Question about D-series heads, interchange?

AintGotNoSolAintGotNoSol Wagonist
in Engine & Drivetrain
OK I am doing a head gasket on a D15B2, and the head looks like trash, the mating surface is pitted to hell. Machine shop said they may or may not be able to machine it out...

I have 2 other heads laying around, but I am unsure of which I am going to go with.

Option 1: D16A6 head, looks really good, but has stripped out spark plug threads on one cylinder. Looks like it can be repaired, just waiting to find the auto PM6 ecu to complete the MPFI swap. Would it even be feasible to run the A6 head with the DPFI setup? Its my daily driver, so it doesn't necessarily have to be fast, just has to be done right.

Option 2: D15B7 head, from a 93 Civic DX. Has one burned up valve that needs to be replaced. Of course, I can use valves out of the B2 or the A6, IF they interchange. I THINK this head is basically the same as the B2 head, but I don't know for sure. Anyone?

Also, with either of these heads, would I use the stock B2 timing belt, and would I just use the cam gear that came on the dead, or do I need to swap in the B2 cam gear.

Thanks!

Comments

  • bikewrenchbikewrench Wagonist
    Pretty sure a6 and b7 are the same head. The a6 had a little better cam.
  • JayTeeJayTee Wagonist
    B2 and B7 are identical. Only difference is the b7 castings are a little cleaner being from a newer cast.

    Not positive on the A6 head but I think they are the same as well. Look at the marking stamped on the front of the heads. If I recall they are PM3-(casting number)
  • Mr GMr G Wagonist
    The castings are all the same. The only diff is the 92-95 pm castings had stiffer valve springs. That's it.

    Oh and the cams.
  • AintGotNoSolAintGotNoSol Wagonist
    are the valves all the same too?
  • finalimpactfinalimpact Band Wagon
    valves are the same as well.....keep in mind the a6 and b2/b7 cams are slightly off (4.5deg, 1/2 tooth). to use an a6 cam in the b2/b7 head you will need a 96-00 sohc cam gear to compensate for the timing diff.
  • AintGotNoSolAintGotNoSol Wagonist
    I've been reading about this. It seems the 88 A6 cam will swap in with no timing issues, but the 89-91 needs the cam gear swap. I have an 89 I believe.

    I think what I'm gonna do for now is take my B7 head to the machine shop, have it resurfaced, have them swap in a good valve from the B2, and slap it on there as is for now. Maybe I'll do the MPFI setup while I'm at it, maybe not. Then a little further down the road I may swap in the A6 cam.

    I was reading here that someone with experience said putting the A6 head / Z6 manifold combo on a B7 with auto trans actually made the car SLOWER, and hurt the gas mileage significantly. Kinda unsure now about if I wanna try it, but I figure, if its a no go, I can just swap the old cam right back in.
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