Hey, all.  Let me know if this is the right board for this thread.  I was talking to a member last night (can't remember his name-dang it but he runs an 88 Zuk with an 8 inch lift...  ) and he told me about this site.  Cool... Anyway, we were talking about how easy it would be to do a 4x4 conversion to my stock 2 wheel drive 92 Geo.  It has the standard 1.6 L VIN U 8 valve motor and a 5 speed manual tranny.   I've always wished it was a 4 wheel, but it isn't.  What's the good word?

~Brad

hopefully inphobic will chime in here.

all i can say is 4 wheel drive = good
 

Welcome to KCZUKS, Brad!

You'll need a Tranny, T-case, Front axle, Front driveshaft, and Locking hubs.
You may also have to add one or both front axle drop bracket hangers onto the frame.
Its a fairly easy conversion because the chassis is the same on the 2wd and 4wd models.

We have a limited number of Geo/Tracker owners here.  I'd recommend that you do a search on each of the national/international forums where there are thousands of users and answers to most tech questions of this sort.
http://www.kczuks.com/forum/index.php/topic,8.0.html

You might PM Chris (hereticzuk) at Zuwharrie.  He's a automotive tech who has done this to his rig, and has offered to give advice to others.

Thanks, Phoenix!  I PMed hereticzuk over at Zuwharrie to see what he had to say.   

post his answer here   please.

or better yet ask him to post it here !


thanks
id like to know!

I sent you an Email
            Chris          not gary

you got it !   he brought your name up and i would like to pick your brain also. 

appreciate taking the time to check in on another forum.

Ok, like Chris (NOT Gary  ) said, he sent me an E-mail.

"you will need the following:
trans-transfercase together+crossmember
both drive shafts
front halfshafts(cv)
front aluminum diff housing and the 3 mounts that are attached
front and rear shocks/struts and springs(cause they are longer)
both front steering knuckle assemblies with hubs and lockouts
and the driverside bracket from donor tracker

once you get and install this stuff the rest just bolts in. there is also a 4x4 conversion list believe it or not in the chilton suzuki; samurai/sidekick/tracker 1986-98 repair manual part#66500 page 7-50 and a small article about it. if you dont' have this book you will need it."

I think the parts list mostly confirms what Phoenix said. 

I have a Haynes, but not a Chiltons.  I will double check the Hayne's to see if it has that parts list.

My main goal now is to figure out how easy these parts will be to come by and how much $$ I am looking at.  It may be a hard sell to my wife    lol

I do also have a clarification on the parts list.  "front and rear shocks/struts and springs(cause they are longer)"
You mean rear shocks like the ones on the back wheels?  I'm trying to figure out how they would be affected.  Will my ride-height change? 

I tried to attach the picture of the Driver's side bracket which needs to be welded on, but I got an error saying the upload folder was full.  Maybe one of you knows what to do about that.

~Brad

Also...  This is part of an E-mail reply I sent back to Chris.  I am posting it here so the conversation can hopefully continue on the board for the benifiit of everyone.   

"Can you tell me if there is a significant difference in the gear reduction ratios between the 2w and 4d tranny?  I was talking to a guy the other day about his 88 4WD Zuk and he said he has to push it to go interstate speeds.  I don't know if he is stock though or if he had after market gears for a larger reduction.  I would definatley want to retain highway drive-ability."

Welcome to KCZUKS, Chris, not gary!   Thanks for stopping by and setting us straight! 

whats up Flea, whats on your mind.

I assume you are asking about 2 door trackick and 4 door trackick trannys?  It comes down to what engine is used in front of the tranny....not whether it is in a 2 door or 4 door, or whether it is a 2wd or 4wd. 
The trackick 5 speed tranny ratios are identical, EXCEPT for certain 5th gear ratios....few people know about this.  The 5th gear ratio in the 5 speed trannys used behind the 16V engines is .795.  The 5th gear ratio in the 5 speed trannys used behind the 8V engine is .86.
For samurai's....the 5th gear ratio is .795 for the 86-88s.....5th gear ratio is .865 for the 88.5-95s.
The trackick auto tranny ratio's are the same....no matter if it is 2 door, 4 door, 8V, 16V, 2wd, or 4wd.  Of course, there is a 3 speed auto and a 4 speed auto (with OD).  The 4 speed auto is computer controlled....so it is not easily swapped into a trackick that did not originally come with a 4 speed auto.

I knew i recommended  the right person(skyhiranger ) for the rest of the info on your swap Brad.

Wow, you guys are full of info! 

So in regards to the Samurai's, you say they were .795 '86-'88 and .865 '88.5 - 95.... Did the Samurai's use 16 valve engines in 86-88 and go to 8 valve engines the later half of 88 (seems unlikley) or are you saying that the Samurai's tranny ratios are based off year only and engine has nothing to do with it?

Now, I am dealing with a 92 Tracker, 5 speed manual behind a 1.6 Liter Vin type U 8 valve engine.  That would mean that my tranny ratio in 5th gear is .865, right? 
So, here's the question-- setting ratios aside for a moment, WHICH 4x4 trannies are compat with my tracker first off.  I assume obviously that a 4x4 tracker obviously.  What years though.  It seems 88-94 are all pretty similar as far as engine parts.  Also what about Zuk or Sammy 4x4 trannies?  Will one of those work just the same on my tracker? 
The same question really goes for all my donor parts-- how interchangable am I, and with that years?

Also, let's say I find a salvage yard or some guy with a trackick tranny in his garage but they don't know where it came from.  How can I determine the 5th speed ratio?  Is there a serial number I can reference.  Obviously I can't count gear teeth without looking inside it. 

So many questions... I will let you guys start with those.  I feel like hittin Ebay to see what's out there tonight...

Yeah, but you can put it in gear and count the revolutions.