CL vrs TL engine swap

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Old May 19, 2021 | 12:06 PM
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CL vrs TL engine swap

Thoughts? If I got an engine out of an 03 TL automatic, would there be any compatibility issues putting it in my 03 cl manual? The dealership seems to think so, but couldn't tell me why. I'm gonna call another dealership and see what's up with that, but I'd like to hear from you guys.

And if so, suggestions on where to find a new engine?
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Old May 19, 2021 | 12:58 PM
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^
In short, you have a J32A2 six-speed manual trans. engine which runs on a manual trans. ECU from the factory in your CL-S6.

The J32A2 automatic trans. engines from the 01-03 CL-S & 02-03 TL-S' ran with the automatic ECU from the factory.

To make any J32A2 automatic trans. engine compatible with your manual trans. ECU, certain engine components, from your six-speed engine, need to be transferred to a J32A2 designated automatic engine.

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Old May 19, 2021 | 02:02 PM
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If you want to try and find an engine exactly like the one in your six speed, try searching car-part.com.

Make sure when you hit 'search' that you pick the third choice which indicates 'Type-S, MT' on the second page.

There appears to be one whole page of choices, throughout the U.S. & Canada, so search nationwide and narrow it down to something close, if you go this route.

There appears to be a couple 'low mile' six speed J32A2's in WA(Seattle-Portland)

Good Luck!

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Old May 19, 2021 | 03:35 PM
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Originally Posted by zeta
^
In short, you have a J32A2 six-speed manual trans. engine which runs on a manual trans. ECU from the factory in your CL-S6.

The J32A2 automatic trans. engines from the 01-03 CL-S & 02-03 TL-S' ran with the automatic ECU from the factory.

To make any J32A2 automatic trans. engine compatible with your manual trans. ECU, certain engine components, from your six-speed engine, need to be transferred to a J32A2 designated automatic engine.
I thought you only needed to move over the sensors if it's swapping in the auto engine to a manual car? It sounds like they already have both cars ready to go.
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Old May 19, 2021 | 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Thefireball
I thought you only needed to move over the sensors if it's swapping in the auto engine to a manual car? It sounds like they already have both cars ready to go.
All the components from the CL-S6 J32A2 swapped to the automatic J32A2 to make it compatible with the manual ECU:

Timing belt drive pulley
Pulley side crank sensor / sub harness
If you use the oil pump assembly from the automatic, there is only one bolt boss to attach the six speed two fastener timing belt stopper plate. The quick & dirty is to blue or red loctite the one fastener to save time & money from swapping the six speed oil pump. Otherwise, take the six speed oil pump assembly and perform a reseal.
Front head timing belt driven pulley, front head cam cover plate and the front head TDC cam sensors / harness.

Last edited by zeta; May 19, 2021 at 03:57 PM.
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Old May 19, 2021 | 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by zeta
All the components from the CL-S6 J32A2 swapped to the automatic J32A2 to make it compatible with the manual ECU:

Timing belt drive pulley
Pulley side crank sensor / sub harness
If you use the oil pump assembly from the automatic, there is only one bolt boss to attach the six speed two fastener timing belt stopper plate. The quick & dirty is to blue or red loctite the one fastener to save time & money from swapping the six speed oil pump. Otherwise, take the six speed oil pump assembly and perform a reseal.
Front head timing belt driven pulley, front head cam cover plate and the front head TDC cam sensors / harness.
Didn't realize there was that much involved, lol.
Keep the cam sensors to the side though OP, in case you ever decide to throw in an AEM ECU.
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Old May 19, 2021 | 04:19 PM
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Oh my God! Thank you for that site, I found a match!

One more thing. If it was your car, which clutch would you put in?

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...2TWueFjm59%2B9

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...2TWueFjm59%2B9

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...2TWueFjm59%2B9

While it's already out, I am just get the clutch changed. I have no clue about the cars history and I'd just rather do it now.
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Old May 19, 2021 | 04:28 PM
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Originally Posted by amandamarie
Oh my God! Thank you for that site, I found a match!

