I am considering buying an early - mid 90 something Sidekick (pre OBD2). it is my uncle's and I am not sure of the year. it is a 4 door 4wd and has an automatic. Growing up we always either had a Samurai or a sidekick and I know they are great little vehicles and I also know that the only people that knock them are the the ones that have never had one.

What I am wondering is the reliability of the auto and how much involved is a 5spd swap.

I did a search for for a manual transmission swap and a search for 5spd swap and didn't get what I was looking for.

I am looking more for a tech right up or step by step. what fly wheels will work? Is the clutch hydraulic, linkage, cable?

what I really need is to talk to somebody that has done this...... also..... is there a kit needed to convert to manual hubs?

I need a replacement DD for my Bronco because it's 302 is on it's last leg and is in desperate need of an overhaul so my plan is to buy this sidekick then over haul (or drop in a 351) my bronco and then swap from auto to manual on the sidekick.

[jtgh]

easy swap
(bronco, what? F.O.R.D?)

on zukwarrie forum there are 1000s of swaps
here, 16v,
2.0l
v6 swaps.

that is about it ,all suz.
here.

[JTP]

the 351 will rip its guts out.
this car was never made for such torque.
for fun, sure, but a DD. your kidding.
not to mention front and rear suspension modes for that huge weight changes.

I think he was talking about putting the 351 in the Bronco... not the Sidekick... LOL.

[robbe1973]

if you get a early 90s sidekick or tracker it is easy all bolt up the clutch is a cable the flywheel swops over i swooped the computer and the wire for the safety switch on the clutch pedal . but i had a 91 for the parts and i swopped them into my 94 it took 2 days and was easy . i left the gears the auto has lower gears and i do alot of highway driving to keep the rpms down.
good luck

[Gas_on_it]

Originally Posted by JTP

I think he was talking about putting the 351 in the Bronco... not the Sidekick... LOL.

Yeah the 351 is for my Bronco. I found a running EFI 351 for $350. getting the sidekick as a daily driver because I now have to commute 70 miles a day instead of 12 miles a day and even my wife's minivan barely gets better mileage than the Bronco.

Originally Posted by robbe1973

if you get a early 90s sidekick or tracker it is easy all bolt up the clutch is a cable the flywheel swops over i swooped the computer and the wire for the safety switch on the clutch pedal . but i had a 91 for the parts and i swopped them into my 94 it took 2 days and was easy . i left the gears the auto has lower gears and i do alot of highway driving to keep the rpms down.
good luck

this is what I was looking for. I knew it looked simple but you know ... wasn't sure ...... didn't even know they came with automatics till I seen this one. Every Samurai, Sidekick, Tracker I have ever seen was stick...... I thought only the Vitara, Grand Vitara, and the XL7 had the auto. is the transmission cheap like the Samurai transmissions .......... I had to repplace one in an 88 Samurai and it was something like $125 (plus the 160 mile round trip drive to Chicago to get it). Other than swapping a 5speed I plan on leaving it stock......... I got my Bronco for an off roader. but thank you for the replies.