If you can, grab the H27. Same dimensions but that extra displacement gets you 170hp instead. They are a good little engine. Oil changes are critical. Timing chain tensioners were their weak spot. There was a redesign around 2003 IIRC for the replacements to help them last longer than 80k miles. In the Grand Vitara it was a 4 hour job to swap due to the radiator/fans and all the other stuff shoved in there. Making it easier to access the front of the engine would make it a much simpler job.
It is a tall engine in stock form but narrow. The oilpan is really deep and holds 6.5 qts you could gain several inches in height by pulling the bottom part off and making it flatter.