Okay, now that I am in the beginning stages of my SAS swap, I'm already thinking of bigger and better engines. Not particularly thinking of a different four cyl, but something with a little more 'oomph', like a V6 or V8. Problem is, I don't want it to be extraordinarily heavy, so engines like the 350 sbc are probably out, due to weight. Now what I'm thinking is Aluminum V6's that came in 2wd configuration, so I could use the original trans and put a Sammy t-case behind it (I'd assume that most stock V6's won't be too hard on a Sammy case.

So, let's make up a list of 2wd (or 4wd with pass. side front output and fixed yokes) aluminum V6's or other plausable Trackick engine swaps

4.3L Vortech...why not take the guesswork out and talk to Al |removethispart|@ Suzuki Lightning.   His work is second to none.

     I've always liked the Nissan VG30 (SOHC) that came in the pick ups and the 300ZX.......they both came with RWD 5spd's.  300ZX also came with turbo's.


Zag

4.3L Vortech...why not take the guesswork out and talk to Al |removethispart|@ Suzuki Lightning.   His work is second to none.

4.3 might be an option, since it's readily available. Anyone know what side the output is on, or if it has slip yokes or fixed yokes?

I've heard nothing but negative things when it comes to people's opinions on Lightning's work, plus I prefer to do the work myself. I find the work more fun than the resulting vehicle, anyway

Nissans are few and far between on the roads up here, so I'd assume that they'll be pretty rare in the salvage yards, too :-/

If you don't have to worry about emission testing...

GM made a 215 cid (what's that, about 3.6 litres?) aluminum V-8 and a 198 cid aluminum V-6 that it put in the early '60's Buicks.  

Hard to find, but I think it might be worth a look (unless you are put off by the fact that J**p used the buick V-6 in the late '60's).

I've heard nothing but negative things when it comes to people's opinions on Lightning's work, plus I prefer to do the work myself. I find the work more fun than the resulting vehicle, anyway

were these people actually customers of his who paid good money to have the work done, or were they guys were tried to pick his brain for free while they built all the parts at home and then got pissed when he didn't give them all the secrets?!  Keep that in mind also.  As far as his work is concerned, I have seen many of them in person and they look cleaner than factory.  Hell, he even paints the firewall to match.

I've been dreaming of either the 2.3 outta a ford (which is about double the HP and trq of the 8v), or a 4.0 V6 outta a Ford. 160hp and 220 lb ft of trq qould be PLENTY. Should be able to just idle most everything! Just pull one of those 2 out of a 2wd Ranger/explorer, get the wiring harness, ECU, etc, and you're off to the races!!  

if i had the cash id gow with a vw v6 . stock hp is around 180. and it is a verry narrow motor . it only has 1 head .and the motor is verry realiable . i had one in my getta glx vr6 . that thing would run 150 mph . and is verry tourkey

I've been dreaming of either the 2.3 outta a ford (which is about double the HP and trq of the 8v)...

This has been done, but the whole package (block & trannie) is very long and requires a lot of shoehorning.

Mmmmm, Turbo.....

... or a 4.0 V6 outta a Ford. 160hp and 220 lb ft of trq qould be PLENTY. Should be able to just idle most everything! Just pull one of those 2 out of a 2wd Ranger/explorer, get the wiring harness, ECU, etc, and you're off to the races!!  

Someone over at ORC recently did this install.  Here's a URL:

http://bbs.off-road.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=offroadsuzuki&Number=1417968&Searchpage=2&Main=1417968&Words=4.0+swap&topic=&Search=true#Post1417968

Ah come on guys
    2.3 Pinto/Mustang, the Suzuki 2.0L has more horse power and torque...........lets get physco.....Talon 2.0l turbo with intercooler, chip and uprated boost control. Should bolt up to the RWD trans from the Dodge D-50 or old Plymouth Challenger.....drove a freinds that we did some work for...250hp in an all wheel drive...but not cheap.

    On the slightly less insane....how about a low boost 2.0L/Multi point injection...should get around 175hp and stay all Suzuki...What do you think Wildgoody?

