Allen_442

Hello everyone my daily driver has been a 02 Acura TL besides from having my transmission go out its been a great car. It has 247,xxx miles I bought it with 85,xxxx. Recently I got a hole in my oil pan and drove with out oil so my bearing are toast (I assume). I patched the.hole dumped in some oil and she started fine but you can hear some noise from below. Anyways I found a 02 Type S at the.pick a part I can get for around $250. It does have more miles than I like 177,380 but its clean and has a 6 month warranty.Is there anything I need to know to make this swap? The.transmission is already gone so I'll be using mine. I plan on grabbing the ecu just don't know where it is. Also is there anyway I can use the instrument cluster? My miles and outside them don't light up at night. I know my acura has TCS and the type S has VSA but hope this isn't a issue. Any help here would be great, gonna get this motor later this morning. Thanks in advance.

Skirmich

You need to swap:
- Engine
- VSA Throttle body and plastic parts (Unless you want a nasty Check Engine forever) < This can be deleted but dunno how.
- ECU
- Engine Harness
- Radiator (For the Fan Switch C)
- Cluster
^^ That is a proper Type-S swap (Like having a REAL Type-S TL).

A hack in J32A2 swap will be:
- Engine
^ This is the easiest way but also the one that gives less power.

You could also swap a J35A3 from the MDX and be done with it.
^ The best swap for a TL-p right now.

fsttyms1

Really all that is needed is the engine. it will run on the TL-P ecu. If you want it to be fully operational/proper type-s, you will want the ecu, engine harness, drivers side cabin to engine compartment harness and the IMRC box under the dash on the drivers side. (does the TL-p have VSA? if not adding the VSA tb will be pointless as i dont believe the rest of the car is wired to work with it)

Cluster will plug right in.

Skirmich

Yes but not plugging the VSA into the TL-S ECU will trigger a MIL Code :/

ErickUa5

Just swap the engine, Only difference would be the Air box and tubing.
I went on the black market here and found a complete air box and resonator for $40 shipped. As long as the engine brings the VSA throttle body.

fsttyms1

ECU is different, tuned different, and gives you a higher redline

Skirmich

the ECU makes the magic happen with the J32A2

ErickUa5

Yes the Type S ECU has the higher redline and tune, Just pointing out whats not plug and play.
Also The ECU will throw a code since the VSA system is not there, I have not seen a work around on that yet for us TL-p guys or is there ?
It will get expensive considering you will also have to program the key, unless you know how to bypass the immobilizer.

Skirmich

A lot of EBay ECUs on EBay comes with keys.
Also the workaround is not hard.. Get the J32A2 engine harness if it doesnt come with the Engine.. You can get by without the IMRC thing for a while and that is standalone it will not throw a code without it.. Getting the other stuff from VSA is what makes the bill shoot high.

ErickUa5

It all depends how far you want to go I guess, but if you have a blown engine in a TLp j32a2 is the way to go imo. I know theres other choices.
Yes the VSA workaround is what kills the ecu swap for me since some states require the check engine light to be off. If only the VSA code was a ghost code then you could still pass emissions test at least here in NY.

Skirmich

If you are going ECU-less J32A2 the best choice is the J35A3 instead...
The J32A2 without ECU will be somewhat lacking and will not be as impressive.