thizz_i_izz

should i convert my 3.2TL to a type S?? or am i better off purchasing other products??

ChrisQ1980

Sell it and get a Type S. That will probably be most beneficial.

CJITTY

quite a few differences. Sell and get a genuine type s!!

Darkshear

iTrader: (1)

There are a truckload of variables involved in deciding if it is economical to do the conversion or purchase a new vehicle...

In the end, only you can decide if it's more worth it to you to purchase a new car rather than rebuild your current. Sure it's easier to buy a new car, and the conversion is a PITA, but what's more important to you?

joe80055

I've always wanted to do a type-S conversion and throw in a supercharger as well... but then again, with all of the hassle involved.. I guess the TL-P with an AV6 supercharger's another alternative i guess.

It'd be nice though to have a modded '99 TL-S cruising down the street... ultimate sleeper.

randomthought

If you want, go for it. Major hassle and lots of stuff to do, but if you want a project to do, go for it. If you just want some more power and the other trimmings that come with a type-S without hassle, buy one. I'd rather go project imo. More fun in life tinkering with stuff on your own, even if it does break.

acutee

Do some mods to the TL if you have a tight budget. Otherwise, it is better to get a genuine TL-S. But, selling and buying will cost you money.

thizz_i_izz

yea i dont even got money like that to be buy in a new car...really though i just wanted to do the conversion for the performance, not the styling...i hate the roll on the regular TL, plus i can always use some more HP...does anybody know what this engine is capable of??

joe80055

I test drove a TL-S at an infiniti dealership the other day.. the car's strong as hell... i'm saving up to do the conversion.. i have $700 out of the maybe possible $2.5k I may need (tools, parts, etc). I'm getting the TL-S engine with the revised 5AT. I just want to do this conversion so that I won't have to worry about buying a newer car if this one would have all of the same capabilities the newer models would have.. you know?

From the way I see it, if you have the time and patience.. and are not in a hurry to use the car for a while for means of transportation, then go for it since it'll be less stressful rather than putting yourself in a time crunch to get the car done.

If you really want to know if the conversion's worth it or not, ask fsttyms1.. he should be able to tell you.

fsttyms1

If all your looking to do is the motor part of the type s (and you already have a 2000+ i bet it could be done for under 2k

JohnnyS

Sell it and get yourself a Type S.

ChrisQ1980

I own a TL-S and i love it to death. I like all the upgrades over the TL-P BUT I have to say I drive TL premiums at work all day and they are just fine. They don't lack power, comfort, handling over the Type S. I find them to be very adequate.

The TL-S is just more agressive, gets up to speed a lil faster. But if I owned a TL-P I wouldnt find the need to convert it. The only thing I HATE is the rims. Other than that it's a great car just like the TL-S.

I owned an RSX-S and there is a HUGE difference from the S to the base model. No way in hell would I want the base there. But for these cars I find them almost equal.

joe80055

By any chance, can you provide a parts list or brief DIY for the conversion? I'll be doing this either this winter break or next spring. Was the removal difficult in your opinion?

fsttyms1

Nope, never done it, dont know whats involved. Every thing will bolt right in, the only thing you will have to work on is the difference in some of the wiring

007TL-S

Sell your car flat out!.....why waste the time , inconvience,effort, headaches...getting parts etc.....

007TL-S

Agreed

fsttyms1

And not every one can financially afford to do that!!!

joe80055

The more you work on your car, the more familiar you'll be with the car, the less likely you'll need a mechanic down the road. Besides, fsttyms1 is right... it's damn cheaper!

When I test drove the '03 TL-S, It just didn't feel right... It wasn't my car.

CL Platano

Just get headers, crank pulley, and exhaust and call it the day.

njzprettyboy

well, i too have a TLP. i have the pretty much every bolt on possible except the pulleys. i also swapped the TLS upper & lower intake manifolds as well as the throttle body. i am waiting on a high perf. aluminum radiator, and than the SC goes in during the winter...I plan on posting up the dyno slips etc after I get everything tuned to let everyone know what kinda of power this setup can throw down...

joe80055

^ With just the radiator/intercooler alone, what gains do you expect to see from it? I've always been curious about that.

fsttyms1

None, especially not FI

njzprettyboy

they are supposed to be more than 30% effecient in cooling than the OEM ones, but we will see I guess. There was no mention of an intercooler though I will probably add one mainly for looks...

BraveDemon

Hmm. I think it really depends on the year. I've driven a 99 TL with low miles and it felt sluggish compared to my 03 TL-S. Maybe it was the 4 speed... I dunno.

Between an 03 TL and TL-S? I have no clue.

TL-S conversion is a nice idea, but it's going to be time consuming and expensive. But MIGHT be cheaper than selling and buying a TL-S.

If you're going to do the TL-S motor swap, consider swapping the J32A block for an MDX 3.5 block.

As you guys have all heard before: There's no replacement for displacement.

fsttyms1

you can get the j32 and j35 have the same bore. You could use your TL block with out any issue and get the 3.5L out of it

joe80055

The 5AT's gearing is alot better than the 4AT.. that's probably why you felt sluggish. It's easier to pull harder in the '00+ models. While I'm going through the end of second gear, the 5AT would be already be pulling in 3rd. .. Now imagine fsttyms1's 6MT.

