Hi, ive been searching over the internet and acurazine if MDX Engine block fits 2nd Generation TL. Can we do an engine swap from mdx into tl. I couldnt find any good information about it but im looking. If its a cheaper setup and whats involve in all that.

 

Haven't searched to well then . Its basically the same block as the TL(just stronger castings in some areas). When we talk about doing a 3.5 conversion thats one of the ways. Search 3.5 conversion. You will find a BIG thread with all the different engine/crank/piston/head ETC... options

 

You wouldnt want the whole engine though. You would want a hybrid with type-s parts.

 

So you mean i can just change some engine parts and im good? Im a total no0b at this, im gonna go read those threads to see what parts have to be changed and how the process works.

 

About 4 years ago when i had an integra with bolt-ons I came to a light and next to me was an acura tl 2001 bodystyle I didnt know much about them at the time but I knew he wanted to race, now I know my integra was at least a low to flat 15 second car. When the light turned green he took off light a freakin rocket, by the time i was at the end of 2nd gear he had already put about 12 cars on me. I ended up pulling him over to see whats going on. Long story short, his car had been in a flood, he got his insurance money out of it, took his non running block out and replaced it with an mdx block and slapped his type-s heads on it. With just bolt ons he said his car ran a 13.2 at the 1/4. After that i would hear stories from people getting left in the dust by that acura tl. So his car became pretty popular around here at the time, but now i havent seen that car since. But you see back then I didnt really know anything about tl's so I didnt really care, but Im surprised not to see anybody else especially on this site to have tried that.

 

I had a perfect chance to do something like that last year when i burned the engine of my 02 TLP, but last summer, i didnt know any thing about engine swaps so i let the mechanic do his job and he just swapped another TLp engine in it.

 

you can turn your engine into the exact same engine without having to buy a MDX motor. You will however want to buy type-s pistons or RL pistons (better) and type s heads and intake

 

im a total no0b at engine parts, im gonna educate myself with those parts before i go ahead and do this. i am however thinking to do that. I do have the mechanic who is good at doing that, but i have to know all this so the mechanic dont try to rip me off. i can buy the parts, i have to know what parts go where and how the process starts ? This can sure be my winter Project
Any help will be appreciated.

 

I was just checking the parts on Acura OEM Parts.com and the rough amount is around $2500 If im right, unless im buying the extra parts i dont need.

 

kris when u say type s heads and intake do u mean 2nd gen? if you already have a type s whats needed for the conversion? just RL pistons? which gen RL?

 

I was reading 3.5 Conversion Thread for 3G TL. the guy said RL pistons dont fit. now im not too sure. I have some Honda Geek Guys live down the block but they only work on civic. They swap engine in their backyard. im gonna ask them if they know anything about this 1. See what help i can find because im getting more and more interested in this.

 

I've already been saving up money for the swap. Damn bolt ons on a TL-P don't do it for me.

I was thinking about finding a full CL Type-S motor with the 6 speed tranny and then get the MDX block with RL pistons. Supposedly that's what the 3.5 swap is..... please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

I was reading and MDX block dont fit. im keepin my search on!

 

From what I have read on here, you need the MDX crank to get to a 3.5. Then using either CL/TL-S pistons or using RL pistons with some modification. The RL pistons have higher compression. I believe 11.0.1 instead of the Type-S 10.5.1
Don't quote me on that though.

 

You guys arent searching/reading very good

https://acurazine.com/forums/showpos...00&postcount=7


The search button works for this as well


this just a parts list with engine codes and such

here is more to chew on

J30A1/J30A1
advantage: no modification needed.
disadvantage: no torque until turbo/sc kicks in.

J30A1/J32A2
advantage: mid-range and top-end power
disadvantage: J30A1 pistons have to be modified to fit large J32A2 (intake) valves.
Not much torque until turbo/sc kicks in.

J32A2/J32A2
advantage: no modification needed, mid-range, top-end power.
disadvantage: torque is still ok but better than J30A1

J35A*/J30A1
advantage: no modifications needed, great torque, nice mid-range
disadvantage: top-end power

J35A*/J32A2
advantage: great entire powerband and especially torque.
disadvantage:
Need RL pistons.

UPDATE (6/23/2005)
There are also couple options:

Option 1
With '01 or '02 Odyssey complete block (crank/rods/pistons) it is required to purchase 2005 Acura RL pistons
(new set $50 each) This is a best option still since these pistons have clearance for large 36mm J32A2 (intake)
valves thus no modification needed. Despite the fact they have higher 11.0:1 CR still even supercharger can be
used here with low boost up to 7psi intercooled (assuming safe AFR). In addition, if 11:1 CR is too high for you,
you can use '03 CL-S pistons with 10.5:1 CR.

Option 2
'01-03 J32A2 block (CL-S)
Required to purchase the following:

'02-'04 Odyssey (crankshaft)
Product No. 368270 or
Honda part #13310-PGK-A00 $367.32

'02-'04 Odyssey (connecting rod)
Product No. 368269 or
Honda part #13210-PGK-A00 $79.48 each

'03 CL-S (pistons) - 10.5:1 CR or
'05 RL (pistons) - 11.0:1 CR

Note: Odyssey pistons do not have clearance to fit large 36mm J32A2 (intake) valves. Solution - custom job to
increase valve pockets.

BTW, The only advantage to get J32A2 block is due to better cylinder sleeves to withstand heat designed for higher
redline vehicle, otherwise depending on the price Odyssey '01, '02 block is the best bet.


