I am currently building a LS Vtec Turbo Charged engine for a customer and will like to use OEM bearings. The combination will be B18B1/B16. Being that I'm using Eagle rods , The OE bearing matrix goes out the window ( For the rods)....BUT!! From what I understand.. If you have a chart that gives you the clearance measurement to color you can still pick your bearings according to the OE chart. I have sent the crankshaft to a reputable machine shop to have the rod journals and the rod housing mic'd. The machinist was completely aware that this engine will be abused daily and I need these specs to be measured carefully and to the thousandths...Here's what I come up with.. ( Aiming for .002 clearance )

Taking the figure from the crank and rod housing, I subtracted them... Then subtracted .002... Then divided by 2 and came up with these bearing sizes.

1. .0582
2. .0583
3. .0583
4. .0583

The smallest bearing Honda makes (Con. Rod ) seems to be a Red ( .0587-.0586 ) If I used all Red will this be an issue? .0004- .0005 difference... can I run these? or will the clearance be too tight?

 

Eagle rods are designed have the BE bore of the honda #3 rods. Thus, you can still use the honda chart. However, it is best to measure it as the crank usually has some wear etc.

.002 probably isnt the rod clearance you want to use though, Im not at the house to look it up but I believe .016" is the service tolerance (ie, worn out) and that Honda usually specs it out .006 and .012" for "new" specs. Good news is, the red bearing should be right on spec from what you've said thus far.

 

Looks like .0015 is the on the top side of the spec.. .002 is service limit.. according to my research, I've read that yes .002 was quite a bit, but because it was going to be FI, it should be set "loose" per say.


What clearance would you suggest?