PRODUCT DETAILS
SpeedFactory Racing H-Beam Connecting Rods - B18A / B18B / B20
You're building a B18 or B20 bottom end and the stock rods aren't going to cut it. The factory rods are fine for stock power but the second you start adding boost or building for serious horsepower they become the weak link. A rod lets go at high RPM under load and it's coming through the block. Game over. You're done. SpeedFactory makes forged H-beam rods that fix that. They're rated for over 225 HP per cylinder. That's 900+ HP total. And they're lighter than a lot of the other H-beam rods out there. Forged 4340 chromoly. CNC machined. Magnafluxed, heat treated, and shot peened to relieve stress in the metal. ARP2000 bolts. These are the rods you want when you're building a B-series that's actually going to make power and you don't want to gamble on the bottom end. Best part is you get all that strength without paying race-rod money.
Here's Why Stock Rods Fail On A Built B-Series
The factory B-series rods are cast or low-grade forged and they're built for stock power levels. When you turbo the engine or build it for high RPM and high horsepower the forces on the rods multiply. The rod has to handle the explosion above it and the rotating force below it thousands of times a minute. Stock rods bend. They stretch. Then one of them snaps and it punches a hole in your block. The engine's destroyed. The build's over. You're starting from scratch. Forged H-beam rods handle the load that kills stock rods. The 4340 chromoly is way stronger. The H-beam shape resists bending. You're putting power down without worrying about the rods being your failure point.
Built Right - Forged 4340 Chromoly And Real Processing
These rods are 2-piece forged 4340 chromoly steel. That's the material you want for a high-horsepower bottom end. Every rod is 100% CNC machined for consistency. They're multi-stage heat treated, magnafluxed to catch any internal flaws, and shot peened to relieve stress in the metal so they don't crack under load. Each set is balanced to within 1 gram so your rotating assembly stays smooth. This isn't some cheap import rod that fails inspection. SpeedFactory processes these the right way so they hold up when you're pushing the engine hard.
Alignment Dowels And Bronze Bushings - The Details Matter
These rods use precision alignment dowels to locate the rod caps. That keeps the big-end bore round and eliminates cap walk, which is when the cap shifts under load and wallows out the bore. That's a real failure mode on cheaper rods and these are engineered to prevent it. They've also got bronze alloy pin bushings with dual offset oiling holes for floating wrist pins. The extra oiling keeps the pin lubricated so you don't get wear or seizing up top. They come standard with 220,000 psi rated 3/8" ARP2000 bolts, which is what actually holds the rod together under load. ARP lube and instructions are included so you've got what you need to install them right.
Check Your Pistons Before You Order
These rods are NOT compatible with OEM style pistons. The pin end is sized for aftermarket pistons. The good news is the pin end fits most aftermarket pistons without any additional machining, so if you're running forged aftermarket pistons in your build you're good. But if you're trying to reuse stock pistons these won't work. Since you're building a bottom end strong enough for 900+ HP you should be running aftermarket pistons anyway. Just verify your piston pin size matches before you order.
What You Get
- SpeedFactory Racing H-beam connecting rods (set)
- Fits Honda/Acura B18A, B18B, and B20 engines
- Forged SAE 4340 chromoly steel
- 100% CNC machined
- Rated for 225+ HP per cylinder / 900+ HP total
- Precision rod cap alignment dowels (eliminates cap walk)
- Bronze alloy pin bushings with dual offset oiling holes
- Magnafluxed, multi-stage heat treated, shot peened
- Balanced to +/- 1 gram per set
- 220,000 psi 3/8" ARP2000 rod bolts
- ARP lube and instructions included
- Fits most aftermarket pistons without machining
- NOT compatible with OEM style pistons
Specifications
- Material: Forged 4340 chromoly
- Bolts: 3/8" ARP2000
- Weight: 547 grams
- Center to center length: 137mm (5.394")
- Pin end bore: 21.02mm (0.828")
- Pin end width: 21mm (0.827")
- Big end bore: 48mm (1.890")
- Big end width: 23.75mm (0.935")
Note: SpeedFactory Racing H-beam connecting rods for Honda/Acura B18A, B18B, and B20 engines. 2-piece forged SAE 4340 chromoly steel, 100% CNC machined. Rated for 225+ HP per cylinder (900+ HP total) while lighter than many competing H-beam rods. Precision alignment dowels locate rod caps, maintain big-end bore, and eliminate cap walk. Bronze alloy pin bushings with dual offset oiling holes for floating wrist pins. Magnafluxed, multi-stage heat treated, and shot peened for stress relief. Balanced to +/- 1 gram per set. Includes 220,000 psi 3/8" ARP2000 rod bolts, ARP lube, and instructions. Fits most aftermarket pistons without additional machining. NOT compatible with OEM style pistons. Specs: 547g weight, 137mm center-to-center, 21.02mm pin end bore, 48mm big end bore. One set per order.