I am thinking about dropping a j35 crank and rods into my spare j32 motor. already have headers, cai and underdrive pulley.
what type of mpg are you guys getting? this is still planned for my daily driver and i do drive 110miles round trip every day.

I am currently averaging 25mpg hand calculated on last three tanks before the header and underdrive. On my TL i was averaging 24mpg with header, CAI and underdrive pulley.

 

It's cheaper to buy a J35A3 and swap cams.

 

true but in california - to be legal i would have to do a california air resource board inspection and treat it as a motor swap that will be inspected.
If i swap crank and rods into my spare motor it looks stock =) as it would still say j32a2 on my block

 

I have a J35a4 in mines with a hfcat, icebox, headers, lw crank pulley and i get about 24-28 mpg average on long trips. 90% of my commute are city so my average is usually 18-21 mpg.

 

pretty much the same mileage as ferGburG. My last highway trip to Smyrna, GA, I averaged 27 mpg cruising at 65 mph all the way




** That J32A2 block is actually a better block to build a 3.5. Better sleeves and more ribbing on the outside of the block.

 

The J35A3 block from the '01-'02 MDX is the same block as the J32A2, plus uses better internals that the J35A1/4. People gravitate toward the Odyssey engines because they're more common, but a quick search on car-part.com will likely reveal a J35A3 in your area,

 

Dude I thought that too, but they're not the same. They are similar, but I'm not sure of the exact differences. There's mixed info on this, but at least I can say the part number is different. I've heard about stronger sleeves in the J32A2 for the higher redline before.

 

Well I moved the spare motor around this weekend. Took the intake manifold apart to see what it looked like. Lots of casting flash.
I can take pictures of the blocks back to back later on

 

J35A3/J32A2's use identical blocks. Only differences are the rotating assemblies.


Part numbers are right off hondaacuraonline.com


Bare Block

01-02' MDX - 11000-PGE-810

03 CL-S - 11000-PGE-810

 

Oh wow, you're absolutely right!

I was looking at the whole engine assembly part number, not just the block. Silly me.

That's good to know though, I was always wondering why some people said it was different. With the same part number, it's identical for sure.

 

my 2 blocks were identical in every way

was going to post part numbers but i see someone else did.

 

Im getting 30-32mpg hwy with my 3.7 i built.

 

thanks fsttyms1 - still thinking about doing this -

 

I would. The driveability difference of the motor is worth its weight in gold. Its not like a Chevy small block, but there is so much more torque than the 3.2 the useful driveability is much more enjoyable. You wont have to use the gas pedal nearly as much to get the vehicle motivated. My car will pass on the hwy as fast in 5th as the old 3.2 did in 4th if not 3rd.

 

On the hwy I picked up about 2-3 MPG after the 3.5 swap(town 21-26 HWY 26-30). J32A2 and J35A3 share the same block and heads there are a few internal parts and accessories that are different. You can be a grandpa with gas pedal and still be flying.

 

not a grandpa yet but I normally drive like one my commute due to traffic. =)

With the larger displacement .. No difference in rev happiness ? My motor still seems sluggish even with header, intake, UP.

 

No need to rev, TQ on tap...

It's a completely different beast. With my old 3.5 I would shred tires in 3rd..

 

I just finished the 3.5L swap, and it makes the shifting SOO much easier now that I actually have some torque.

 

Details details. Did you swap in the whole J35A3? CLS cams?

 

Exactly that. Used the whole J35A3 with the J32A2 cams. Didn't want to open up the heads.

 

for me since I have the original 3.2 motor with blown head gaskets -
I would need new gasket set, 3.5 crank and rods from a j35a3 or a4

Part of it is about scheduling as I have my shop full of old motorcycles that I am parting out first. Once I clear them them then its time for the next project

 

Im sure this has been covered on here before but is there a reason people use the J32A2 cams when doing the 3.5 swap and not just leave the J35A3 cams and run it?

 

The j35 cams are spec'd more for low end tq/power that you would expect in an SUV where the j32 cams specs flow more air up top/and make more peak hp

 

 

Gotcha. thanks!

 

PM me me if you want a new 3.5 steel crank form Honda that will fit your j32.