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Little Red (1996 Geo Tracker)

Man that would be a hard decision for me personally since I prefer manuals in basically everything and got my wife into them too... but then when you do stupid shit like need knee surgery on left leg its nice to have 1 auto in the fleet lol.
 
350TacoZilla said:
Man that would be a hard decision for me personally since I prefer manuals in basically everything and got my wife into them too... but then when you do stupid shit like need knee surgery on left leg its nice to have 1 auto in the fleet lol.
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That’s true. And my 11 year old son said he wants this for his first car. But...if I keep everything I could swap it all back over. :smokin:
 
I wish I could find another 4 door with an automatic. I do enjoy my little 5 speed though. My 11 y-o loves it and is getting pretty good at driving it.
 
Yesterday I finally decided I’m going to swap the manual transmission from the blue Zuk into this red Geo.

Going to pull the transfer case off the auto trans and reuse it, though. The blue Zuk was an off road vehicle so the t-case was probably abused. That is if I can. I don’t know if the auto/manual have different bolt patterns for t-cases or not.

I tallied up all the costs to go through the engine and stuff and it came to $1,000. :eek:

Really debating whether I want to go through the new engine on the stand and do all the basics (gaskets, re-seat valves, water pump, timing belt, oil pump, etc.), or just say fawk it and dump it in. Compression was 175psi. on all four cylinders and it sounds great, so I might just seal up the oil pan, do a timing belt and call it good.

Really itching for this weather to break so I can get on this. Fucking tired of working out in temps in the teens.
 
Tcases should all be the same bolt pattern. I used a 99(2nd gen) 5spd tcase on the back of a 90 3spd auto.

There is some differences in the output/slip yokes. The 99 has a larger coarse spline version. I'm not sure if any of the stuff you have is any different.
 
YotaAtieToo said:
Tcases should all be the same bolt pattern. I used a 99(2nd gen) 5spd tcase on the back of a 90 3spd auto.

There is some differences in the output/slip yokes. The 99 has a larger coarse spline version. I'm not sure if any of the stuff you have is any different.
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It might be, I’ll be able to tell once it’s all out.

Both vehicles are 96’s, but I’m not sure if the 4 door rear driveshaft bolts up the same as the 2 door.
 
FleshEater said:
It might be, I’ll be able to tell once it’s all out.

Both vehicles are 96’s, but I’m not sure if the 4 door rear driveshaft bolts up the same as the 2 door.
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90% sure it's all the same stuff, especially if you're keeping the original tcase. They're slip yoke front and rear at the tcase, which is the gayest part about them.

You might check out transmission length. With my swap the auto was ~1.5" shorter, so I had to use the auto front driveshaft and I used a spacer on the rear :homer:

But again that was a very different swap.
 
YotaAtieToo said:
90% sure it's all the same stuff, especially if you're keeping the original tcase. They're slip yoke front and rear at the tcase, which is the gayest part about them.

You might check out transmission length. With my swap the auto was ~1.5" shorter, so I had to use the auto front driveshaft and I used a spacer on the rear :homer:

But again that was a very different swap.
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I’ll pull a tape when I get it all out and laying on the floor side by side.

The auto trans in the red Geo was replaced with a JY one at some point. Writing is still on the torque converter. Pretty sure Amsoil synchromesh can fix any issue the manual might have. :laughing: If not I have a 93’ manual trans sitting in my shed that looks damn good as well.
 
Now is the time if you’re going to. Do you have the pedal assembly and the console pieces still to make it a clean swap?
 
JR4X said:
Now is the time if you’re going to. Do you have the pedal assembly and the console pieces still to make it a clean swap?
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I do. The Zuk is a fully running manual. All the interior is still pristine as well.

Clutch is about junk and out of adjustment, but that will all get replaced with the swap.
 
Had to check and make sure it was all good again. The pedal hardware is kind of rusty, so I’ll clean all that up after it’s out. It should look factory when I’m all done.


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Well, I just double checked online (Zukioffroad.com). I thought 96’ and newer autos came with 5.12 gears. They don’t. It’s 4.62.

Now I might keep the 3 speed and just swap the 3rd members to assist with the larger tires.

Any of you Geo/Zuk gurus know if this is correct?
 
YotaAtieToo said:
If you want the manual, why not swap everything?
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I probably will. Just know it would handle the larger tires better with the 5.12’s swapped into the 3-speed set up.

But I’m not going to off road this much. Kind of want to DD it.
 
FleshEater said:
I probably will. Just know it would handle the larger tires better with the 5.12’s swapped into the 3-speed set up.

But I’m not going to off road this much. Kind of want to DD it.
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I like the 5 speed for daily driving with the little engines. I want to try an auto with the crawler gears eventually.

You sure it's a 3spd? I thought the 3 spd was mostly behind 8v and early 16v. I didn't think it was even offered in a 4door.
 
YotaAtieToo said:
I like the 5 speed for daily driving with the little engines. I want to try an auto with the crawler gears eventually.

You sure it's a 3spd? I thought the 3 spd was mostly behind 8v and early 16v. I didn't think it was even offered in a 4door.
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The gear selector goes L, 2, D, N...

11/3 is written on the transmission. I have a feeling it was a junkyard swap and maybe all they had was a 3 speed?
 
4 speed would be electronic and 3 spd is vacuum like a TH350 (it's literally a mini version, TH180) which is why guys like them for swaps.

From Google. Guess it is a 3spd, i didn't think they were common behind the 16v.:homer:

you can tell if you have the 3 or 4 speed just by looking at the grip on the shifter itself. The 3 speed has a T shaped grip with one button on the side. The 4 speed has a more rounded grip and has two buttons on the side (the second button enables/ disables the overdrive gear).
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I’ve never seen a 3 speed automatic in a 4 door, that’s a new one. And I thought all 4 doors came with 5.12’s wether auto or manual.
 
