Hello again everyone.  Recently I found an ad online for someone wanting to trade his 87 Samurai for a Bronco II.  I just happened to have a Bronco II sitting behind my house and we've been discussing the trade. 

I read on Wikipedia, that there was a reduction to the 5th gear later on in production that increased highway performance.  Also, being an 87, I'm not sure if it has power steering or not, I heard early models didn't.

I have a 1997 4-door sidekick I can use as parts with a freshly rebuilt 1.6L engine.  I was thinking of doing the swap using the Calmini kit w/fuel pump.  But I'm wondering if there will be any trouble since the Sammy is manual and the Kick is auto.  I heard that the 1.6l engine or auto trannies is different than the one for manual trannies.

If I do this swap, are there any street legal (or easily swappable for smogging) headers and exhaust systems that fit a 1.6 engine, but a samurai's frame.  Or would I have to get headers and fab my own exhaust?

Are there any other parts (power steering, rear axle, etc) from the Kick that will fit the sammy?

Thanks

I'm not aware of any differences in the engine itself. You use the Sammy flywheel and clutch so thats not an issue. The auto has a slightly different ECU but it will work OK on a manual.

If its the 1.6 8v engine then a doug thorley header for a kick works fine in the sammy.  I just put mine in last weekend and this weekend I have been fabing up the rest of the exhaust.  If you are not comfortable doing the rest of the exhaust yourself then buy the header and install it (after the engine has been dropped in the sammy) and then take it to a shop to do the rest.  They can fab the whole thing as long as they have a tube bender.  As far as I know I didn't think any of the sammys came with power steering.  However, if your kick has it then just transplant it into the sammy.  Trail tough makes the relocation bracket and kit necessary for performing that.  The pump has to be relocated higher on the ending to clear the ps gearbox.

Well, it's a long story, but the shop that was doing work on my Kick accidentally ordered the wrong engine (they said they ordered an engine for a manual-tranny model).  Instead, my original engine ended up being rebuilt.  That's where I got the idea that they're different.

About mounting the tranny to the engine, I've heard various opinions on what adaptor plate is best.  Calmini's (which noone has mentioned to me) appears to be heavier duty, like it's more of a plate, whereas others seem to be laser-cut to the precise outline of the tranny's mounting surface, meaning less metal...but maybe that doesn't matter in terms of strength.

Also I've been reading here that OBDII engines CAN be legal in CA if done a certain way.  I was thinking of getting my wiring harness professionally reworked for the swap, but I know Trail Tough says it won't be legal, so I'm wondering if there's some company that will rework my harnes with provisions for the second O2 sensor and whatnot.

...time to go to Harbor Freight and pick up one of their cheapo engine hoists