Hi again . Just an update on my offshore block/motor search. Yes Foredom I concur on your buyer beware comment and that is exactly why I backed out of the Megazip experience....too expensive for me to have a mistake with no recourse. Anyway I still have not firmed up anything from Alibaba/Aliexpress or Made In China. Many outfits show my exact G16A/G16B bare blocks but upon inquiring none are actually available. That does get exhausting. I only came across 1 outfit that mentioned a short block but you have to purchase 5 or more I think it was. So I eventually ordered 2 G16 bare blocks but over prolonged investigation I backed out and got a refund..These were G16A/B bare blocks that are slightly different. They don't have any casting plugs in them and the coolant passages around the cylinders is the same as the 1.3 design? Foredom,do you have any insight on this..IE: casting processes etc referring to lack of casting/freeze/welch plugs? These blocks do have a 75mm bore and the proper deck height for the 90mm stroke . The problem I had was with the lower engine to transmission mounting hole positions... they are too close together ..like the 1.3. I've ended up rethinking the long block here. These are available with the physical differences above but of course they have the crank,rods,pistons.seals and head. I will/would remove the head and use mine ,pull the pistons and put new 8v ones in which I already have ,change pan and pickup ...like a rebuild but with critical bottom end stuff already done. The mounting then becomes the issue but upon looking around I see adapters meant to mate the 1.6 to the Samurai transmission that technically could be used the other way round. The suppliers say "this motor works for you" but are unable verify which application they are designed for in the first place. As mentioned a list of model applications is there but some of that makes no sense...Buyer beware again! So does anyone know which model application the "no freeze plug, close mounting hole" bare/long blocks are meant to fit? I'm still digging on that one.

 

Let me put it this way, IF I decided I wanted to buy a new a block, megazip.net is where I would be ordering it from - I can get a part number that I'm reasonably confident is the correct part, and I trust megazip to supply what I order, or tell me they can't supply it and give me a refund.

 

Yup I see your a Megazip guy. Any thoughts on the block casting processes?

 

Any thoughts on the block casting processes?

None - I'm not involved in the manufacture of engine blocks or the selection of engine blocks, I don't need to concern myself with what "process" was used to cast the engine block, all I need to do is ensure that it is the correct block for my application, which I can determine based on the part number. Suzuki's engineers are the ones who will determine if the supplier is using the approved casting process and if the part is "fit for purpose".

 

Hello. I've come back here with an update... Many hours of negotiating and a couple of buys and refunds later this is what I did. Although Alibaba showed and still shows bare blocks for 1990's trackers ,sidekicks,Vitaras, Ecudos and any other iteration you prefer I was not able to locate any at all. I paid for a couple but when it came down to it I was refunded.. The refund process was seemless. In the end I bought the Optimus 1.6 16v version with what I will call the updated block casting process. The lady I dealt with was totally on the ball and answered any and all questions in a timely manner..even when she was on vacation! Now,I already bought stuff to put a stock 8v together for my 90 tin top so rather than keep on fishing for a sound high mileage block used , I converted the Optimus one...This included replacing the head,head gasket,pistons and rings,water pump,oil pan and timingbelt and gears.. The only issue at all was a different location for the lower power steering pump bracket bolt...it was bossed a little higher up so I just measured and drilled a new hole in the bracket. I mic'd the bores and the stock 8v pistons(new ones) were a perfect fit. Everything lined up including the lower crank cog...Now having said all that...the lower rear engine mount holes do not line up and they are not the same as a 1.3 . They are in between. I had lots of time to come up with a solution while I tracked the freighter coming to Vancouver. So now I have a brand new blockand stock stock bottom end. The only thing that isn't new is the head casting and I did not put seats and guides in that . I did put new rocker arms and shafts, new camshaft and seals,new valves and springs in it ...checked the guides and lapped the valves. The cam is the torquer version and I put a stainless header in it along with a new converter and resonator..I went 2 inch stainless all the way to the back. This block is well made imo .The only thing I found was a small piece of gasket in the pan. If anyone is interested in what I did with mounting situation I can post details...Flashed right up .

 

How is it running today?

 

This is all totally beyond my mechanical capability, however I’d still be interested in looking at a link to the Optimus engine…..as well as hearing, as time goes on, what issues you have with it, if any.

