Greetings everyone,

Quick note, I just joined this forum and this will be my first post. Hope to learn a lot!
Not to long ago I purchased myself a B16A2, which is my first engine. I'm an absolute new guy in all things engines, so I'm taking my time on the engine first, as I'm still saving up for a daily car. Then I will start working on my current daily Honda Civic EK from 1997 and getting the engine in.

Currently I'm looking into some new bolts for the engine as the current bolts are really ugly. Think intake, exhaust, valve cover. I do not plan on taking the engine apart, just outside stuff.

I found a Dutch online website ( https://moerenbout.nl/ ) that sells all kinds of bolts, but they display these bolts under the DIN 8.8 / 10.9 and EN 8.8 / 10.9 standard. While I did find a blog detailing the specs, I do not know how to translate this into the correct bolts https://eddieabbondanz.io/post/honda/b-series-bolts/ , as it shows M8/M12

Hope someone can assist me with this, so I can order and change them in one go.

 

https://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com.

Here is a good place to get factory replacement bolts.

Bolt Boys!

Here is a place to get some fancy looking bolts

 

Thank you for the two links. I've noticed that the first url has a ton of discontinued parts for a 1997 Honda Civic EK or am I looking wrong? I don't see a bolt and nut kit.

The second link is really nice. they have a B engine kit with fancy screws!

 

Yes is does you have to go find the specific bolt for the component you are looking for(for example bolts for the water pump you have to go under engine then water pump and pick the bolts you want). Some of the bolts have stop being produced by Honda which is where companies like down star come in and help out.

 

Here's a quick rundown of specs: https://www.americanfastener.com/metric-technical/

Most stuff on your car will be 8.8 at most. Similar to SAE Grade 5. Fenders, brackets, etc. Anything that doesn't need "special" high strength (internal engine hardware, suspension attachment points, etc). Having something stronger than what you need is not necessarily better, but that's another topic.

If you're looking for OEM-style hardware, here's a great site to find what you need:

https://www.belmetric.com/

I would suggest using the parts catalog as linked above to find the actual dimensions of the hardware you need, the go sort through the website I just linked you to to find that hardware.

Example - Let's do an exhaust manifold bolt for your B16, for an EM1 Civic. Part 6 in the catalog:





is an M8x1.25x25 flange bolt. Probably an 8.8. You'll have to use your own judgement on thread pitch, they only list by diameter and length, Most are pretty typical threads but you should always check. This is why you look at what you already have. Bonus tip - anything labeled as "special" you need to just get at a dealer.

Most of the typical bolts will be JIS small wrench type as outlined here: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/m...ze-d_1458.html
JIS small wrench hardware is usually easy to spot as it should have the indented head, much of it is also embossed with the classification as well, or at least some sort of marking that indicates it.

Here's your bolt:



Should look just about the same as the bolt you pulled off of the car. The difference will be in age and plating type. Modern Honda fasteners are silver zinc plated. The older stuff was cadmium plated, which was a better plating but uses a highly toxic process and is hardly used anymore except for aerospace where it is really only called out out of tradition. Zinc is mostly universal now.

Next step (and the reason I used an exhaust bolt as an example) is where you get to get creative. Is this a bolt that sees a lot of heat and/or exposure? Does the old on look crappy? You might want to upgrade it to stainless to add resistance to corrosion or extra strength to hold up a turbo manifold. Do you think you'll be removing the manifold more than once or twice over the course of your build? You should probably replace the bolt with a stud and a nut so you don't wear the threads out in your head. ARP makes rally nice stainless hardware but it's $$$ and you're getting into the custom realm.

I bet this is enough info to get you on your way with cleaning up your ugly hardware. With these old cars, I usually just go ahead and replace the hardware any time I pull something off to work on it. Upgraded hardware if it's something I want to look good or something that needs a bump in strength. It adds a few extra bucks to every project I do but after a few projects things start to look really nice.