C32B 3.2 V6 VTEC – Honda NSX (NA2) Head Gasket Keychain

The C32B is a 3.2-litre naturally aspirated V6 engine manufactured by Honda Motor Co., built exclusively for the six-speed manual variants of the Honda/Acura NSX. It is part of Honda's C-series engine family and represents a direct evolution of the C30A engine that powered the standard NSX, sharing its architecture but not its output. Unlike the closely-named C32A used in other Honda flagship models, the C32B does not share parts commonality with that engine despite the similar designation.

Vehicle Compatibility Matrix

Why This Engine Matters

The C32B holds a special place among Japanese performance engines as the only VTEC-equipped, six-speed-manual-exclusive powerplant ever fitted to the NSX, Honda's flagship mid-engine supercar. It was the second Honda engine to receive VTEC technology after the B16A, and remains regarded by enthusiasts as one of the most refined naturally aspirated V6s Honda ever built, prized for its high-revving character and hand-assembled construction. Its use in Super GT racing throughout the late 1990s and 2000s cemented its motorsport pedigree, extending its competition life years beyond the road car's production run.

Technical Specifications

• Engine code: C32B

• Configuration: 90-degree V6, water-cooled, transverse-mid mounted

• Displacement: 3,179 cc (3.2 litres)

• Valvetrain: DOHC, 24-valve (4 valves per cylinder), belt-driven, with VTEC variable valve timing

• Bore x stroke: 93.0 mm x 78.0 mm

• Compression ratio: 10.2:1

• Power output: 290 bhp / 294 PS (216 kW) at 7,100 rpm (Japan-market NSX-R figures cite 280 PS/206 kW at 7,300 rpm — output varies slightly by source and market homologation)

• Torque: 304 Nm (224 lb-ft) at 5,300–5,500 rpm (sources vary slightly on peak rpm)

• Cylinder liners: Thinner fibre-reinforced metal (FRM) liners versus the C30A, enabling the bore increase

• Notable engineering changes from C30A: larger 36 mm intake valves (+1 mm), larger pistons, larger connecting rod bearings, 23 mm piston pins (up from 22 mm), stainless steel exhaust manifold (replacing cast iron), new head gaskets, and revised emissions hardware

• Fuel delivery: Honda PGM-FI electronic fuel injection, requiring premium unleaded

• Fuel tank capacity (NSX-R): 70 litres

Specifications vary modestly between road-going NSX/NSX-R trims (Japan vs. North America), NSX-GT racing builds, and the Vemac RD320R, particularly around peak power and torque rpm figures; buyers should treat the 280–290 PS range as the accepted spread across verified sources rather than a single fixed number.

Product Details

Gasket Keys' Honda C32B keychain is precision-cut from 2mm stainless steel sheet, replicating the head gasket profile of the engine at keychain scale. Each piece goes through a 3-stage vibratory polishing process to achieve a smooth, tarnish-resistant satin-to-mirror finish suitable for daily carry. Every keychain ships mounted on a plywood display card, making it suitable both for everyday use and as a static display piece for NSX and JDM enthusiasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I don't know my engine code? The C32B was fitted exclusively to six-speed manual Honda and Acura NSX models built between 1997 and 2005 — if the vehicle is an automatic NSX, it uses the smaller C30A engine instead, so confirming the transmission type is a fast way to identify the correct engine.

Is the C32B the same engine in every NSX Type R? No — the C32B was used in the Japan-market NSX Type R (NA2) throughout its run from 2001/2002 to 2005, but Honda's official factory documentation lists variations in torque delivery rpm and homologation figures across specific model years, so exact output figures can differ by several PS depending on source and market.

Was the C32B used outside the NSX? Yes — beyond the road-going NSX and Acura NSX, the C32B-based architecture powered the NSX-GT Super GT race cars and the limited-production Vemac RD320R, extending the engine's active service life well past the 2005 end of road-car production.