b6 head on a b3 block, oh baby does it work

[funky technician]

I just thought i'd clarify that the b6 head DOES fit and work on the b3 block, I recently did this swap after overheating the old b3 head. I had access to a plethera of 87 323 parts and scabbed the head off it and rebuild it for my festiva. I was rather timid about doing this because so many people on this board said it wouldn't work, but obveously they never really tried and were just assuming. The car runs like a top and has more seems to be far more responsive. Power...is...well.... its a festiva, but it's defenatly better then the b3 head. Just though i'd share!! :wink:

[Deathshead]

that thing should scream if you are using the b6 intake and exhuast, dont use the b3 stuff, itsa restrictive!

[Safety Guy]

Okay, you used an early B6. People should know that this won't work with a later model (1990 and on) B6. Different manifold designs; different valve cover bolts, etc.

I'm glad you found this out, though! Do you have a mpg figures yet?

Karl

[funky technician]

yes, sorry, the new b6's don't fit, your right, but the old ones match nicely. I am actually using the b3 intake manifold but the b6 exhaust, do ya think i should switch to the b6 intake, i was worried about the bigger injectors making it harder on gas, but i do have it also. I'll get some MPG figures as soon as i fix the front end (both ball joints and one tie rod end), and it won't be really driven until winter. I'll keep ya's posted 8)

[Deathshead]

I would run a B6 ECU and the B6 intake. you might loose 1-2mpg maybe?

[Seth]

how many horses do you think this would add? :twisted:

[htchbck]

I had posted a while back that it wouldn't work but I had tried fitting the head from my buddy's '92 323 when we had it off rebuilding it. I should have tried the head from my '89 323 motor when I tried the other, but it was blown so I didnt' even think about. I put it on yesterday, and it worked fine... didn't run obviously because its blown. Let us know when you find out some HP and MPG info, cause I may try this on my silver car.

[funky technician]

I still have to set the ignition timing with the gun, but the car seems to have a little less off the line torque, but the upper end is much stronger, I figure this may be because of the slightly decreased compression (the b6 head is a bigger cc volume off the deck) and the fact that my intake air is losing velocity because of the bigger head ports (a diverging opening will decrease air velocity but slightly increase pressure) I'm hoping i can regain some of this torque loss but properly setting the ignition timing, but i may have no choice but to use the b6 intake manifold, we'll see :lol:

[htchbck]

if ya need a B6 intake and TB I got one laying around the house off my blown B6 ('89). I also have the exhaust manifold, but no downpipe cause I had to cut it up to build my BP downpipe... you can have whatever you need for cost of shipping

[funky technician]

Hay, thanks, I currently have the b6 exhaust manifold and down pipe installed on it and i think i still have the b6 intake and TB lying around too but it's really cool for you to offer.

[skeeters_keeper]

ok... this may be a dumb question, but why would you go through the trouble of putting the B6 head on a B3 instead of just dropping in the whole B6??
is it easier? do you think you'll see better gains? (I really doubt that)...


just a lil confused... :?:

[funky technician]

Man, this thing is my winter beater, i don't care about gains, i just want it to run, and i got the parts for nothing. The bottom half of the b6 i got the head from was screwed, even still a head change is ALOT easier than a motor swap, you don't even need a hoist. If i want to go fast, I'll drive my summer car. :wink:

[htchbck]

yeah, summer cars have BPs and 100lbs worth of weight reduction (mostly removed from the roof of the vehicle and the back glass)

btw, dunno where you're located, but if you wanted a decent b6 block to mate that b6 head to, I have the block in my garage. its fine, just the head is blown... believe me, if you're looking for speed, go BP, but just overall better acceleration, B6 is the way to go (and I still got 42MPGs with it)

[funky technician]

Hay cool, ya costumed a bp in one of these things, that's sweet, those civic boys wouldn't even know what hit em 8) Ya, unfortunately i live in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but thanks for the offer. Also i have limited work space so a full engine job would be difficult, maybe after this winter though?

[htchbck]

holler at me next summer... I'm planning a big big roadtrip all over the states and probably canada to celebrate getting my bachelor's degree (fingers crossed) and I might swing by there on my way up north . But yeah, I'm always up for giving parts I'm not using to people who will use them.