So let me get this straight. This is what I see so far..
3.5 Type-S conversion
Previously installed headers, CAI, and pulleys..

So i'm looking at 300-330hp(??) at the crank... is this a good estimate? If so, for $2.5k, this is definitely economical for me

fsttyms1

If you were to find cheap, or already had a type-s motor. and were to do most of the engine work yourself. yes, you could do it for about that. Ive got about 1200 in parts waiting for me to have time to send the block off to get resurfaced for my project

joe80055

^ Glad to hear that everything's going good so far! You'll have to update us on the progress

Okay, for the type-S motor, I'm buying one from a salvage yard down in Miami for $850. It as 50K on it, and a one year warranty which is awesome in my case. I'll be getting it 2 weeks from now (i have it on reserve).

As for the MDX crank, I found one for $220 in RI (I'll be there during the vacation)... is it okay to just swap out the -S crankshaft with the MDX's or will there have to be other parts to replace as well?

fsttyms1

I wouldn't just put one in with out having the motor rebuilt. the size difference comes from a longer stroke. i would have the cyl honed and new rings placed in atleast. what are you going to do for the ecu side?

joe80055

honed and new rings replaced?.. hmm.. alright. Geez.. I wonder how much that'd cost itself. I'll look into it tomorrow when I get the chance. As for the ECU, i'm still doing some research... Can't say much yet at the moment.

fsttyms1

If you want the job done right your looking at a rebuild of the motor (basically) as for the ecu, you can pick them up used pretty easy then change any necessary wiring

joe80055

I have a TL-S ecu sitting in my trunk, got it for $20. I'll need to get another as a backup incase I mess up with the first one. Won't I need the type-s mounts also or is that not necessary if the ones I have now are currently okay?

fsttyms1

Yours are just fine

joe80055

Quick question.... Can you use the TL-P's wiring on the 6MT?.. for instance... All of the plugs that plug into the 4AT, would I be able to use those same plugs for the 6MT?

Update: I started taking apart the car slowly... Will be positing pictures up soon. For the parking brake, who do I remove the cable that's already going to the third pedal after I put the console handbrake on?

fsttyms1

No. The engines are different and so are the trannies. The harness plugs for the ECU are completely different. You will atleast need a type-s MANUAL engine harness, and i would say atleast the drivers side and passenger side to engine compartment

BigLizard

I'm bumping my CL-premium motor up to a Type-S 3.5L. I've already got most of the parts in. She'll be put together soon.

It's doable, just got to have the cash.

j83

Just lettin you know that i had finished the type-s engine swap w/ the 6 speed couple of weeks ago into my 01 tl and i will say it is well worth it. I think if i did the engine swap and not the auto to manual, i wouldn't find much interest in it. Good luck with finding the right tech or the right grease monkey to go through the whole nine, unless you're technically inclined to do it...-j-

joe80055

Why haven't I seen any threads about this mod you've made?... So tell me.. how'd it go?

j83

im just a lurker but some ppl on this forum know me, and they know i got the swap done. the swap went alright it gets cold up here in NJ and having to work outside on the swap is not pleasant at all, but just like fsttyms1 after you're done for the most part... you're going to have a lil knick knacks of parts to buy here and there, im finishing up on gettin polyeurathane mounts installed (it's custom so dont ask where they have that).

during this whole swap I learned that when i was dealing with used engine and tranny i now know to make sure to inspect for crack, leaks, missing parts.
lets see in my swap i had :
-missing throttle body of the engine assembly
-when i did order the throttle body i found the tps sensor almost broken off
-vtec solenoid neck snapped off right by the oil filter when i bought the engine
-where the motor mount on the passenger side of the block cracked off right at the waterpump welded at a steep price because it is an aluminum block
-even after welding it im getting a drip of oil leak from that area definately the welders fault!
-when i ordered the tranny i asked for both the axles, after a month later found out that the one side of the axle was from another car (swindlers! ) but turns out you can use your tl-p or cl-p auto axle although i know for sure the axles on the tl-s or cl-s is stronger
-you have the get the immoblilzer reprogrammed
-you have to fight to get the tranny, engine, speedo, ecm, other etc parts. at the right price cause for a while cl-tl-accord crowd are trying to get their hands on them too.
-just when I thought I paid for most of swap parts, alot of parts more to buy from acura, another bundles of joy right there
-unless you are inclined for rewiring using the service manual, you'll have to be a step ahead because even in the manual you'll find that its not accurate in certain areas it can throw you off.
-acura parts guy that i deal with had this problem with ordering something on the clutch master cyl.(not his fault) honda bagged a wrong part into the part number
-freaking im sure every guy who has done this swap knows that magical part that is located down by the timing belt, that magical sensor price just makes you dread about even doing this swap,

but pm me if you need help on the install. btw to get the tranny i traveled pretty far to get the 6 spd, i mean real FAR (around your state), but i guess imma patient guy and after all this and it was worth it , it was all talk a couple of years ago when i wanted to do this but i finally came through -j-

01tl4tl

Hey Thizz

Since your original issue was with the handling of the TL, take a look in the group buys section- there is a special add-on underbody stiffener and and upper bar replacement, really tightens the car up on long sweepers.

If you want flat and tight all the time, go with bigger sway bars and urethane bushings

Then you can always upgrade the shocks- Tokiko are popular and respected