ok geniuses, a guy i know was getting ready to swap engines in 2 trackers. a 2wd '95 model(recipient)  automatic and a 4wd '97 model(donor) manual. he had both engines out and while i was trying to talk him out of the "bad" one we noticed at almost the same time that the back of the crank was different on both. is there something we're missing or can you not swap these two engines. they were both 16v so what gives? i was going to stop in and look at both again but he's already dropped both back into their bays so......HELP!!!

By "back of the crank" do you mean the flywheel?

A manual transmission vehicle has a heavy disk for a flywheel with the starter ring gear press fitted onto the perimeter.

An automatic transmission vehicle has a very lightweight disk called a flexplate whose main purpose is to carry the above-mentioned starter ring gear.  It is much lighter because it is bolted to the automatic transmission torque converter which, when filled with automatic transmission fluid, is quite heavy.

If you look closely at both units where the flywheel or flexplate is attached to the end of the crankshaft, you will find that both have an identical 6-bolt pattern.

In summation, automatic or manual, the 1.6 engine (8 or 16-valve) are identical.

I hope that this helps!

If you are looking at the actual crank, then on the auto there is a "sleeve" in the center of it that centers up the flex plate.  This sleeve is removeable and the cranks should look the same once it is removed.

i certainly hoped it could be removed but, how do you remove it?  the crank ends don't have the same number of bolt holes but do have enough to match up if the sleeve wasn't there.

Grab onto it with some pliers or vice grips and twist and pull it out......if it is stuck really good, you might have to soak it with some wd40 or something to get it freed up.

Are you sure the 97 is a 1.6?  It could be a 1.8 and IIRC the cranks are different.  Look at the rear "flange" on the engine (where the tranny bolts up)....on the drivers side on the top there should be a 4 digit number on there followed by the letters cc.......what are those numbers?  You can see them with the engines installed......kinda hard, but they are visible.

both motors have 1590cm on the flange and both are 16v. he got the sleeve out after a good fight. now the problem is that the crank on the 97 model maual trans. is pretty close to flush with the back of the block and the 95 model automatic is sticking out about an inch. is there an adapter or should they both be the same.
tried to bolt the 95 flywheel to the 97 crank and it touches the block. tried bolting the 97 flywheel to to the 95 crank and it stuck out so far the starter wouldn't make contact. now what gives?
97 crank

Both should be the same.....let's see a pic of the 95 crank.

well, i would but he gave up. today he put new seals and gaskets in and dropped it back in. it's his dd so he didn't have time to figure it out and was already super frustrated. looks like i may get an engine, computer, and seats. anyone need stock trans., t-case, diffs. from a '97 model tracker. i think i can get everything for cheap. the body is trash(crushed) so no parts there.

Too bad, I would have liked to seen what the deal was.
I'll send you a PM.