We recently received a Honda H Series engine, and would like to place it into a midget race car. However, the engine turns counter clockwise, and the midget needs it to be clockwise. Water pump & oil pump will be mounted externally, no starter is needed. If we set the timing to be 180 degrees off, and reset the firing order, will that do anything? What needs to be done so that we can use it in the race car? What problems do you foresee with these changes? Will it effect the HP or speed? Can it be done?

 

it's not impossible, but it's not going to be anything near cost-effective or time-effective.

just a few things off the top of my head that would need addressing:

- the off-set in the wrist pins. the pistons will need to be installed 180° from stock. the valve reliefs in the tops of the pistons may or may not clear with the smaller exhaust reliefs on the intake side. if not you'll need a machine shop to modify the pistons.

- the tensioner for the timing belt. this needs to be on the "slack" side of the belt. when you reverse the rotation you must switch the side that the tensioner is on. this will need to be custom designed and built from scratch.

- I'm having trouble imagining the stock cams working backwards. you would almost certainly need custom, one-off camshafts. if I'm wrong about that, at minimum you'll need to re-key them to get it to run right.

A K20/24 spins the right direction and has the same if not more power potential. look at that as an option; sell the H-series and replace with a K-series.

 

Thank you very much for your time and great info!