Real Fiero Tech

I have a 1997 Tracker with a barn-burning 96hp 16 valve 1.6.
I'd love to put a more powerful 4cyl (ecotech or ka24) or a 3400 while still using the stock 5 speed transmission.
If you fab up an adapter plate to mount the engine to the trans, how do you handle the input shaft and other trans issues?
Also, the Tracker has 5.12 gears. I'd like to keep those (trucklet is used offroad) but will a lower-reving engine be screaming at hwy speeds like the 1.6 does, or will the added power allow the engine to turn fewer rpms?
Thanks

If you keep the stock trans and diff gears then highway RPMs will be the same.

the tracker had 5.12 gears because of the anemic 1.6. You won't want those gears with a 3400 (or even an Ecotec) anyway. Can you get different diff gears from another vehicle?

The automatics had 4.62 gears if I am not mistaken

A while back somebody built a Tracker, Samurai or other trucklet (great word, BTW) with a Caddy 4.9. There aren't a lot of things the 4.9 is good for, but I'd think off-roading would be one thing it is good for.

The size of a 4.9 is the only concern I would have. It's fairly lightweight though. I;d definitely have to figure out some gear solutions then

Yeah, but offroad powertrains are pretty modular.

4.9 + S10 bellhousing + T5 + favorite T-case = reasonably good off-road driveline

No joke about the gears... 4.9 would *NOT* like 5.13's...

I've seen one built with an LSx, but I'm sure they swapped a narrowed Ford 8.8" rear axle, and I have no clue nor care what they did under the front.