 

Company Overview - Optimus Auto Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Optimus Auto Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Products:Complete Engine,Long Block,Short Block,Complete Cylinder Head,Bare Engine

engineopt.en.alibaba.com

 

Thanks. Interesting that this company began only in 2021, so the longevity of its engines is still to be determined. Only 7 reviews listed thus far, so it will be interesting to see how Jakesuzi’s experience is.

Company Overview - Optimus Auto Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Optimus Auto Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Products:Complete Engine,Long Block,Short Block,Complete Cylinder Head,Bare Engine

engineopt.en.alibaba.com

 

I did choose an outfit called Chongqing Xuancheng Import and Export that said 10 years in business and had very lengthy conversations with Larissa there. She was really enthusiastic and I did make the purchase but I had questions she couldn't answer and in the end I backed out and got a refund. I felt bad for her. I think now it was likely the exact motor I ended up with. I note that this engine block has heavier webbing at the main bearings and the cooling jackets are just like the 1.3 ...surrounding the cylinders almost completely . I take these to be positives. The liners appear the be recessed into the cylinder walls as viewed with the head off..or maybe just much thinner than my original 1.6 blocks...I'm not really sure on this. It will be interesting to see how this block casting method holds up!

 

i think its 3 years in alibaba rather than just 3 years making engines

 

I am very interested in going with one of these Optimus G16B motors. I see from the pictures that the bellhousing hole near the starter is different. How did you deal with it?








k

 

they are all G13B , i.e. 1300 c.c. ...... you need G16B

regardless, the two in the center have oil sumps for transversal engine installation (suzuki swift), our cars are longitudinal

you need sumps like the 1st and last examples in that pdf.

see the difference?

 

regardless, the two in the center have oil sumps for transversal engine installation (suzuki swift), our cars are longitudinal

Umm - "sumpwise" only the last example would be suitable for a Sidekick - the first example has the sump to the timing belt end of the engine, and that is actually for a transverse installation, the last example has the sump to the rear, which is how the Sidekick oil pan is - the two in the center are actually longitudinal mount, but tipped over at an angle so that they fit under the front seats, these are for the Carry/Every van line.

 

right, sharp eye!

in any case, all engines there are 1300, so irrelevant (unless he wants to downsize from 1600 to 1300, dont think so....)

@jwoodward96 in short, you should search for a G16B engine with a sump configured as in the last picture,

that said, i have seen several swaps into our cars from swifts and balenos which have the "wrong" sump, all what people did was reuse their old sump and the oil pick up pipe.

good luck!

 

I can't speak to the whole engine, but I put this head on 500 miles ago and it is performing with no issues.

G16b Complete Cylinder Head Camshaft With Gear For Suzuki Jimny Swift Vitara G13b 11100-57b02 Culata Cabezote Completa - Buy G16b Zylinderkopf Komplett Culasse Complet Cabezota Armado Testata Completa G13b 11100-57b02 g16b Silinder Kepala Assy Completed Cylinder Head Armed Head Cylinder Head Assembled G13b 11100-57b02 g16b Cylinder Head Assembly Cylinder Head Assy Cabecote Completo Cylinder Head Completo G13b 11100-57b02 Product on Alibaba.com

G16b Complete Cylinder Head Camshaft With Gear For Suzuki Jimny Swift Vitara G13b 11100-57b02 Culata Cabezote Completa - Buy G16b Zylinderkopf Komplett Culasse Complet Cabezota Armado Testata Completa G13b 11100-57b02 g16b Silinder Kepala Assy Completed Cylinder Head Armed Head Cylinder Head...

www.alibaba.com

 

nice of you sharing and updating, important to know as parts get scarcer.... do you know the name of the factory making it?

regretfully i get this message, so cant even see the part

 

I can see the ad. Here is the manufacturer: Company Overview - Ningbo Kinghan Auto Parts Co., Ltd.

 

 

All I'm going to add here, is the list of vehicles they claim that head works on did not share the same cylinder head or even the valve train.

I can see at least three vehicles listed on which it will not work.

 

well said!

but at least in this case we have someone actually confirming fit, just the way Bex likes it!

 

LOL…it’s always better to actually confirm fit, before it’s shipped to your door…..

 

yes, so true

 

for whoever is willing to risk without confirmation .....

 

Hopefully no one.

 

bad day in the office?

 

LOL…Thought I saw fluttering vacuum and rpm at idle. ???

 

Bex, that's oil pressure from the gallery...