Can you Convert a 1.3L to a 1.6L

[Boba Debt]

Long story short, I'm rebuilding my 1.3L engine and I have to buy new pistons and I might have to buy a new crank shaft.

Can you make a 1.3L engine into a 1.6L

I know that a ford 302 and 289 are pretty much the same engine, the 302 just has a longer stroke and different pistons.


And before anyone tells me I can find a low mileage B-6 for $100 I invite you to come on down to Eastern NC and show me where to get it.

[FB71]

no, the block castings are different. The cylinder liners would get way too thin if you bored out the block for b6 pistons.

[hellraiser6919]

even with that said it still would be better to just get a b6, from what i have read of other posts on this same question, the head and intake flows better on the b6. and for the money bulding a b3 into a b6 would be greater that just buying a new b6.

[FB71]

Re: Can you Convert a 1.3L to a 1.6L

[quote="Boba Debt"]I know that a ford 302 and 289 are pretty much the same engine, the 302 just has a longer stroke and different pistons.quote]

and you have clearance the cylinder liner skirts, otherwise the crank counterweights and rods will hit.

[Mustang196t8]

(digging up old posts)

The B3 and B6 are in the same family (like the 289/302) - but the difference between the B3 and B6 is the bore - not the stroke.

And a 302 block actually has a little longer cylinders than a 289 to support the pistons for that little extra stroke (2.87 vs. 3.00"). And a 289 has a little bit longer rods than 302s. I've heard of people using 289 blocks to make 302s using the 302 crank, rods, etc.. but I think Ford would have a reason for making the cylinders a little longer (durability).

Anyhow, I know everyone that inquires about rebuilding a B3 gets slammed with swap a B6 in comments... But I can tell you first hand about rebuilding a B3 - I did it for different reasons (I have a '88 LX carbed, and I live in CA where it has to pass smog inspection). I was afraid by swapping in a B6 the stock B3 carb wouldn't run it sufficiently (not a problem you FI guys have) - and it's not like you can go buy Aisan jets like Holleys or Webers or what have you. Plus at the time I just needed to get the thing running so I could get it smogged and driving...

Needless to say, I had lots of trouble with the carb anyway (ran waay to lean - failed smog, probably not just the carb - computer and all that 'feedback' crap isn't working). So I got a pin vise drill set - and drilled the jets out little by little till it ran better (and it passed smog) - long story short I spent all that time anyway on a B3 - and at least if I had to tune it for a B6 something was gained (displacement!). Not to mention I spent around $300-400 on the B3 (another block from the yard since my father "windowed" the old one - new rings, main and rod bearings, thrust washers, gasket set, hot tank, etc - and this was a cheap 're-ring' with no machine work - which it probably needed anyway). So now I wish I would have just got a B6 and spent all that time and effort on it instead.

I don't know how junkyards are around other parts of the country - but here I damn near run into more B6's than B3's (mostly in Tracers).

[gdawgs]

(digging up old posts)

Needless to say, I had lots of trouble with the carb anyway (ran waay to lean - failed smog, probably not just the carb

I don't know how junkyards are around other parts of the country - but here I damn near run into more B6's than B3's (mostly in Tracers).

That's one thing nice about living here, no inspections. Doesn't matter what color or how thick the cloud is pouring out of the pipe.

B6s-what cars were these used in?

[Safety Guy]

B6s with SOHC and 8 valves were in 1st Gen Tracers & Mazda 323s.

There was also a 16 valve SOHC B6 in some Mazda MX3s.

Will covers this pretty thoroughly in his article in the "articles" section, and that's mainly what I'm going by for my B6 swap.

There's a small cheap 'yard near me that has at least three or four early Tracers with B6s ripe for the picking. If I can't get my Mutt running I may convert her to FI and use one. I asked how much:

$100 if I pull it.

$150 if they pull it.

No contest--if I decide to get one I'll have them do it!

Karl