Honda B-Series Engine Torque Specs: Complete Build Guide

Building a Honda B-Series engine requires precise torque specifications to ensure reliability and longevity. Whether you’re rebuilding a B16, B17, B18, or B20, this guide covers all the critical torque specs you need.

Cylinder Head

Component	Torque Spec	Notes
Head bolts (stock, 94+ Integra)	22 ft-lb, then 61 ft-lb	Torque in sequence
Head bolts (stock, 90-93 Integra/B16/B17)	22 ft-lb, then 63 ft-lb	Torque in sequence
ARP head studs (208-4303)	65-70 ft-lb with ARP moly lube	85 ft-lb if using 30wt oil instead
Valve cover bolts	7 ft-lb (84 in-lb)	Do not overtighten
Cam cap bolts #1-10 (B18C)	20 ft-lb	Torque in sequence from center out
Cam cap bolts #11-14 (B18C)	7.2 ft-lb	-
Cam cap bolts #1-10 (B16A)	16 ft-lb	Torque in sequence from center out
Cam cap bolts #11-14 (B16A)	8 ft-lb	-
Cam gear bolts	27 ft-lb	Apply threadlocker

Head Bolt Torque Sequence

                    EXHAUST SIDE
     ┌───────────────────────────────────────┐
     │                                       │
     │   (9)     (5)     (1)     (3)     (7) │
     │    ○───────○───────○───────○───────○  │
     │                                       │
     │    ○───────○───────○───────○───────○  │
     │  (10)     (6)     (2)     (4)     (8) │
     │                                       │
     └───────────────────────────────────────┘
                    INTAKE SIDE
              ← TIMING BELT SIDE

  Sequence: 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 6 → 7 → 8 → 9 → 10
            (center out, criss-cross pattern)

For stock head bolts, follow this procedure:

Cars

Let's Build a 500 Horsepower Honda Engine

This is going be a long one. You and I are going to start-to-finish build a 1.8 liter Honda B-series engine for 500hp.

The block we’ll be using is from a B18A1 which is a 1.8 liter 4 cylinder that came in 90–93 non-VTEC Acura Integras. It originally made 130hp.

The cylinder head we’ll be using is a PR3 VTEC head that originally was part of a B18C5 which came in a 94–01 Acura Integra Type R. That engine originally made 180hp.