K20 v. K24: Battle of the Best 4-Cylinder
Both of these K-series present pros and cons for their respective purposes. Which will work best for you?
The K-series has been making waves in the Honda community for many years now. There isn’t a more attractive 4-cylinder on the market to swap into your project car. The potential of the K-series has grown so much, people have begun to build them even outside of Honda chassis. We don’t blame them. It has strengths in just about every aspect and responds well to modification. Whether boost or raw naturally aspirated power, the K-series is a staple.
Did we mention that the aftermarket support is essentially endless as well? In 2019, if you are building a 4-cylinder for a swap, chances are it’s a K-series. However, some people are concerned about one thing. Is it better to swap a K20 or a K24 into their car? Well, as you might imagine this question is not easily answered. However, thanks to Dust Runners Automotive Journal on YouTube, we get a breakdown of the pros and cons of each to see what works best for your swap.
When Honda brought the K20 to the US with the RSX and EP Civic Si, it was met with some resistance. However, people quickly learned the benefits of the K-platform over the outdated B-series technology. The K24A2 found its way across the ocean with the Acura TSX, the most common vehicle this specific engine was found in. As you might imagine, the Civic, RSX, and TSX were all plentifully produced. This allowed for essentially endless engines ready for donation.
However, was the extra .4 liters available in the TSX K-series worth it? Well, according to host Bryce Cleveland, the extra stroke and bore “allowed for more torque, but a lower redline”. Usually, the K20 is cheaper to buy than a K24 due to availability, especially the A2 model found in the TSX. However, the most common swap regardless of this fact is using a K24 block from a non-A2 model with a K20A2 head. This way, one can have the benefit of displacement and still keep the high-performance of an A2 head.
However, considering pure cost, finding a K20A2 is the best opinion. If pricing is less of an issue, K20A2 head with a K24 block is the “best of both worlds” and packs more potential according to Cleveland. Do you guys agree with this conclusion? Let us know in the comments.
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