Honda Automobile Gasoline Engine Series – Part One: Twin-Cylinder N360 and EA Series

Knowledge Section] Honda Automobile Gasoline Engine Series – Part One: Twin-Cylinder N360 and EA Series

Honda Magazine | Japanese Car Enthusiast Magazine | October 3, 2019

🔧 Engine Categories Overview
Honda engines are classified into four main types: automobile series, motorcycle series, commercial power units, and aviation engines. This article focuses on the automobile engine series. Honda's automobile engines are primarily categorized by cylinder count, with each type denoted by an initial letter followed by two digits indicating engine displacement and an additional letter for the version. For instance, the L15B7 VTC turbo engine in the tenth-generation Civic: "L" represents the four-cylinder L series, "15" indicates a 1.5-liter displacement, "B" signifies the subseries, and "7" denotes the version.

🔧 N360 and Early Twin-Cylinder Engines (1967)

🚙 In 1967, to succeed the T360 mini truck with an inline four-cylinder engine, Honda launched the TN360, which introduced the N-type twin-cylinder engine, including the N360E, N400E, and N600E. These engines had displacements of 354cc, 402cc, and 598cc, respectively, and were used in early models like the N360 compact car and the TN360 mini truck.

💡 Technical Features:

N360E engine: Inline two-cylinder, air-cooled, single or dual carburetor configuration, with a maximum output of 30 horsepower, horizontally mounted, and rear-wheel drive.
✨ Note: While these early engines were termed “N-type,” they were part of the initial “E series.” The official “N series” from Honda was a diesel engine, which we hope to introduce in the future.

🚘 N600 Engine and U.S. Market Expansion
🌎 In 1970, Honda developed the N600 model for the U.S. market, equipped with the N600E engine, featuring a 598cc displacement, single carburetor design, SOHC (Single Overhead Camshaft), and an output of 45 horsepower at 9,000 RPM.

🔧 Introduction of the EA Series in 1971

🗓 Release Date: May 1971, alongside the Honda Life model. Compared to the previous N series, the EA series adopted a water-cooling system instead of air-cooling and included technical improvements such as camshaft belt drive and dual balance shafts to reduce vibration.

🔹 Configuration and Applications:

Single carburetor version for front-mounted Life models.
Dual carburetor version for the sporty Z360 Coupe.
💡 Engine Specifications:

Displacement: 354cc
Valve system: SOHC, one intake and one exhaust valve
Bore: 67mm
Stroke: 50.6mm
Compression ratio: 8.8:1
Max horsepower: 31 HP at 8,500 RPM
Max torque: 29 Nm at 6,500 RPM
✨ High-Performance Version: The dual carburetor version had a maximum output of 36 HP at 9,000 RPM and 31 Nm of torque at 7,000 RPM.

Historical Context: While modern engines may feature higher RPM outputs, technological limitations in the early 1970s restricted power boosts primarily to mechanical balance improvements, akin to European high-performance engine makers' strategies.

🚙 Honda Life and Its Diverse Variants
🌟 Honda Life (1971): The successor to the N360, the Life model laid the groundwork for Honda's vehicle diversification, spawning four-door sedans, light cargo vans, hot hatches, mini-vans, and even pickup trucks.

💡 Dual carburetor EA engine: Used in the 1972 Life Touring edition, with an output of 36 HP at 9,000 RPM.

Z HardTop and Technological Advancements
🔹 The Z HardTop edition, launched in November 1972, featured the dual carburetor EA engine. The GSS version included a rare five-speed manual transmission (5MT), comparable in significance to modern Type R models.

Consistent High-RPM Characteristics
📊 Z model tachometer: Maxed out at 10,000 RPM, reflecting Honda's trademark high-RPM characteristics from the N360E era through later versions.

🔧 Life Step Van: The name “Step” in StepWGN originated from this model, initially referring to its easy-access rear door design, later evolving to mean a “low-floor layout for easy access.” The Life Step Van was also equipped with the twin-cylinder EA engine.

🏁 Conclusion
The EA series twin-cylinder engine, although short-lived (from May 1971 to the end of Life's production in 1974), paved the way for future technical evolutions. Its legacy continued with the EH series, serving until the late 1980s, when the baton was passed to the three-cylinder E05/07A series.

👉 Stay tuned for more deep dives into the history of Honda's engines!


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