got my eyes on a 95 sportage for pretty cheap and have a 4.3 a set of yota rears and 44s sitting in the yard. I was origonally looking to throw this under a tracker but i thought a kia would be neat, and looks like they go for the right price. The questions I have are:
has anyone fit a 4.3 in one of theese before, (i know they fit in samurais and trackers with minor body mods)
What side is the diff on these stock?
has anyone one done a leaf sprung sas, or only linkage type suspensions?
how do the frames hold up on these? are they boxed?
how do i disarm the airbags?

One thing you might also want to check is that the motor is a DOHC. Some 95's have SOHC some DOHC.
Everet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

I'm guessing youre pointing that out, cause i can mod it to have about equally the same hp as a 4.3, The reason I want to do the 4.3 is to do away with all of the computer stuff. Do you think a stock kia trans and t case would handle 44s??? I could always sell the dual overhead, tranny/ tcase/ wiring harness and computer even though i don't know what price they go for.

My bad, Didn't see the stuff about the 4.3.
Tranny is pretty tough, I don't know about the transfer case other than the earlier ones used a wider chain which should be stronger.
Good Luck,
Everet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

I'm all for running the original drivetrain if they will hold up. What kind of power can i get out of dual??? is there headers available??? i seen someone mention a chip. as long as i can get about 200 hp I'll be happy and compenste for the rest with gears.
If I was to sell the drivetrain, what do you think i could get?
motor? tranny? t case? computer? axle assemblies?

We would all love 200 HP from this little engine. Not very likely unless you are running some kind of super charger or turbo because stock they are just over 120 HP.

I've never heard of any one putting a 4.3 into the engine bay, but would love to see someone try. It's already pretty cramped in there with the 2.0.

I saw someone put an LS1 into a Sorento, but it comes with a V6 so there is a lot more room.

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

hmmmmmm, I know they fit in samurais, I really gotta go take another look at this thing.

I have been doing measurments for a 302 Ford, it ooks like it will fit (if you get one in a Miata it should fit in a Sportage) so I'm sure you could get a 4.3 in one. There is one on utube with a 454. The stock Getdrag trans is capable of handling about 250 HP, I am not sure about the t-case. If you look a Dave Scott's 95 he has Dana 44s with 38s. 44s will be huge on a Sportage (cool) but may be much for Toyota axles.

Dennis

I just read a moore of your original post and some of your questions have not been answered.

The 95 does not have airbags, the air bags came out in 96.

The front diff is on the right side and the rear is centered.

The frames are very strong, fully boxed with pass through crossmembers welded on both sides. Send us lots of pics if you do this project I am plannig a SAS in a little over a year and a half and I know others are interested. Do you have any good pics of your Toyota?

Dennis

Dennis,

A 302!!! That would be sweet. You ARE going to have to cut a lot of the engine bay out to get it to fit and have enough clearance for cooling.

The one with the 454 in it is just the Sportage body sitting on a different frame. They probably cut out most of the engine bay to get it to fit.

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />