victorvu

iTrader: (1)

Ok so I just picked up a 04 mdx motor for pretty cheap. Im probably going to pick up a supercharger within the next month or so. So my question is, should i just swap the 3.5 block over, mill my head and run it. And also will the supercharger help it with the high compression i dont really think i will gain much more like blow my motor. I would also like to know what is needed, and which is the best. I'm aiming for 12's. Thanks in advance.

Oh btw its a 03 6speed with 142000 miles.

GrandeInter10

That's gonna be a very extensive list. the good thing is after you've done it I can ge more research for when i do my 3.5 conversion :P good luck bro

Soseductivesf

Where'd you get the parts? There's a wrecking yard in Hayward called Import Auto that has a bunch of T.L/C.L Mdx etc parts.. Good luck with your project

EL19

iTrader: (4)

go to .net and find a guy with the name NVA-AV6 he is our local hondacura guru and has done and is doing a few of these swaps. Not a whole block swap but a hybrid of teh two motors. Hes a beast and he can help you with what you need. You wont gain much with the higher compression but u will gain. Check out his thread of the latest 6spd "J35S" http://www./forums/showthread.php?t=141615

nbennettksu

iTrader: (2)

got dang thats a lot

sorry, I cant contribute anything helpful to this

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

I would stick with just the 3.5 swap.

phee

iTrader: (5)

pm fsstyms1 on the TL side, he's doin the same and has the same engine you do

krisdlm

iTrader: (1)

agreed

Allout

04MDX block is the wrong one.

Allout

You should review this thread before you get too far. It has very good info on a 3.5L build. Find and note posts #53 and #69.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172210

CleanCL

iTrader: (4)

yup, won't work.

aqua1stgen

SUV blocks are generally no-no's...just like K24's, CR-V's and Elements don't work for first gens.

CleanCL

iTrader: (4)

there is plenty of information in the thread posted above to make this statement look completely retarded.

typeR

reminds me of a txt i just got ... "today is hug a retard day so dont frek out like you did last year ... no one is trying to steal your helmet "

poisx7

iTrader: (1)

patience --- Read ---- ASK---Info

Allout

LOL - Great one!

victorvu

iTrader: (1)

alright i read most of the threads posted above, but i still cant find what im looking for. Whats the difference of swapping a 3.5 motor and the 3.5 internals in the cl-s block? should i just run 3.5 internals with the supercharger? Thank you all in advance.

DC3328

iTrader: (22)

x2

Allout

From what I recall, external mounting points on the 04MDX block are different. 01 - 03 MDX short block would work though since it's the same block as the J32A2. You could use the internals from your 04MDX in your existing block though but compression will be higher than what you have now - plus you'll have to have components fitted/machined as you would a rebuild.

CleanCL

iTrader: (4)

the 04 internals won't work at all.

and the only years of the MDX that work are 01-02.

typeR

the rods and pistons but thats it ... main thing you want is the crank ... on the oddy its '01 -'02 i did think the mdx was good through '03 but i am not sure

CleanCL

iTrader: (4)

03 mdx is where they switched to the shorter crank i believe, so that wouldnt work

victorvu

iTrader: (1)

ok so i've decided which route i wanted to go. Im going to get the crank and rods and bearings from the 02-04 odd, and pistons and rings of the rl. Does my head need port matching? Im trying to figure out which will make most power with a s/c. Also i wanted a bigger intake manifold and throttle body, was thinking of taking it off a j35a4 and port match my j32a2 head for the manifold.

victorvu

iTrader: (1)

ok my buddies and i have decided to go with the crank rods and bearings from the j35a4 using my stock block pistons and rings. I probably be replacing the piston and rings just incase since ill have everything out. Using the stock pistons will have lower compression since ill be going s/c

typeR

im with you ... i know they did on the oddy but i thought the mdx hung out for one more year sounds weird but thats what i think i remembered

fsttyms1

Taken from the av6 forum

here is the part list of WHAT works

BLOCK/HEADS (incl. manifold (upper/lower), tb)
------------------
J30A1/J30A1
advantage: no modification needed.
disadvantage: no torque until turbo/sc kicks in.

J30A1/J32A2
advantage: mid-range and top-end power
disadvantage: J30A1 pistons have to be modified to fit large J32A2 (intake) valves.
Not much torque until turbo/sc kicks in.

J32A2/J32A2
advantage: no modification needed, mid-range, top-end power.
disadvantage: torque is still ok but better than J30A1

J35A4/J30A1 (Odyssey '02-04/ '00-02 Accord V6)
advantage: no modifications needed, great torque, nice mid-range
disadvantage: top-end power

J35A3/J35A3 (Acura MDX '01-02)
advantage: no modifications needed, great torque, nice mid-range
disadvantage: little less air flow than J32A2 but very close.

This option looks like a good choice if getting the complete engine or even separate short block and cyl.
heads/manifold due to a price. And MDX the cyl.
heads are the same part # as CL-S, however intake valves and cams are different than CL-S.

J35A3/J32A2 ('01-02 MDX/CL-S '01-03) or J35A4/J32A2 (Odyssey '02-04/CL-S '01-03)
advantage: great entire powerband and especially torque.
disadvantage: Need CL-S or RL pistons.

