How 2 Build a B-series Engine

This month's Evans Tuning video tech article shows how to blueprint and assemble a honda b-series shortblock. The video is very indepth with three separate break downs of the blueprinting and assembling. There are many high precision measurement tools used in the video that are essential for accurate clearancing of the main and rod bearings. Plastic gage was used to double check the measurements, but should never be soley trusted by itself! Often times plastic gage can give false readings, and should be used for comparison purposes only!!! A Helms shop manual should be used in conjunction with the assembly for torque measurements and any other clearance specs.

For reference sake the supplied bearing equation and size range charts were sourced from laskeyracing.com are listed below!

Here is a chart of Honda B series bearing thickness by color. To calculate actual bearing clearance, use the following formula:


BC = IDBT – ODC – (2 x BT)
BC = bearing clearance
IDBT = inside diameter of bearing tunnel (housing bore)
ODC = outside diameter of crank journal
BT = bearing thickness

Main Bearing thickness by color
Blue 2.013-2.010 mm 0.0793”- 0.0791”
Black 2.010-2.007 mm 0.0791”- 0.0790”
Brown 2.007-2.004 mm 0.0790”- 0.0789”
Green 2.004-2.001 mm 0.0789”- 0.0788”
Yellow 2.001-1.998 mm 0.0788”- 0.0787”
Pink 1.998-1.995 mm 0.0787”- 0.0785”
Red 1.995-1.992 mm 0.0785”- 0.0783”

Rod bearing thickness by color
Blue 1.510-1.507 mm 0.0594”- 0.0593”
Black 1.507-1.504 mm 0.0593”- 0.0592”
Brown 1.504-1.501 mm 0.0592”- 0.0591”
Green 1.501-1.498 mm 0.0591”- 0.0590”
Yellow 1.498-1.495 mm 0.0590”- 0.0589”
Pink 1.495-1.492 mm 0.0589”- 0.0587”
Red 1.492-1.489 mm 0.0587”- 0.0586”