Engine reassembly questions

[TominMO]

B3 specs: 35-40 ft/lbs for Step one
56-60 ft/lbs for Step two

B6 specs: 20-30 nm for Step one
40-60 nm for Step two
76-81 nm for Step three

I would assume the torque specs for the B3e and B3 are the same, but I cant seem to find much info about the B3e.

FYI, B6 and B6D both tighten to 60 ft-lbs. So there does not seem to be a difference between any B3 or B6 as far as cylinder head bolt torque. Go for it.

[TWFodor]

I took the cylinder head off to take a peek yesterday and found out for sure its a B3 block. It has the S7 number on cylinder 3, but included with the car was a head gasket still in the mail package. I took it out and it turned out to be a gasket for a B6 which is a bit different and will not fit. Time to order a new B3 gasket. Here's a few pictures from last night.

The injector rack seems a bit flimsy. Even the rack on my 90' seems heftier. Anyone seen this rack before or know what its from? The PO said it came with the head, so I'm assuming 121 but it just seems...cheap?

Picture0915152258_1.jpgPicture0916150813_1.jpgPicture0916150816_1.jpg

[Meepersly]

Looks like a Mazda protégé rail I saw at the scrapyard but with different color injectors.

That is a really cool head though.

[TWFodor]

The PO said he had the cylinder head acid-dipped.
Picture0916150848_1.jpg

This is the wrong gasket that came with the car:


However, now I'm confused again. The gasket for the B3 (Part number 9555 PT) doesn't look like it fits the block:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/felpro-head-gasket-9555-pt/3207471-P?searchTerm=cylinder+head+gasket

That being said, the gasket for the 1992 323 (the car the PO said the block was from) does (Part number 9696B:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/felpro-head-gasket-9696-b/3500721-P?searchTerm=cylinder+head+gasket

I keep spinning in circles.

[sketchman]

DUDE!!! It's a 16v with mechanical lifters!!!

If you don't end up using it for whatever reason I want those!

[TominMO]

However, now I'm confused again. The gasket for the B3 (Part number 9555 PT) doesn't look like it fits the block:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/felpro-head-gasket-9555-pt/3207471-P?searchTerm=cylinder+head+gasket

That being said, the gasket for the 1992 323 (the car the PO said the block was from) does (Part number 9696B:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/felpro-head-gasket-9696-b/3500721-P?searchTerm=cylinder+head+gasket

I keep spinning in circles.

So it's a gen2 B6 block. The S7 casting confirms it as a gen2 B6. What does it say for motor ID, where the block serial # is?

Gen1 B6 (1986-89) used a different HG than the gen2's. That was probably your confusion about the B6 gasket you had not fitting, and thinking that the block must be a B3. The B3 will have a smaller bore tho; so the cylinder hole in the B3 gasket will be smaller than the B6 cylinder. The one that came with the car musta bin a gen1 B6 gasket.

I contacted the PO on Friday night, the day before you went out to buy that car. He told me he had someone coming out the next day to look at it. So close!

[TWFodor]

So it's a gen2 B6 block. Gen1 B6 (1986-89) used a different HG than the gen2's. That was probably your confusion about the gasket you had not fitting, and thinking that it must be a B3. The B3 will have a smaller bore tho; so the cylinder hole in the B3 gasket will be smaller than the B6 cylinder. The one that came with the car musta bin a gen1 B6 gasket. The S7 casting confirms it as a gen2 B6. What does it say for motor ID, where the block serial # is?

That's the thing, I wasn't able to locate the serial number. I'll take another good look after work later. but the S7 was on both the front and back of the block. On cylinder 3 in the front and on cylinder 2 in the rear.

[TWFodor]

DUDE!!! It's a 16v with mechanical lifters!!!

If you don't end up using it for whatever reason I want those!

Sorry, I do plan on using it, but if anything changes, you'll be the first to know!

[TWFodor]

I contacted the PO on Friday night, the day before you went out to buy that car. He told me he had someone coming out the next day to look at it. So close!

I'm so glad I was able to pick this one up! It will be a suitable replacement for my incredibly rusty 90 L Plus. I knew if I didn't get it last weekend it would be gone.

[sketchman]

Cool.

So you're saying the 323 gasket fits the block but not the head? You might try a 92 MX3 gasket then. Since you have a B6 block but a 16v head. The 92 MX3 B6-ME is exactly that. The head you have probably has slightly smaller diameter CCs but you could blend the edges into the gasket size if it bothered you too much.

[TWFodor]

Cool.

So you're saying the 323 gasket fits the block but not the head? You might try a 92 MX3 gasket then. Since you have a B6 block but a 16v head. The 92 MX3 B6-ME is exactly that. The head you have probably has slightly smaller diameter CCs but you could blend the edges into the gasket size if it bothered you too much.

No, I believe it should fit the cylinder head as well, but I haven't got my hands on it yet to check. I have to order it still. The gasket that is on the head now apparently was driven before from what the PO indicated. And that gasket looks just like the 323 gasket. I'll check out the MX-3 gasket if this doesn't work. Thanks for the input.

[TWFodor]

I have assembled the engine and torqued everything down, but I cannot get the car to start. I believe it could be the timing which is something I don't quite understand. I made sure the camshaft pulley lined up at 12 and 3, and I made sure piston #1 was at the top of the cylinder before I tried again. I did this quite a few times, but still could not get the car to start. I know I'm getting fuel because when I take the plugs out, they are wet with gasoline. My plugs are blackened, so I will be getting some on the way home from work today. Perhaps I'm not getting spark?

I just want to get this thing started. I even had a dream about timing last night and woke up with a headache, if that indicates how frustrated I am with this. I've looked on the forum for similar issues and it all seems very simple. Just make sure the pulleys are aligned properly and you should be good to go. Could I have another issue lurking elsewhere?

Heres the link to my video:

https://youtu.be/XgRsj8yFRSw

Also, I tried starting the car with the intake on and it produced the same result. Ignore the throttle cable, my wife moved it out of the way and forgot to unclip it.

[Meepersly]

Did you check compression? Yeah check your spark.

[TWFodor]

I haven't done a compression check yet. I'll see about renting a tester while I'm getting the plugs later on.

[dalebwilson]

Make sure when #1 is at TDC, that the rotor button is pointing at the #1 spark plug wire. The rotor button will go on in 3 different ways and 2 of those will not run.


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