Honda Motors

This page is intended to help people understand the different types of cylinder heads commonly used in Honda K series engines. This page is intended to be used as a guide only, and this is the knowledge we have gathered over the past 15 years. We’ll show you the differences in cylinder heads and how to tell which one you have.

CYLINDER HEADS

First, there are two main types of cylinder heads on K-series engines, one of which is smaller and is used on models with lower power – CRV K24 and Accord with K20a6 or K20z2 engines. These heads do not have triple lobe camshafts on either side of the head. They have a double lobe intake camshaft and a single lobe exhaust camshaft. Basically this means engines only have vtec on the intake camshaft and very soft vtec engagement. There are no permanent travel springs on these heads, which means it’s not as easy as just swapping a set of three rocker cams and camshafts.

About the K20a6/K20z2 engines there was an article on the internet a few years ago that we read where the tuner swapped the pin arrangements on the 3 lobe vtec rocker arms and installed an assembly with a pair of 3 lobe camshafts. This meant there was no need for an idle spring as the camshafts were “always in the vtec position”. So, at one time we tried it, and here is our review.