The Honda Service Manual
correctly shows how the crankshaft and block marks correspond with the
journals and journal bores, but the actual marks are upside down when
compared to the illustrations, hence the confusion.
Regardless of which way you read the block stampings (most people
prefer right side up), the letter closest to the pulley-end of the
block always corresponds with the No. 1 main bearing journal bore, and
the letter closest to the flywheel-end always corresponds with the No.
5 main bearing journal bore. The letters are stamped in the same order
as the bores, pulley-end (No. 1) to flywheel-end (No. 5).
The system for marking the crankshaft wasn’t so logical, so the
factory added an arrow that points to the No. 1 main bearing journal
mark. (Once you know where No. 1 is you can’t go wrong.) There’s also a
similar arrow that points to the No. 1 (pulley-end) connecting rod
journal mark.
Correct illustrations were added to 1996 Service Manuals.
Some or all of this information was provided by the Automotive
Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA). For more information on
technical bulletins available through APRA call 703-968-2772 or visit www.AutoBulletins.com.