Tom's B6 Build Thread

[Advancedynamix]

Those numbers seem reasonable. It wold be nice to test this engine as well as a bunch of different setups on an accurately calibrated loaded dyno set up for a Festiva load. You may get better results because the load often helps optimise combustion. It's sort of like added compression.
Thanks for posting these results Tom! Now you can enjoy driving that beast.

[TominMO]

Those numbers seem reasonable. It would be nice to test this engine as well as a bunch of different setups on an accurately calibrated loaded dyno set up for a Festiva load. You may get better results because the load often helps optimise combustion. It's sort of like added compression.
Thanks for posting these results Tom! Now you can enjoy driving that beast.

Well, compared to what you build, I'd say mini-beast. But still, lots of fun with all that torque. Big improvement over Matt's built B3 head, even without a good intake.

But realistically guys, bang for buck--the B8 or B6D. Pretty much the same power, fairly easy install. Get a JY motor and refresh the head, + timing belt, WP, all seals, maybe $500 at most. And the E tranny and clutch will handle it fine as long as you don't launch it hard. This clutch used to spin like crazy when it was turboed, but now that it's NA with nearly the same power, it's fine in all gears.

@ Greg: what type of dyno do those guys use down at Beach Dyno? That's where my turboed B6 showed 111 WHP/127 ft/lbs.

[eurotiva]

I think it's a mustang? I'll call and ask

[Advancedynamix]

Well, compared to what you build, I'd say mini-beast. But still, lots of fun with all that torque. Big improvement over Matt's built B3 head, even without a good intake.

But realistically guys, bang for buck--the B8 or B6D. Pretty much the same power, fairly easy install. Get a JY motor and refresh the head, + timing belt, WP, all seals, maybe $500 at most. And the E tranny and clutch will handle it fine as long as you don't launch it hard. This clutch used to spin like crazy when it was turboed, but now that it's NA with nearly the same power, it's fine in all gears.

@ Greg: what type of dyno do those guys use down at Beach Dyno? That's where my turboed B6 showed 111 WHP/127 ft/lbs.

Yeah, avoid Sachs clutches. Mine couldn't hold my b6d, but I think an Exedy would be fine after feeling the difference in pedal effort from the exedy to the sachs. Exedy has a stiffer pp.

[TominMO]

Today I was cruising along at 65 mph with my mother (age 95), who I was bringing home from an eye doctor's appt. Decided to punch it, just for the heck of it. In no time we were doing 100. The car felt very smooth and stable, like I was still doing 65! Thanks to Charlie for the suspension setup and tire tips. I really like all the torque this NA setup gives me. I can't imagine ever needing to downshift, to get up a long steep hill for instance. When this motor was turboed, I had less than stock power when off-boost due to the need to retard the ignition for boost conditions; call it ~65 WHP/65 ft-lbs TQ. Now I have 97 WHP/95 ft-lbs TQ, with 90 ft-lbs even down at 3000 RPM.

The specs:
-- Rio front KYBs w/stock Festy springs cut one coil; VW Mk1 rear Bilsteins w/stock uncut Festy rear springs. (An inexpensive but good substitute would be the VW Mk1 rear KYBs.)
-- 14" AR Estrellas with Achilles ATR-K Economist V-rated 165/55-14 tires.
-- Aspire front sway bar, mounted upside down.

It doesn't have all the little tricks that Charlie used to make Tweak a track monster, but this is a pretty good setup as-is for most people.

She enjoyed it BTW.

[Advancedynamix]

Your welcome Tom. Thanks for your input and ideas! It would be nice to be able to compare all the different setups in different conditions and such. Might be a good excuse for a meet between MO and AZ.
Did your mother know you were going 100?

[TominMO]

Here is where the writeup starts on my rear struts, at post #56. Also see posts 75-90.

[TominMO]

Your welcome Tom. Thanks for your input and ideas! It would be nice to be able to compare all the different setups in different conditions and such. Might be a good excuse for a meet between MO and AZ.
Did your mother know you were going 100?

Yup. She's up for it.

[sketchman]

Your mom's cool. Mine would be holding on to the dash by 80.

[TominMO]

Your mom's cool. Mine would be holding on to the dash by 80.

Age 80 or 80 mph?

[sketchman]

80mph.

[Advancedynamix]

Bottles of beer on the wall.

[TominMO]

Took the Aspire for a drive today to test out how the 105# rear springs differed from the ~90# stock ones. I have a favorite bumpy railroad track crossing I like to use to check my suspension. With the 105# springs the Aspire handled the crossing noticeably better than before, very smooth; so now I really want to do the fronts of both cars and the Festy rears.

Thinking of sticking a pair of spare Festy front springs on the Festy rear, which has Festy rear springs on the Bilsteins. That alone should help. Then getting a set of 140# gen1 Miata springs for the front. Front Festiva and Aspire springs are ~105#.