Enjoy Watching This Japanese Racing Shop Assemble an Engine

      Inside Japanese Factories via YouTube

      The latest updates and reviews on cars, with no nonsense.

      Subscribe to our free daily newsletter and receive the most significant stories straight to your inbox every weekday.

      OS Giken is recognized as a top player in the Japanese aftermarket industry. Since 1973, the company has been manufacturing performance components such as clutches and limited-slip differentials in Okayama. If you are looking for some relaxing weekend entertainment, you can now watch one of their remarkable creations come to life in meticulous detail.

      A roughly hour-long video on the YouTube channel Inside Japanese Factories showcases the assembly of an engine for OS Giken's S30 Z project car. The L-Series inline-six engine is fitted with OS Giken’s TC24-B1Z head, a modern version of the dual-overhead cam TC24-B1 head originally designed by the company’s founder, Masaharu Okazaki, in the 1970s. According to a Japanese article from the company, only nine of the original heads were manufactured. The updated B1Z was reintroduced in 2017 with improvements that leverage advancements in manufacturing over the past fifty years.

      Inside Japanese Factories via YouTube

      Although OS Giken's facility employs modern technology, including CNC machines and CAD-equipped computers, it is not solely characterized by high levels of automation. Similar to the Watanabe wheel factory, OS Giken operates on a smaller scale, with just a few employees working primarily by hand. The engine assembly is conducted similarly to how a small racing shop would approach it.

      If you have the time, this video serves as an excellent step-by-step guide on engine assembly. The process begins with a thorough cleaning of an original L-Series block, which is then filled with brand-new components. The video walks you through each phase of the process, from installing the crankshaft, pistons, and connecting rods, to porting and polishing the head, and finally testing the completed engine on a stand before placing it in the Z.

      How This Japanese Workshop Builds Racing Engines from Scratch

      Since there are no computerized wrenches measuring the torque on each bolt as seen in contemporary assembly plants, the construction of this engine is performed at a deliberate pace with great care. Before commencing, the engine is rotated to ensure oil is properly circulated, and two mechanics attentively monitor the initial moments of operation for any irregularities.

      The entire assembly took four months, possibly because it is a side project in addition to OS Giken’s primary focus of manufacturing individual parts. However, the sound of that inline-six surely made the effort worthwhile.