One more thing. If it was your car, which clutch would you put in?

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...2TWueFjm59%2B9

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...2TWueFjm59%2B9

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...2TWueFjm59%2B9

While it's already out, I am just get the clutch changed. I have no clue about the cars history and I'd just rather do it now.
My girl had a LUK put into her 6 speed. It's been fine ever since. Since you don't know the history of the vehicle, I'd also recommend having the fly wheel replaced just in case, or at least inspected.
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Old May 19, 2021 | 04:35 PM
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Thank you!
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Old May 19, 2021 | 04:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Thefireball
Didn't realize there was that much involved, lol.
Archive this thread for when your GF asks you to swap a J35A3 into her CL-S6.
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Old May 19, 2021 | 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted by amandamarie
Oh my God! Thank you for that site, I found a match!
Which one did you get?
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Old May 19, 2021 | 04:48 PM
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The engine, I am gonna get the J32A2, and I was asking for your opinion on the clutch zeta
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Old May 19, 2021 | 04:55 PM
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Originally Posted by amandamarie
The engine, I am gonna get the J32A2,...
Yes. I was just curious which engine on Car-part.com.

Originally Posted by amandamarie
and I was asking for your opinion on the clutch zeta
As Thefireball mentioned, the LUK clutch rep kit from rockauto, is the same manufacturer as the OEM Acura clutch without the $$ dealer mark-up.
Make sure to use the RA 5% discount coupon on the 'vendor' page here.

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Old May 19, 2021 | 04:59 PM
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Yep! The one in Seattle! Jap rebuild the dude said with a year warranty. Around 50,000. Sounds killer to me. Thank you!
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Old May 19, 2021 | 05:11 PM
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Originally Posted by amandamarie
Yep! The one in Seattle! Jap rebuild the dude said with a year warranty. Around 50,000. Sounds killer to me. Thank you!
amandamarie, make sure whoever does the engine work swaps over the components I listed in post #5.
I only say this because the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) had a J32A.
Your CL-S6 has a United States Domestic Market (USDM) J32A2, so make sure all the CL-S6 J32A2 components I listed in Post #5 get transferred by whoever does the swap.

Last edited by zeta; May 19, 2021 at 05:15 PM.
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Old May 19, 2021 | 06:59 PM
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Even for this one?
https://www.foreignengines.com/Engin...0CC-JDM-Engine
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Old May 19, 2021 | 07:45 PM
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Originally Posted by amandamarie
Yes. The JDM label is what gives it away.

If you want a 'plug and play' engine: Meaning that it will bolt up to your CL-S6, like if it were from the 'factory', to avoid the hassle & expense of having to transfer parts as I mentioned in post #5, then it must come from a USDM American made Acura CL-S6.

These JDM J32A Honda engines are most likely from Automatic trans. vehicles made for the Japanese market.

That company Foreign Engines Inc. Seattle should not have its engine data show up in the 'Type-S, MT' search.

If you search for an 'Type-S, AT' automatic engine, for instance in California, you will find other JDM engine 'vendors' like JDM of San Diego. Those are the same engines Foreign Engines Inc. Seattle markets; however, you won't find JDM of San Diego on the
'Type-S, MT' search because they have their engines classified correctly under the 'Type-S, AT' search. Rightly so because they are not a direct 'plug N play' compatible bolt in, like the USDM six speed CL-S6 engine, that you will only find in an American / Canadian salvage yard. Give it a try.

Keep this realization fore front in your mind, you, like myself are driving a 18+ year old car. Any USDM manual transmission J32A2 CL-S6 engine available, via salvage yards, are going to have high mileage. They only made like 3100 or so American made CL-S6's, so the pickings are going to be slim. That's why you only see one search page of choices versus the J32A2 automatic, which has 26 pages.

Last edited by zeta; May 19, 2021 at 07:56 PM.
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