Ok I actually found a great deal on a GV housing and third thanks to jagular here on the forum. I thought I would just get a 96-up tracker CV and be done with the swap but I can't find one of those either!!!!
I see that the Vitara (NOT GV) has the same length shaft but it is a different part number than the 96 tracker shaft. Will these interchange? What other shaft will work?

the Pre 96 tracker shaft measures 23.60"
the 96-98 tracker shaft measures 23.75"
the 99 GV measures 24.25"
the 99 Vitara mesures 23.75"
according to the NAPA site

 I am hoping to get this back on the road for next weekend! Thanks, Jake

Have you tried calling Hawk for your 26 spline shaft? They probably have one. 1-888-SAMURAI.

Zig

yeah they want $125 for a used shaft. I had one bought here at a local yard for $35 bucks but it ended up being no good.

Does anyone know what change was actually made to the 99 tracker/Vitara model that makes them different? They are the same length according to the napa site.

Thanks, Jake

The front differential has an air actuator to engage/disengage the front diff from the axle shafts. 

According to this article
http://www.zukiworld.com/month_030104/feature_tsb_shiftontheflyremoval.htm
The inner stub is shorter on the 99+ models to leave space for the diff to engage/disengage.  This would probably mean that the inner stub is slightly shorter, and the outer shaft is a little longer on the 99+ compared to the 96-98.   This does make sense since the axle housing is a direct swap but the 99+ has a wider track width than the Sidekick.

I have talked to one guy that did this mod and did not modify his CV axle because upon comparing them the inner stubs were the same length, so I'm not 100% sure on this information.