| Type R Bottom End Build - Budget Gourmet What's a Honda enthusiast to do when he's lusting after a B18C5 Type R motor but can't swing the hefty price tag? Settle for something else? No, that's not in our nature. The answer is simple: build one.
The B18C1 and C5 bottom ends are geometrically identical. They both have 81mm bores matched with 87.2mm strokes, which make a shared 1797cc displacement. The difference is in the pistons. Japanese-spec Integra R P73 pistons have a piston dome (or PDD) of +5.96cc, much higher than the USDM GS-R's stock -0.60cc dish, or even the JDM GS-R's +2.52cc dome. Additionally, the Type R's crank and rods are marginally lighter, but not enough to worry about it when we're building an R on the cheap.
We took a bottom end to the Honda block prep legends at RS Machine in Carson, Calif., to be machined and assembled. Instead of shelling out the cash for a set of OEM Type R pistons, though, we decided on using RS's ITR replacement piston, which is virtually identical to the OEM ones for about half the price.
We follow along as Mark Barnes machines our block and Eddie Meza throws it all together. A big thanks also goes out to RS's Dave Chan for making it all happen, and Mike Coughtree for reminding us that there is always somebody out there who knows more than you.
