Hey guys. I'm hoping the 3.5 modders could help me out on this one. I'm currently running a J32a2 6speed on my 03 TL and I ran into some recent engine problems. If my engine is possibly salvageable, what combination could possibly render the most power without having to do to much modifications if I picked up a j35A4 motor? I found a motor with only 40k miles for 500 coming out of an 03 Odyssey and I was looking to just do a straight swap just so I could save some money and get my car back on the road. If there's a way to hybrid this like what I read on our 3.5 liter hybrid build post (found here https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-cl-frequently-asked-questions-52/3-5-liter-hybrid-build-information-714305/) and I'll already have both motors, what's the right way to go?

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.

Also, do you guys know if the 6speed tranny will fit on the Odyssey motor without requiring any modifications?

Thanks in advance guys. I need this done soon because my car is out of commission due to a detonated engine.

 

I've done a lot of research on the 3.5 and from what i've read, the actual engine blocks are the same (different internals - crank, pistons, rods). You need to break down the 3.5 and open up the short block. Put in some RL pistons or CL-S pistons (RL with yeild slightly more power). Then put everything from your 3.2 back onto the 3.5 block. The tranny should bolt up fine from what i've read.

 

no no no non ono

if u have a j35a4 and a j32a2

take the heads off the j32a2 and put them on the j35a4. done. thats the simplest way.

the RL pistons give u a bump in compression but IMVHO, may makes your car more prone to detonation. the 3g's go through it and they have 11:1.

its just pushing it

 

also, 6 speed will bolt up. are you using richies harness?

and, what happened to your engine?

 

from what i've read, you can't just put the J32A2 heads on the J35A4, the pistons won't clear. You have to open up the J35 and put in either CL-S pistons or RL pistons.

 

Interesting. I got some issues as well. If there somthing wrong with my engine i wanna try this. I think you need to swap the heads thats it but i can not warranty this. Someone please confirm this. Thx

I think e30cabrio did it

 

e30cabrio ended up putting in a 3.7L crankshaft and rods and RL pistons i'm pretty sure. He said he knew a guy who had all the parts for the swap and bought them.

 

So why would he buy a ody motor then ?

 

From e30cabrio's thread:

I know he kept his old J32 to fiddle with. He must have got the oddy motor for the block. Then he put in 3.7L parts. His thread (page10) talks about how you can't just put the CL-S heads on the 3.5 block. You need CL-S or RL pistons for clearance.

 

i think you have to swap pistons cl-s or rl piston because the oddy piston wont clear the valves.

 

Hmm, if the heads are where the spark plugs are tightened down, then it's a nono because one of the spark plug holes are stripped due to the engine detonation (i'd have to remill the head ).

Do you guys know if the 6speed tranny from the 03CL would fit on the j35a4 engine?

I guess my question now is, which one would yield more power on my TL, the oddy engine or the original engine. I could get both for a good deal, but I was trying to maximize the power I could put to the wheels...

 

sigh... we already answered those questions

 

haha, my bad phee, i just wanted to make sure. cuz i originally bought an 05 tranny to fix my 03 tranny, and i had to swap out the internals into my 03 tranny in order for it to fit because the housing did not bolt up.

and no I'm not using richie's harness. I had the whole front clip including ecu and such, so it was a straight swap

 

Good luck Vu...

 

SO IF I BUY THIS J35A4 with 34k miles that i found for real cheap, what exactly needs to be done as far as labor?
like seals, gaskets, belts, and anything else of that nature.

I do understand that the rods and crank need to be pulled and swapped into my motor because im gonna use my block because its better from what has been said on here.

plus i wouldnt have to pull the motor out if i dont swap, which will save me on labor...

 

You're better off getting a J35A3 (01-02 MDX) as the internals are forged, take the heads off your J32A2 and buy NEW pistons (J32A2 to not run so high compression and could still handle boost pretty well). I wouldn't reuse the old pistons from your motor, buy new ones.

 

hmm, i found the whole motor with 34k miles an a port and polished intake manifold for $250...oh well

 

^ just use that motor you'll be fine.

 

now i just gotta find somewhere to store it before i go pick it up

 

Keep us updated Vu!!

 

WELL, I havent got the j35a4 yet cause i dont have anywhere to store it. the guy still has it and maybe ill aske if he'll just take the parts off it that i need.
I hope so, cause i would love the added torque and hp...

 

i think it would be best to keep the engine intact. You don't want anyone handling the internals unless they're about to be put into your engine.

 

check this out. This j35 swapped civic dynoed higher with a short ram intake vs a cold-air. I wonder why? does our motor do better with a short ram?
just thought id share, even though the numbers arent that great in my opinion
http://youtu.be/UcnaoVuhr0w

 

The car is static on a dyno. You dont have the air blowing against the car as you would if it were driving. My car did the same thing, but when driving from a roll, the CAI feels stronger.