I’ve seen a handful of posts across various forums of people speculating a VVT 1.6 could be created with ZL head or some other variant of strange newer mazda engine based on the B6. (ZM-DE and ZL)

has anyone actually been successful in doing this?

Yes guys I know 1.8 swaps are cheaper and blah blah blah but I like the 1.6 it’s just neat and it would be cool to do something that has never been done

 

That sounds like a giant waste of time, but also cool if you could make it work. VVT doesnt really do all that much past 4500rpm but maybe it could wake up the 1.6 earlier in the powerband where its really lacking. Do it man. But no I have no actual good information to add except just send it.

 

I’ve almost convinced myself to pick up a pooched 1.6 just to see if I can make it work

 

There's one running car that I know of on the ITB groups in FB, also running (yeah you guessed it) ITBs. Looks like a shitload of work to make it actually fit.

 

Any vids?

 

Most of the sub 4krpm issues with a 1.6 are from the "we are staying closed loop and 14.7afr until 4k" tune.

 

It should be able to see both low end and top end gains with vvt shouldn’t it? Especially if one was able to get full control over it

 

Someone should run an alternator off a two stroke weedeater. It would be neat and cool, not seen before. Serve as much of a point as trying to build a 1.6 VVT, and probably result in more peak gains.

Or, get a 1.8 and sleeve it.

 

It’s best not to judge an engine solely based on peak power anyways. The actual usable powerband is what’s important. No point in driving around a car that makes power like a 2 stroke lmao

We basically have this cheap af cylinder head that’s pretty common and an improvement in every measurable way to a stock B6 head yet nobody is using them. Crazy

 

Brass tax is that there's greater power dividends to be had out of the 1.8s, especially with positive pressure. Displacement and head flow are the key points.

If you have the time, money and patience to R&D a 1.6 VVT motor and are bound to that idea, gopher it.

 

Just thought I’d throw up some pics comparing the Z6 to B6 heads at least for intake and exhaust ports. The crowder92 guy did all the groundwork for this type of swap.

Not sure how much it costs to port a 1.6 head but I feel like this is a cheaper alternative if someone were to figure out an easy way to make it work (not including those goons who list these cylinder heads on eBay for $2000. Whoever does that is a clown)

 

I’d like to point out the ZM-DE head is not VVT. The VVT 1.6 head was from
the ZL-VE which is JDM only afaik, so far from “common”

 

Ah you’re right it’s the ZL head that has the vvt. I think it’s for the most part the same design as the ZM except the vvt so they should be interchangeable

I’ll update the thread to just be general B6/Z6 hybrid stuff


the ZM head could still be viable if VVT isn’t in the equation it should be a near direct bolt on as far as I can tell


us mazda dudes might have finally come across our LS Vtec equivalent lmao

 

Not sure if the group is open or not, but here you go:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2288...epa=SEARCH_BOX

 

Definitely not. Intake and exhaust are both issues. I don’t think the protege FWD intake will clear the Miata hood (plus the throttle body would be facing the firewall but that’s the least of the issues) and any Miata intake won’t fit on the ZMDE head. Same with exhaust, you’ll need a custom header since Miata headers won’t fit and the protege header is for a FWD configuration.

The swap “can” be done but not easily, and a 1.8 swap will be easier, cheaper, and make more power.

 

Plus the head itself is far from being bolt-on for the B6 block.

 

Considering the head gasket is so damn near close I think it’s something us 1.6 guys should really look into. This pic certainly gets the gears in my head turning

intake and exhaust manifold shouldn’t be too much of a problem you can get custom ones made for a fair price nowadays. I think rzcrew will make just about anything for 500 bucks lmao

 

Missed including this pic from earlier. A ZM-DE head bolted on the B6 block. I can’t get in touch with the original guy who took on doing the research of all this but he referred to it as able to “bolt on”.

anyone who knows what happened to this engine would be my hero

 

Didn't see this thread, kind of figured the idea had died down.



It isn't tidy as I only work on it when I'm procrastinating real life events, but it runs and drives. Needs a new battery and some minor tweaks+tidying now but is relatively good.

More recent video:
​​​​Video

Not sure if this forum will let me link to another forum but I won't be doing a second "build" (botch) thread so here's a link:
Oldschool Forum
I'd be happy to answer any questions either from on that forum thread, here or on messenger (fastest replies on messenger).

Cheers!