Hello. New to site. I have 2 1997 Sidekick 4 doors. Keeper is 97 SPORT 2WD w/1.8L. And Donor is 97 Sidekick 4X4 w/1.6L engine.
I was wondering if anyone has done this swap? From my research I have some questions. 1. Will the Front Differential bolt up W/O modification? And is it the same size? The reason I ask this is I notice that front diff lowering Brackets that are sold online fit the narrow body Non-sport model. I would also like to lower the diff, so do they sell for the Sport and will it work with the Non sport diff in a Spor t body? Or if I have to modify, what would need to be done? 2. I understand that the Sport body is wider so the cv axles are different. I was going to use Sport axles and wondering if they will work with the smaller non sport Spindles? And will the Sport axles fit the Non sport diff? 3. Will Front Driveshaft fit? Don't know if Sport is longer too, or maybe underneath is the same . 4. If I use the Non sport Spindles will I need to change Lower Control Arms also and will it bolt up? And will I need to change Struts also? 5. Anything else I need to know or will this even work w/o a lot of modification and welding? Thanks for your replies in advance. Aloha..

Just shooting on the fly, but my thought is that it may be easier to swap the 1.8 into the non sport. Not sure how involved that is though. I don’t know if the bell housing patterns are the same between the motors.

Unless I'm very much mistaken, the axle housings are dimensionally identical and interchangeable - I believe this is true on all the Sidekicks/Vitaras/Grand Vitaras from 1989~2005 - BUT - the mounting brackets vary between the years because of differences in the width between the frame rails.

As far as I am aware, the Sport body is dimensionally the same width as the 1.6 "non-Sport" models - the frame is wider and the Sport uses plastic trim to cover the additional width of the tires - if you park both vehicles side by side and grab a tape measure you can verify this for yourself.

I believe what you are considering can be done, however I'm not certain if I would even attempt it - there is likely to be too much of a headache trying to track down the required parts - for example the front axle mounts.

JollyZuk's suggestion of swapping the 1.8 has some merit - the bell housing patterns do match - but it is not a "bolt-in" swap - there will be fabrication and wiring challenges, but because you have both vehicles, it can be done.

Jollyzuk. I like the Sport body better. Also I have a line on a 2.3L and it looks like a pretty straight forward swap from a 1.8L. Thanks for your reply.

fordem. So if what you're saying is true, then I can use the Non-sport diff and use the Sport diff brackets? If the dimensions are the same.

The Sport is a relatively rare vehicle ...

 - what are the chances of your finding diff mounting brackets for it?
 - what are the chances that those brackets will be attached to a complete differential assembly?
 - what are the chances that the complete differential assembly will be attached to a complete vehicle?

If you search the forum(s) for discussions on converting 2WD Sidekicks to 4WD, you'll find that the general consensus is that unless you have a complete donor vehicle to get the parts from, it'll be easier to sell the 2WD and buy a 4WD - that advice doesn't change when the vehicle in question is a 1.8 Sport - sure it'll be harder to find a 4WD Sport to buy, but, it'll be even harder to find the parts that you can't rob from a 1.6 Sidekick, and those parts include the diff mounting brackets.

A quick part number search reveals that the same part number front differential housing was used on ALL the Sidekicks from 89~98, including the Sport models, so yes, you can use the "non-Sport" diff with Sport diff brackets - if you can find them - please note - all I'm discussing is the housing, the internals may be different.

You can most likely pull all of the body cladding off of the sport and put it on the non-sport, and then swap the 2.3 into it.  You also are going to need to swap the trans/t-case out of the 4x4 unit, and there could be some trans mount issues with the cross member, not sure.  Swapping the doors and front fenders from the sport would be easy enough, and then you only have to deal with the rear body cladding.  Then you can see about swapping the front hubs for the bigger sport brakes.
What transmissions do you have in both of these?  Are they both auto, 5 Spd, mixed bag?  If memory serves, the 4x4 should be 5.12 gears, IDK what gearing a 2wd Sport would have had...if not 5.12 you will have to swap rear ends also.  And is the sport rear wider than a non sport?

Jollyzuk. Both are automatic. I'm looking at using front diff and buying Sport cv axles and using Non sport spindles and brakes for now. Don't really know if it'll work but willing to try. 2.3L swap is easier into Sport. no wiring issues and can use same ecm. I also have a 99 Tracker 2dr 4x4 whole for parts. The Non to Sport swap is temporary until I can find another Sport for spindle and bigger brake parts and rear end.

Do both Kicks have the same rear diff ratio?  If not you need to keep the diffs in the 4x4 together. What motor does the Tracker have in it?  What you want to do is possible, but I think you are taking the longest route to get there.

What you want to do is possible, but I think you are taking the longest route to get there.

Amen.

Want to keep the Sport. Can't find another 4x4 Sport. I live in the middle of the ocean so these kind of cars are hard to find. I know it would be easy to just swap over the 4x4 parts from my donor 97 4 dr to my 2wd 97 4 dr both automatic and even the same color! But that's not my goal. Just looking for advice from someone that might have done a swap like what I'm looking to do. I know it 's a lot of work, but I don't have 48 states to pick cars/parts from. Shipping alone can be more expensive than the part itself. But thanks for chiming in. 

Can't find another 4x4 Sport.

THIS is the exact point I am trying to get you to recognize - any plan that requires you to find parts unique to the Sport is unlikely to be successful.

I don't quite understand your "fixation" on the Sport - the "bodies" are virtually the same, apart from the plastic flares and the sheet metal in front of the A pillar (fenders, hood, grille & lights) - the Sport engine can probably be swapped over to the "non-Sport" with a lot less fab work than swapping the running gear in the opposite direction, AND, it won't involve having to hunt down parts that are as rare as rocking horse poo.

I say "probably" because I don't know of anyone who has swapped the 1.8 engine across, but I know the 2.0 has been swapped and from an external dimension stand point, they are the same engine.