Honda H22 Engine Upgrade - Wrenchin

The H22 gets a lot of respect. Sure, it's big and bulky, and the damn FRM sleeves make rebuilds and sleeving go hand in hand. But when it comes down to it, the H22 is a hell of a bang-for-your-buck. Short of the K-series motors, the H22 has the most torque out of any Honda four-cylinder motor and backs it up with 200-plus hp. Bolt a turbo setup onto a stock H22 and it becomes a very potent machine. Build a turbo motor out of an H22 and it's unstoppable.

Eugene starts by installing...        read full caption Eugene starts by installing the H22's oil squirter rail. These things are easy to forget about if you're used to building B-series motors where the oil squirters are actually installed into the block. Make sure the banjo bolt for the squirters is clean before reinstalling it.	Before the crank can be set...        read full caption Before the crank can be set into place, the Prelude motor has two breather covers on the side of the block that need to be bolted in place. Eugene sets in the first of two covers.	Two thrust washers go in on...        read full caption Two thrust washers go in on the number-two crank journal before setting the crank in. These washers prevent crank end-play and are a crucial part of the bottom end. Once all of the bearings and the thrust washers are in place, Castro sets in the 2.2-liter's 90.7mm crank.
Castro lays up some Torco...        read full caption Castro lays up some Torco MPZ assembly lube into the main journal. When assembling a motor, you can never use too much assembly lube. Make sure to slather the stuff all over any rotating parts such as main and rod journals, camshafts, balancing shafts etc. You should also use assembly lube on bolts that need a precise torque spec.	Before actually assembling...        read full caption Before actually assembling the motor, Castro used an inside micrometer to measure bearing clearances between the crank and the main journals. OEM Honda bearings are chosen to fit each journal within specs. Before the mains can go on, Eugene lubricates the journals with some Torco.	The main caps and the main...        read full caption The main caps and the main girdle are set onto the crank using the dowel pins to locate it on the block. The OEM bolts are reused here, but they are thoroughly cleaned and inspected before use to ensure proper torque readings, which will add to the longevity of the motor.

This particular H22 is a replacement for the stock H22 that used to be in this EJ1 coupe. The original Prelude motor was boosted also and over time started to have problems, ultimately resulting in an engine failure bad enough to necessitate a replacement. Eugene Castro of Pro Street Import took on the task of building the new motor into a streetable, powerful and, most importantly, bulletproof lump to go in the EJ1.

The main cap bolts are tightened...        read full caption The main cap bolts are tightened in a very specific sequence. Eugene tightens each bolt down in a crosshatch pattern moving outward, starting from the center exhaust side bolt moving his way out. The sequence is done twice, once to 22 ft-lb and then again to 54 ft-lb.	Once the rods and pistons...        read full caption Once the rods and pistons are set into place, the rod bolts can be torqued down. These Eagle rods come with ARP rod bolts. ARP recommends using its proprietary assembly lube to torque the bolts down to the necessary 28 ft-lb.	The head we are using in this...        read full caption The head we are using in this build is completely stock. It has been resurfaced and rebuilt, including a valve job to ensure its integrity and help the motor last a bit longer. Eugene sets the head on the block using a new OEM head gasket and then torques down new OEM head bolts to Honda's specs.
The mounts that are implemented...        read full caption The mounts that are implemented in our setup are an old set of Place Racing H22 swap mounts. These are no longer in production. Check out Hasport for H22 swap mounting options. Castro bolts the mount to the tranny first, and then to the chassis.	Since all of the measurements...        read full caption Since all of the measurements have already been taken, including piston-to-wall clearance and piston ring gap, Castro can just drop the pistons and rods into place. A clamp-style ring compressor is used to ensure the rings get in their new home without any problems. Eugene uses the butt end of a non-impact hammer to push the slugs into the hole.	The H22 is unique in that...        read full caption The H22 is unique in that it has balancing shafts built into the block. These shafts are used to dampen NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) inherent in a big motor like the 2157cc H22. Eugene gives the block some shaft to complete the bottom end.