FleshEater said:
No one knows. :flipoff2:

Well this has to be a 4 speed. It’s electronically controlled. I’m assuming “D” is 3-4 gears and the button turns off overdrive?
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Yes, that’s what the 95 4 speed auto I had was like. Most 4 speed auto shifters I know of only have 3 forward positions not 4. Jeep’s for instance have P-R-N-D-2-1 and a button to turn off od. The only 4 position ones I know of are GM.
 
JR4X said:
Yes, that’s what the 95 4 speed auto I had was like. Most 4 speed auto shifters I know of only have 3 forward positions not 4. Jeep’s for instance have P-R-N-D-2-1 and a button to turn off od. The only 4 position ones I know of are GM.
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Still pretty certain I’m swapping the manual in this.

Also going to check the gear ratios for sure.
 
FleshEater said:
Yesterday I finally decided I’m going to swap the manual transmission from the blue Zuk into this red Geo.

Going to pull the transfer case off the auto trans and reuse it, though. The blue Zuk was an off road vehicle so the t-case was probably abused. That is if I can. I don’t know if the auto/manual have different bolt patterns for t-cases or not.
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89-98 tcases have the same bolt pattern, where they bolt to the tranny.

The rear output shaft on 96 and up tcases are 16 spline, instead of 26 spline like the 89-95s. Front output splines are 26 for all years.
 
YotaAtieToo said:
90% sure it's all the same stuff, especially if you're keeping the original tcase. They're slip yoke front and rear at the tcase, which is the gayest part about them.

You might check out transmission length. With my swap the auto was ~1.5" shorter, so I had to use the auto front driveshaft and I used a spacer on the rear :homer:

But again that was a very different swap.
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4 speed autos are longer than 3 speed autos and 5 speed manuals. The 3 speed auto and 5 speed manual driveshafts are close enough in length that they will interchange...at least on the ones I have measured.

Here is a list of driveshaft lengths I have compiled over the years....

As measured from center to center of the ujoints.
Rear driveshafts
2 door, 2wd, 5 speed manual...39 1/16"
2 door, 2wd, 3 speed auto...38 1/2"
2 door, 4wd, 3 speed auto/5 speed manual...28 3/8"
2 door (x90), 4wd, 4 speed auto...25 1/16"
2 door (x90), 2wd, 4 speed auto...(never saw one to measure, but should be about 35 3/4")

4 door, 2wd, 5 speed manual...50 1/2" (2 piece driveshaft)
4 door, 4wd, 5 speed manual/3 speed auto...39 3/8"
4 door, 4wd, 4 speed auto...36 1/16"
4 door, 2wd, 4 speed auto...43 13/16" (2 piece driveshaft)
4 door, 2wd, 3 speed auto...I don't know this measurement...I would estimate it to be 49 1/2-50 1/16". It may use the same 2 piece driveshaft as the 2wd 5 speed manual (50 1/2").

Front driveshafts
2 door/4 door, 4wd, 3 speed auto/5 speed manual...19 7/8"

4 door, 4wd, 4 speed auto (x90 with the 4 speed auto should be the same)...23 1/4"
 
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FleshEater said:
Well, I just double checked online (Zukioffroad.com). I thought 96’ and newer autos came with 5.12 gears. They don’t. It’s 4.62.

Now I might keep the 3 speed and just swap the 3rd members to assist with the larger tires.

Any of you Geo/Zuk gurus know if this is correct?
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Here is some info for you on trackick gear ratios and misc...

Years 2 or 4 door Engine type Transmission Axle ratio
89 2 1.3L carb. 5 speed man. 5.625
89-95 2 1.6L TBI 5 speed man. 5.125
89-95 2 1.6L TBI 3 speed auto 4.625 (94/95 may have 4.30s)
91 4 1.6L TBI 5 speed man. 5.375
91 4 1.6L TBI 3 speed auto 4.625
92-98 4 1.6L MPFI 5 speed man. 5.125
92-98 4 1.6L MPFI 4 speed auto 5.125
94-98 2 1.6L MPFI 5 speed man. 5.125
94-98 2 1.6L MPFI 3 speed auto 4.30
96-98 2 X90 1.6L MPFI 4 auto or man. 4.625
96-98 4 Sport 1.8L MPFI 4 auto or man. 5.125

4.625 gears have an 8/37 tooth count
4.30 gears have a 10/43 tooth count
5.125 gears have an 8/41 tooth count
5.375 gears have an 8/43 tooth count
5.625 gears have an 8/45 tooth count

Some thirds have a number painted on the bottom of the crossmember bracket "ear" on the snout of the third, that corresponds with the number of teeth on the ring gear. For example.....37=4.625s, 43=4.30s, 41=5.125s, 43=5.375, 45=5.625s.

89-95 Trackick front thirds have 22 spline sidegears.
96-98 Trackick front thirds have 26 spline sidegears.
Trackick rear thirds and/or gears will not fit in Samurai axle housings.

All 89-98 Trackicks have 26 spline rear axles.
All 86-95 Samurais have 26 spline rear axles.
All 86-95 Samurais have 22 spline front axles (chromoly 26 spline front axles are available).
 
JR4X said:
I’ve never seen a 3 speed automatic in a 4 door, that’s a new one. And I thought all 4 doors came with 5.12’s wether auto or manual.
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Only 4 door that had a factory 3 speed auto option was the 91s that had the 1.6 8V.
 
Thanks for that info!

Looks like I’ll be hunting down a spacer or a new rear drive shaft.

The front will be swapped from the Suzuki.
 
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