There are also couple options:

Option 1
With '01-02 complete MDX block or '02-04 Odyssey complete block (crank/rods/pistons) it is required to purchase 2005 Acura RL
pistons (new set $50 each) This is a best option still since these pistons have clearance for large 36mm J32A2 (intake) valves
thus no modification needed. Despite the fact they have higher 11.0:1 CR still even supercharger can be used here with low boost
up to 7psi intercooled (assuming safe AFR). In addition, if 11:1 CR is too high for you, you can use '03 CL-S pistons with 10.5:1 CR.

Option 2
'01-03 J32A2 block (CL-S)
Required to purchase the following:

-= hondaautomotiveparts.com =-
'02-'04 Odyssey (crankshaft)
Product No. 368270 or
Honda part #13310-PGK-A00

'02-'04 Odyssey (connecting rod)
Product No. 368269 or
Honda part #13210-PGK-A00

Main bearings + rod bearings

-= acuraautomotiveparts.org =-
'03 CL-S (pistons) - 10.5:1 CR or
'05 RL (pistons) - 11.0:1 CR

pistons rings (per chosen model)

Note: Odyssey pistons do not have clearance to fit large 36mm J32A2 (intake) valves. Solution - custom job to increase valve pockets.

BTW, The only advantage to get J32A2 block is due to better cylinder sleeves to withstand heat designed for higher redline vehicle,
otherwise depending on the price Odyssey or MDX block are the best bet.

Keep in mind, J35A5 '03-04 MDX will not fit on 6th gen. AV6/CL/TL/CL-S/TL-S due to different design, and looks like only for 7th gen.
AV6.

ThinJim

iTrader: (3)

Listen, keep it simple. You can avoid all sorts of headaches with machine work, etc if you consider this route. Go with a complete shortblock assembly for the 01-02 mdx. Get the RL pistons and use those in place of the stock mdx ones (they will clear your valves). The bearings have been fitted already and the only thing you have to remove from the block are the rods and pistons., pistons come off with a clip and then you use the same bearings and re-torque. The short block is around 1500 brand new and rl pistons i think are around 50-70bucks??. if you go the with buying individual peices, heres the break down, crank 400, rods 80 a peice, pistons 50 apiece, machine works to size bearing, possibility of boring the holes, a few hundred to a grand or more, bearings will run you close to 300. I'd go with a new unit and avoid a lame machine shop

Allout

Best advice so far.

victorvu

iTrader: (1)

ok since this is for my 3.5 build. Thanks Thinjim for the great info. I have two questions one is will this build as you said using the 01-02 block swapping for rl pistons and rods be ok for a s/c? Is the compression too high? Also i was looking into getting a new clutch this site sells spec clutches for our 6 speeds. http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/perf...ch/Clutch_Kits
Will this clutch actually hold up?

victorvu

iTrader: (1)

bump.......... help...........

Allout

You can search on SPEC and find various discussions on it. To most, it seems to be a repainted OEM pressure plate with a different friction disk. Have not heard of any great success stories with the CL SPEC Clutch. There are more positive comments about the Clutch Masters setup.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...highlight=spec

Allout

Take a look aththis thread. There are some references that make me think a 3.5L build with RL pistons will give you over 11:1 compression.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...6&page=2&pp=25

If this is true, my opinion is that this will be too high to run an SC and get anything significant out of it - especially on CA 91 octane fuel.

victorvu

iTrader: (1)

then should i just go with my stock cl-s pistons to make lower compression, leaving my head alone not milling it. i think someone said the cl-s pistons make 10:5. If i used my cl-s pistons instead of the rl pistons, what mods would i have to do to have it fit, or is it just a replacement. Oh btw the block is a j35a4.

victorvu

iTrader: (1)

Well since it's safe to run the rl pistons and the cl-s pistons i think it would be safer to run my cl-s pistons. I dont want to take the chance and blow my motor. Well any how i will be updating this thread as i go. Trying to break into 12's but i will be running slicks. Oh btw do the make traction bars for our cars?
So heres my list:
-j32a4 block
-cl-s pistons
-xs headers
-blox velocity stack with filter kit (custom making an intake)
-light weight pulleys
-still thinking about the clutch undecided at the moment

I will stick with bolt ons unless this doesnt get me where i want to be i'll be boosting. Any other bolt ons that will help please let me know....

Accord_V6_400m

iTrader: (1)

its the opposite I believe, the Oddy went to 04 and the MDX to 03. Acura finishes and starts one year earlier on average.

GrandeInter10

p2r or thermoblok spacers should help some. if you're gonna do the clutch i'd get the lightweight flywheel. the guy who posted above me was telling me about it. (accordv6)

typeR

im failry certain the way to tell is ... all the blocks that use the heads with the cast in place header/collectors? i.e. the models that need pro cats instead of full headers are not gonna work

CLS6SpeedNupe

Hey Type R, what do you think a 3.5 swap with ported and polished lower/upper intake, bored TB, those P2R plenums and thermo gasket can do power wise? I know you said you putting down 270 with all of that except the plenums. Also did you port and polish your heads?

SIRSIG

13.306 @ 105.83 --- on quarter mile
reliability --- he had it long before Acurazine.com
drivability --- being NA, car has better balance

to the OP, Almost everything you want to know has been said here. J32A4 is from a newer TL where newer MDX and Oddy engines are compatible, you'll need a different ECU. All in all it comes down to who's going to install your swap imo... GL to your project

PS: If you just want to hit 12's use NOS... 2 of 'em

typeR

i live my life a quater mile at a time .... and in the 13 seconds or less ...