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engine longevity

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Offline v-stone

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engine longevity
« on: March 09, 2009, 09:35:27 PM »
my 93 kick has a little over 100,000 miles and seems like engine problems around every corner. I know that cast iron engines last loner in general.

Did the earlier sidekicks have cast iron heads or blocks?

What kind of milage are you getting out of your engine?
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SAS Tracker! No looking back now.
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phloop

Re: engine longevity
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2009, 09:43:18 PM »
Zuki engines have been built from Aluminum since before the kick was made. My early 88 Sami  has around 90K (the 1.3 soon to be swapped with the 1.6 8V I'm building) and my 95 kick DD has over 150K on it. On the kick the lash needs set and the water pump replaced but other than that it's still chugging along.
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Offline Lindenmooch

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Re: engine longevity
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2009, 10:00:10 PM »
163k miles on my 1991 Tracker.....owned it for a year....only sprung a coolant leak once...and no other issues to speak of.
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Offline Jeremiah

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Re: engine longevity
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2009, 11:00:39 PM »
It's common to see them go well into 200k miles, some report passing the 300k mark. Just depends on how well maintained they are... and probably a little bit of luck.
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'96 4 door kick: 29" Pep-Boys M/T, 1.5" OME
'83 SJ410: 31" Toyo M/T, SPOA, 1.3L
'08 Yamaha FZ6
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Offline hillbillydeluxe4x4

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Re: engine longevity
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2009, 03:39:09 AM »
im turnin almost 187k in the 93 i picked up new years eve. it had 183k on it when i picked it up. and i run it hard, im not used to having such a small vehicle. i must say it feels like its still got tons of life left in it. i need to replace a front seal, and i figure ill do the timing belt while im at it. im worried about how it will hold up with bigger tires and what not though.
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Offline mike5721947

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Re: engine longevity
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2009, 10:15:19 AM »
same boat here. converts to 194,000miles on mine....

front seals need to be done, same with timing belt. its got some bawls still but ive been looking since i bought it for another engine... just to have in the garage to rebuild... so when it does go i have another ready.

to get the front seals done and such its going to cost me close to 600 bucks...

been wondering if GM is trying to get rid of any of these engines in crates (had it before with my old car with the 4 cyl 2.5L gm was selling them off for 500 bucks. brand new, never been ran crate engines. been looking around to see if they have the same for the 1.6...)
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1990 Suzuki sidekick 2Dr Conv.
385,000 km and still going strong.
31" kumhos 3inchs of lift.
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Offline SNJSamurai

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Re: engine longevity
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2009, 11:50:41 AM »
she just pushed 267,000 yesterday after making a 3 hour ride and 2 hours of ruff trail riding. you get her in the high rpms she starts to tap alittle and throw some smoke but she still gets me where i need to go.
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Bob
88' Samurai - 5" Lift, 3" DIY Body Lift, 31" Baja Claws, Rattle can flat green, Smittybilt Winch, Custom front bumper, 1.6 swap in progress
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Offline hillbillydeluxe4x4

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Re: engine longevity
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2009, 03:16:52 PM »
when the time comes to replace or rebuild, im either thinking of keeping the 8 valve and rebuilding it for more power, or im tossing the idea of figuring out how to sink a 60 degree 2.8,3.1, or maybe even a 3.8 out of a gm rear drive applictation. i figure it will up the power with adding extensive weight and still be reliable. but i gotta say this little thing suprised me with all those miles it blazed through mud and deep ruts, with bald street tires with no lift yet like it was nothin, well the exhaust was broken off but thats it. before this weekend i was lookin at jeeps but now that i have first hand seen the potentiol and aint skeptic of its capalbility i will be keeping this mini rig for as long as it holds up.
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Offline Jeremiah

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Re: engine longevity
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2009, 04:44:48 PM »
Don't waste your money on a rebuild. Can do a engine swap for the same $$$. The Buick series II 3.8 has just about the same power as a Chevy 4.3L, but weights less and is much smaller. Not sure why there's not more of them around here. Don't forget about the ALUMINUM Suzuki 2.0L, 2.5L and 2.7L engines....
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'96 4 door kick: 29" Pep-Boys M/T, 1.5" OME
'83 SJ410: 31" Toyo M/T, SPOA, 1.3L
'08 Yamaha FZ6
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Offline hillbillydeluxe4x4

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Re: engine longevity
« Reply #9 on: March 10, 2009, 04:53:02 PM »
im not tryin to impose on this guys trhead, but originally i though of a 4.3 swap before i even bought my tracker. i left out the 3.8. i was thinkin of that to but forgot to mention it. the suzuki engines sound gret to goin by specs, but they also seem more expensive and less plentiful especially in my area.
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Offline Jeremiah

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Re: engine longevity
« Reply #10 on: March 10, 2009, 04:59:56 PM »
You make up the expense by having less custom machining & shoe horning to do, an engine / trans / t-case that's already meant to work together, and having sending units that will work with most (all  ???) of your gauges. The 4.3L threads I've followed all said it's the "little things" they never thought of that all added up to some real $$$ and creative engineering. And, lets not forget the added fuel costs of a 4.3L vs a Suzuki...

Anyway, I like to see the 4.3L and would LOVE to see a Series II Buick go in, but... the Suzuki engines just seem easier & lighter to me. But, maybe my local prices and availability are different than yours  ???
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'96 4 door kick: 29" Pep-Boys M/T, 1.5" OME
'83 SJ410: 31" Toyo M/T, SPOA, 1.3L
'08 Yamaha FZ6
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Offline hillbillydeluxe4x4

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Re: engine longevity
« Reply #11 on: March 10, 2009, 06:42:30 PM »
weve always got wrecked camaros around here with these engines in them, and i barely ever see anything suzuki related in the local yards. and ebay shipping is crazy most of the time, and i d like to have the other vehicle right there sidee by side with mine to use as many parts as possible for the swap.  but im not counting a purist zuki swap out either all depends on what can be located when i decide to go for it.
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Offline zuk4life

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Re: engine longevity
« Reply #12 on: March 10, 2009, 09:48:02 PM »
Ok with all that said I'm sure your engine is fine. 100,000 mile mark is just a more major maintenance point so do your water pump and timing belt along with a full tune. Im sure your get a 100 more.
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Offline Zukipilot

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Re: engine longevity
« Reply #13 on: March 11, 2009, 06:58:48 AM »
Around  300K on one, and 200K on two others before selling them to someone else to keep running. The one that hie 300K was worn out and got a new 8 valve.

If your looking for more power I would suggest the light weight Suzuki 2.5 or 2.7L V-6. It pulls my kick on 37's down the interstate at 85 mpg with more to spare (and does not take long to get there  8) )

Zig
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Zukipilot
'92 Liberty Overland Sidekick
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Offline mypocketsrfull

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Re: engine longevity
« Reply #14 on: March 11, 2009, 09:48:42 AM »
It pulls my kick on 37's down the interstate at 85 mpg with more to spare (and does not take long to get there   )
i am assuming it is mph? not mpg ???
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