wormz

Hi I'm brand new to this forum and cars so go easy on me. I have a wrecked 2003 Acura CL base model, the engine is fine but the main damage is in the rear where the impact bar crushed into the left side of the trunk. I was thinking about getting a new 2nd gen CL (probably with a blown engine or something) just so I can throw everything from my original car into the second one. Although, finding a base 03 CL has proven to be difficult. So I was curious on what kind of issues if any that I'd run into if I tried switching everything into an 01 or 02 base model CL? Or if I'd have any issues transferring everything over to an 03 CL Type S? All assuming they have automatic transmissions. But if I wanted to move everything over to an 03 Type S with a manual transmission I don't know what other issues might come up from that? Any advice is appreciated thank you.

zeta

iTrader: (1)

To keep it simple stick with a base CL.
The 03 Type-S has a high performing J32A2 engine where your Base has a low performing J32A1.
Forget about swapping an automatic J32A1 into an 03 CL Type-S manual or automatic for that matter.
It's better to just purchase the 6-speed outright, if you can find one.

wormz

So should I avoid the 01 and 02 base model CLs as well?

zeta

iTrader: (1)

Think about it, your original car, a Base CL, has more in common to the Base CL because it is a Base CL. Making the success rate higher in your first statement above, because of its commonality.

A 01-03 Type-S is the higher performance version of your lower performance Base; therefore, it will have more different components (like ECU, engine, ABS, VSA , et al) than your CL Base.

If you have a wrecked automatic 2003 Acura CL base model and you want to 'swap' all of the good components to another Acura CL base model, your probability of a smoother simpler transition, of said good components, is higher using an 01-03 CL base versus an 01-03 Type-S manual or automatic.