AW4 Transmission behind an M13?

I have seen several threads in various forums discussing the idea of putting an AW4 (03-72LE) transmission into their Samurai/Sidekick/Jimny. Most of them were looking at mating the tranny to a G series engine with only one (that I saw) considering an M series. Each post seems to get to the point of preparing to do the actual work and then dies.

I wanted to ask if anyone on the forum has ever come across a build thread that completed this conversion.

Thanks
Bob

zukebob wrote: I have seen several threads in various forums discussing the idea of putting an AW4 (03-72LE) transmission into their Samurai/Sidekick/Jimny. Most of them were looking at mating the tranny to a G series engine with only one (that I saw) considering an M series. Each post seems to get to the point of preparing to do the actual work and then dies.

I wanted to ask if anyone on the forum has ever come across a build thread that completed this conversion.

Thanks
Bob

This is something I've been looking into extensively of late. Is there any reason why you want to put one behind an M engine? There's a few issues you need to consider: A jimny auto transmission control module can't shift an aw4 the jimny box has more solenoids. A G engine ecu sends the correct tps information to allow you to use the transmission control module from a vitara I'm not sure if the M engine ecu does. Once you get onto the later vits and early grand vitara they use a power train control module instead of and ecu/tcm.
It will be easier to transplant an entire vitara power train and control modules than to try and hybridise.

OllieNZ Wrote: Is there any reason why you want to put one behind an M engine?

I've started looking at it since the torque capacity of the stock auto transmission is almost exactly what the M13 produces. Although I am fairly certain that the transmission will survive unless it sees abuse rather than reasonable use, I would still like to determine if there is a potential upgrade. In the Philippines, any engine replacement must be registered with the LTO and the new engine must be the same year or newer. For that reason, I am focused on mating to the stock engine.

Once you get onto the later vits and early grand vitara they use a power train control module instead of and ecu/tcm.
It will be easier to transplant an entire vitara power train and control modules than to try and hybridise.

Since I wouldn't want to go to the mechanically shifted 03-72L, a complete Vitara power train was one thing I did consider. Still the engine year issue, though. I understand that there was a 4WD Grand Vitara that had the M16 engine with a 03-72LE transmission. I'm not sure what market area and finding information is surprisingly difficult. I think it may have been in the 2005 - 2008 model range. This would be a fairly expensive solution without a complete donor car (if one could be found). The new 2015+ Vitaras have this same engine/transmission option but would be even more expensive.

One thread I did read was looking at putting the AW4 in a Jimny but, as I mentioned in my first post, the progress stopped.

If you ever end up finding a successful conversion, I would appreciate it if you could relay the information

If you can find a vitara with an m16 you may be able to use the vitara pcm and transmission with the m13 engine. The AW4 uses a detachable bell housing and afaik you can drop an m16 into a jimny without any need for an adapter (unlike the g engine) so if you can get a bell housing you could use the mechanically shifted aw4 from a '94-'99 mitsubishi pajero.
Personally I'm considering a few options for mine, a complete power train from a GV2000 (J20A), power train from an E36 bmw 318i or Z3 and a Peugeot 1.6 110hdi mated to an AW4. All have their own good and bad points and difficulties.

Just been looking at the service manual,

This is the TPS circuit for an M13 ECU, if you (or you know some one) who's electronically minded you could check the TPS output from the ecu with an oscilloscope If its a 12v PWM signal it would be the correct signal type required by the vitara TCM.

I did find one thread where a piggyback module was created to handle the TPS output for a G engine. Without much ECM/TCM data available, I'm not even sure what would be needed for mine here in the Philippines. I'm sure something similar could be done. For the 3 connector ECM (non-EU like mine) the TCM receives input differently than the 4 connector ECM. It should basically be the same information but not through CAN lines.

If all else fails (and I even need to do this) the mechanically shifted AW4 may be the only real viable solution.