The best bet is to have '01 Odyssey block and swap in '05 RL pistons. Not sure about '01-02 MDX block this should
be checked. '03-04 MDX crankshaft which is the same part as '05 RL
will not work.
Bottom line, I checked crank, rods cannot be used from either '03-04 MDX or '05 RL on Odyssey block - they won't
work. Only 'RL pistons/rings are good.

Piston Part#
13010-RJA-000, 2005 RL, $50.47, 36mm/30mm (intake/exhaust valves)
13010-PGK-A01, 2002-2004 Odyssey, $29.89, 30mm/30mm
and Accord V6 valves are 30mm/30mm.

And since MDX piston is exactly the same as Odyssey, let's stick to Odyssey.

This is the documented proof showing '05 RL pistons are perfect fit for large CL-S/TL-S 36mm intake valves when installing 3.2L heads
on 3.5L block whereas '02-04 Odyssey pistons required metal removal to increase valve pockets to fit.
Let's just stick to Odyssey

BTW, $50 each '05 RL piston set can be purchased from acuraautomotiveparts.org

So those who want J32A2 (CL-S/TL-S) heads on J35A1 ('01 Odyssey) complete block the best bet is '05 RL pistons otherwise get '02-'04
Odyssey pistons and have machine shop to clear the valve "pockets"

Or another option is '01-03 J32A2 (CL-S/TL-S) heads on '01-03 J32A2 (CL-S/TL-S)block. But you need Odyssey '01-03 crankshaft and rods
as indicated on the page 1 (see J35A1/J32A2 listing) + '05 RL pistons


Here are the updated options :


BLOCK/HEADS (incl. manifold (upper/lower), tb)
------------------
J30A1/J30A1
advantage: no modification needed.
disadvantage: no torque until turbo/sc kicks in.

J30A1/J32A2
advantage: mid-range and top-end power
disadvantage: J30A1 pistons have to be modified to fit large J32A2 (intake) valves.
Not much torque until turbo/sc kicks in.

J32A2/J32A2
advantage: no modification needed, mid-range, top-end power.
disadvantage: torque is still ok but better than J30A1

J35A4/J30A1 (Odyssey '02-04/ '00-02 Accord V6)
advantage: no modifications needed, great torque, nice mid-range
disadvantage: top-end power

J35A3/J35A3 (Acura MDX '01-02)
advantage: no modifications needed, great torque, nice mid-range
disadvantage: little less air flow than J32A2 but very close.

This option looks like a good choice if getting the complete engine or even separate short block and cyl.
heads/manifold due to a price. And MDX the cyl.
heads are the same part # as CL-S, however intake valves and cams are different than CL-S.

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.

There are also couple options:

Option 1
With '01-02 complete MDX block or '02-04 Odyssey complete block (crank/rods/pistons) it is required to purchase 2005 Acura RL
pistons (new set $50 each) This is a best option still since these pistons have clearance for large 36mm J32A2 (intake) valves
thus no modification needed. Despite the fact they have higher 11.0:1 CR still even supercharger can be used here with low boost
up to 7psi intercooled (assuming safe AFR). In addition, if 11:1 CR is too high for you, you can use '03 CL-S pistons with 10.5:1 CR.

Option 2
'01-03 J32A2 block (CL-S)
Required to purchase the following:

-= hondaautomotiveparts.com =-
'02-'04 Odyssey (crankshaft)
Product No. 368270 or
Honda part #13310-PGK-A00

'02-'04 Odyssey (connecting rod)
Product No. 368269 or
Honda part #13210-PGK-A00

Main bearings + rod bearings

-= acuraautomotiveparts.org =-
'03 CL-S (pistons) - 10.5:1 CR or
'05 RL (pistons) - 11.0:1 CR

pistons rings (per chosen model)

Note: Odyssey pistons do not have clearance to fit large 36mm J32A2 (intake) valves. Solution - custom job to increase valve pockets.

BTW, The only advantage to get J32A2 block is due to better cylinder sleeves to withstand heat designed for higher redline vehicle,
otherwise depending on the price Odyssey or MDX block are the best bet.

Keep in mind, J35A5 '03-04 MDX will not fit on 6th gen. AV6/CL/TL/CL-S/TL-S due to different design, and looks like only for 7th gen.
AV6.[/QUOTE]

 

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/184466/26

 

i would like to quote this part from the link

so the CL type-S is better because all you need is a 3.5 crank and the cylinder lining is better and easier for a six-speed swap no? because of the few parts needed to not throw a code...

so lostkhan, if im correct here since you have a type-S if you wanna stay auto just get a crank instead of splurging on the whole block and if you want a six speed get the CL-S engine and 3.5 crank


either way you just need the crank

 

oh... and Kris... when you track the TL do you gate shift or tiptronic? my tiptronic stops working after a few laps lol then i just put it in D3 and left it in there all day.... forgot about gate shifting at the time


wait i mean DID you gate shift..... bastard

 

It all depends on what your doing. You dont need to waste the money on a CL-S motor if you already have a TL type-s motor. (especially if your doing a manual conversion) Now if you have a TL-P it may be a good thing to look for the CL-S6 motor if your doing a manual conversion, as it ay end up being cheaper and less work) Cylinder lining has Nothing to do with the 6 speed swap.


When i had a auto i used SS for track events, thats what it was designed for was that type of driving.

 

lol ohh yea i worded that wrong i meant the lining is better for a more reliable engine...

something must be wrong with my SS then... after a few hot laps it didnt want to shift anymore, we both have 2000 TLs

 

Something wasnt wrong, the trans was getting too hot. Try adding a trans cooler. or doign a few laps then a few cool down laps before going at it again