Zag

if i had the money/skills i think i would liek to keep the 1.6L 8 vAlve, totally rebuild it new pistons cam etc. and put some NOS in it for fun, and eveyrthing else re built etc.

were these people actually customers of his who paid good money to have the work done, or were they guys were tried to pick his brain for free while they built all the parts at home and then got pissed when he didn't give them all the secrets?!  Keep that in mind also.  As far as his work is concerned, I have seen many of them in person and they look cleaner than factory.  Hell, he even paints the firewall to match.

Just comments about different people's impressions of the quality of workmanship that's come out of that shop. I have no experience with them personally, nor do I know anyone who does, but like I said earlier, I like to do my own work

And a reminder, the original intent of the thread is looking for V6's and V8's that don't weigh a shit-ton. Not 4cyls. If I wanted a 4cyl, I'd use the Nissan Z engine I have sitting in my garage

Something that I thought about at work: a 4.3 (Vortec or not) mated to a SM420 or 465 (whatever the fourspeed transmission in 80's GM trucks was called) with the transfercase that came in the truck (as long as it has fixed yokes). Does anyone know if the 4.3 has the same bellhouse pattern as other SBCs? Are teh clutches/pressure plates/flywheels interchangable?

Ah come on guys
    2.3 Pinto/Mustang, the Suzuki 2.0L has more horse power and torque...........lets get physco.....Talon 2.0l turbo with intercooler, chip and uprated boost control. Should bolt up to the RWD trans from the Dodge D-50 or old Plymouth Challenger.....drove a freinds that we did some work for...250hp in an all wheel drive...but not cheap.

i've already looked into it. you would need to mod the oil pan. Bushur Racing makes a plate to bolt it to a chevy auto trans
http://www.buschurracing.com/cgi-bin/ez-catalog/cat_display.cgi?31X376545


stu

And a reminder, the original intent of the thread is looking for V6's and V8's that don't weigh a shit-ton. Not 4cyls. If I wanted a 4cyl, I'd use the Nissan Z engine I have sitting in my garage

Why not stay Suzuki? The 2.7 liter engine with 185 hp motivates a Sidekick just fine and it is possible to use all Suzuki drivetrain with out any adapters or other BS. Of course there's the 4.3 blah blah blah but other than a vortec version it is actually down on power to the 2.7 and weighs a whole lot more. Especially if one detunes it by changin to a carburator.    

For a comparison of weight there is a certain Sidekick from an owner here on the board that is running 35 inch krawlers, Calmini armor, and a 1.6 16valve w/5speed whilst I am running 33 inch MTRs, Calmini armor, and a 2.7 V6 w/auto the difference in weight between the two vehicles is less than 75 pounds!

FWIW: Stick with Suzuki drivetrain it is worth it.

-Eric

the 4.3 has the same bellhousing bolt pattern as SBC's the pre'87 use the early flywheels and the '87 later use the new style crank seal so the flywheel is different (not hard to find though) they are not that light of an engine.

As for the tranny. I think for weight wise the NV3500 from a s10 with the 4.3 would be the best bet. the sm465/420 are huge and really heavy!! They are meant for 1 ton trucks!

As for tcases if you use a 2wd tranny it will be really long. you can get adapters to mate the chev tranny to a toyota tcase and you can also get adapters to mate the chev bellhousing to a toyota tranny and tcase.

If you use chev tcase you have a few choices.
NP205=heavy and bad low range of 1.9:1
np203=even heavier and HUGE!
Dana 300 is prob a good bet.
np235 from a s series. drivers side drop though. Also they have skip yoke rear outputs.
np241/5 from 1 ton chevs have drivers drop and fixed yokes.

for weight comparison I had a toyota with 4.3/sm465/np205 and toyota axles and 37" tires and it was almost 5000 lbs!!! some of that was the heavy box I had on it so call it 4500 lbs.!

I figured by swapping to a nv3500 I could get 5th gear and mate it to a dana 300 this would have given lower low range (after changing diff gears) and saved me 250 lbs.