X E Ryder

Hello Honda-Tech,

I'm freshening up my D motor right now and wanted to get some feedback from others who have assembled a D lower end. The rod bearings come in 7 sizes oem, the FSM says to use this elaborate color coding system and rod/main stamping to select which to use.

When searching for new rod bearings, I have found numerous offerings of Standard, +.010", etc, the markings on the rod cap are impossible to read, and the color of the old bearings unclear. A couple of local builders said it was not so critical and if the crank was cherry run the Std's.

None of my existing rod bearings are outsite of service limits (.002"), but I feel odd having them out, and not replacing them.

How critical is it to use the Honda sized bearings, and without the size indicators legible, am I left to trial and error on choosing the replacements?

I suppose worst case, I know which order the Honda oem bearings graduate in from the chart and could work into the spec. What increment do the oems increase at?

A few questions there! Thanks.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Stop. Go to jail. Do not pass Go.
What part of this is tripping you up?

apexi_rsx

I personally used clevelite bearings on my build with no problems. If u buy acl bearings be sure u buy duraglides. Most bearing sets come with he standard green bearings. Mine were all within spec. I plasti gauged mine before I just threw them in.

doood

iTrader: (1)

if the markings are not legible, measure the journals with micrometers and do some math or have a machine shop spec it out for you. dont just guess.

Marvin1985

iTrader: (5)

I've always used king standards. Do yourself a favor and MEASURE make sure.

X E Ryder

Thank you for the answers.

Ahh nice! I got the Grumpy guy to answer even! grumblemarc sounds like my conscience, and I would be down at the Honda dealer if we had one within reasonable driving distance.

I do have plasti-gauge and mic/calipers - I will crawl under there Friday and check them all - I need to do ring gaps as well so I suppose that will be the evening's entertainment.

Thank you for the feedback grumblemarc, apexi_rsx, doood & Marvin1985.

It has been a couple years since I setup a bottom (and this is the first Honda), when I saw the FSM spec was 1.7707-1.7717" (3-3) I was not ready to buy the "std's work fine" story I got from the two places I can readily get non-Honda rod bearings from. If they end up out of spec I will just have to mail order the oems. Did any of you happen to know the increment the "colors" step in? Or, a good oem parts house that would take back the excess? Heck then I could just buy the range.

Thanks!

B18C5-EH2

I built an 11:1CR D16A6 with all OEM parts, and it is still running 100% perfect, smoke free, no noises, etc. after being beaten to **** for over 8 years now - I took my time, and coded out all the bearings properly as seen here:



You can go "all greens" or "standard" but if you want it to LAST I'd take the extra time to plasti-gage it all out, or at LEAST code it out by reading the block/crank codes.

X E Ryder

Thanks for the pic - I'm going to give another look at it all tonight to see if I can discern the colors I have. Looks like the journal spec varies only .001"! So they must have been compensating more for the variance on rod big ends.