Looking to build an all-out race motor, VT Competition Engine Development snags one of the burly Bs and shows us how to squeeze every last pony out of it.
Honda's B-series engine has been likened to the Chevy small block for its role in an automotive enthusiast's revolution. Both share potential for producing plenty of ponies and durability that just won't quit. The B-series motor remains the staple performance powerplant for most Honda/Acura aficionados, despite the fact that they haven't been in production since 2001.
While there is seemingly no shortage of swaps available, the enthusiast who has been chomping at the bit to fiddle with a virgin B block has, up until now, been out of luck. Throw in the fact that the B, like most factory gear, was a mass-produced engine designed primarily to be cost effective, not powerful, and the challenge of creating a potent motor becomes much greater.
Enter Dart, respected maker of heads, intake manifolds, and blocks both big and small for the domestic set. Seeking to get a piece of the lucrative sport compact aftermarket, they called on famed import engine builder and speed freak Tom Payn of Payn Technologies. He led them to the B, saying it was the direction they should be moving in, and then proceeded to point out its weaknesses for Dart to improve upon.
The end result is pretty impressive: two versions of the B that are much beefier than stock. Both B18 and B20 replicas are made from aerospace-grade aluminum alloy and offer closed deck architecture, replaceable ductile iron sleeves, and steel main caps with high-strength bolts. They also feature extra large water jackets and piston oil sprayers (yay!) to protect the rotating assembly from any heat-induced failures.
VT Competition Engines got its mitts on one of the Dart B18 prototypes (which should be in production and available to the public by the time you read this) and invited us to document the assembly of this landmark power plant.
CP Pistons: 949/567-9000
Dart Machinery Ltd.: dartheads.com
Eagle Specialty Products: 662/796-7373
Ferrea: 888/733-2505
JE Pistons: 714/898-9763
Moroso: 203/453-6571
Pauter Machine: 619/422-5384
Payn Technologies: 248/362-0283
SCE Gaskets: 800/427-5380
VT Competition Engine Development: 517/272-7728
