DoC-JoneS

So from what I understand the following SHOULD be possible..

J37 crank plus snout adapter
Forged crower rods
J35 RL Pistons

fitting into my J32 block.

On the top end I should be able to fit the J37 SH-AWD IM plus ZDX TB.

My questions for the build would be,

What ECU would I need to run this, and would I be able to use a stock ECU?
What Intake runners would I need?
I know alot of 3g guys are looking into these types of swaps as is, but i'm looking into the ease and feasibility of doing this type of thing in a 2nd gen.

Stephen00TL

Get the cylinder walls bored out 1 mm and honed and use the 12 sh awd pistons. That way you can get a 3.7l instead of 3.6. That's what fsttyms1 and I plan on doing. Also the zdx throttle body won't work because we don't have drive by wire. The 09 tl intake manifold will work but have your stock runners ported out. I plan on using the stock ecu but fsttyms1 is goin to use a standalone.

DoC-JoneS

I figured that may be an issue. What cable fed TB would be big enough to work with the 3.7 manifold? I'm pretty sure port matching by maxbore would be needed, but what would offer the best fit between the two?

fsttyms1

Get the BLOX 76mm tb.

Why do you want forged crower rods?
Stock ECU OR AEM standalone so you can tune.

DoC-JoneS

would stock rods be up to the task? I'm not planning on going FI or NO2 down the road.

If so what rods would I need? J35? J37? Or could I reuse my stock rods?

Chevelle66

Just out of curiosity, since I know nothing specific about non-chevy/FI engines, how much does something like this usualy cost? And what are the performance gains? And also, how badly do the emmisions suffer?
Seems much harder figuring out what works on these cars, or maybe it's just because the sbc has been around 60 years lol

fsttyms1

If you arent planning on FI buy the stock rods. They are MORE than enough for the task. Get new j37 if you go with the J37 crank and pistons.

fsttyms1

Depends on how much of the work you do yourself. If you do all the assembling yourself part wise 1200-1500 or so also depends on if you can find a used crank or if you buy a new one (new its 404.00) Performance wise guys have seen over 300hp and near 300tq. Im shooting for 350whp with my setup. No emissions shouldnt be effected at all. Its basically a stock j37 acura motor.

DoC-JoneS

Has anyone actually seen a J37 engine for sale? It'd be much easier to find one and get all the parts off then collect everything for the rotating assembly. Anyone know the stock tb size of the j32a2?

03tLsNBP

iTrader: (9)

you could look on car-part.com for a J37. i believe the J32A2 OEM TB is 68mm IIRC.

Stephen00TL

69 iirc i measured it a month or two ago

fsttyms1

Yes, and they are very expensive (the majority of what i have seen is 2500-4k) . Its cheaper to buy just the parts you need. Even if you got the engine, you still have to buy all NEW bearings, and new rings for the pistons which will just add to what you spent on the engine.

DoC-JoneS

will the block suffer any issues from using the j37 crank and rods? I'm reading elsewhere that "square bore" issues may arise over time. With the boring of the block would that negate the issues?

rush

iTrader: (1)

I've had mine for a year now no issues

fsttyms1

it will be just fine

mikebikelife

iTrader: (3)

Very informative . I like .

JDTL-S2002

How much work at the machine shop would be needed for this swap? as far as boring for the new pistons, valves, I.M. etc.. and what rods and mains (bearings) would be needed?

richardparker

iTrader: (7)

Only machine work is bore/hone the block. Shop I went to they charged me 20 per hole.
J37 crank,rods,pistons,and rings and I think I used j32a2 bearings

fsttyms1

Yep. Thats it. Though i paid 250 because i had the block decked to its max service limit

richardparker

iTrader: (7)

Any clearance issues ?
What compression will that give ?

fsttyms1

Shouldnt be. Ill know once i get it home and start assembling it. If things get close ill get a different size MLS head gasket.
Wont know that either till i get it home, but it should bump it more. Id ideally like to be 12:1

DoC-JoneS

So for the manifold, I'll need the manifold and the top plate. Is that it? Stephen I read your post on the swap and it looks pretty awesome. Hoping to duplicate it soon, but I need to replace motor mounts first...

Stephen00TL

Yes and now you can use an accord top plate for about half the price but it says Honda instead of Acura. Also you will need an adapter for te manifold to whatever throttle body you plan on using

03 tls nc

iTrader: (6)

I just started looking into this. What are you guys running for cams? In a 03 tls what do you do about the vsa if running a factory ECU?

fsttyms1

You can use your stock cams, 08tls cams, or custom regrinds. Personally I'm keeping the stock cams and changing the rocker arm ratio by changing the roller bearing on it. You can keep the visa or get rid of it.I would do the later due to it restricting air flow

03 tls nc

iTrader: (6)

fsttyms1 you stated that you decked the block and I assume going to run a thinner head gasket to increase the compression to 12:1. I think I'm gone start with a modest 3.5 build because I'm also trying to budget in a 6speed swap around the first of the year. But I would like to bump compression but have not found a good way to correct the timing. I have thought about having the key-way re cut between the cam and gear to the correct timing. How do you plan to correct the cam timing since know one makes adjustable cam gears?

fsttyms1

If you stay within the factory service limits you wont/shouldnt have an issue. Once you go over that then it becomes more of an issue. 1mm = 1 point. A better way to bump the compression is to use different oem pistons like the RL or custom. If you shoot for 12:1 you really should get a full standalone so you can tune it properly.

03 tls nc

iTrader: (6)

Thanks fsttyms1 I realy don't see me going lower than 1mm. The plan is to use a 02 MDX long block with 80K check the bottom end and run the short block untouched, take the heads which are the same casting as J32a2, head over to may friends at an unnamed NASCAR shop for some head work on the cheap(perk of living near Mooresville NC!!!), set of CLS cams and springs, big cam rollers, bump the compression up around 10.5:1 maybe 11:1 PnP the in take bore out the TB, under drive pully and a set of headers. If I can get 275whp I will be pleased and I can do all of this for about $1000. I think I might use a thinner head gasket so in the future if I want more power I can go back to stock with 10:1 and turbo with no other engine mods. The goal is to make the most power per $$$$ not the biggest power numbers. Its not the most impressive build but what do you think? And this is my DD so not trying to go all crazy yet.

fsttyms1

Sounds like a plan. With that setup i see you getting your target or more. I believe the A2 heads flow much better exhaust wise than the newer cast mani heads. Especially with a set of headers. Im hoping to get a dyno done once i get the long tubes made to see what gains/losses they make over the SS/DC/Comptech design. I just ordered a set of 09 MDX cams to throw in mine.

03 tls nc

iTrader: (6)

I cant wait to see how your long tubes turn out! I was actually thinking about the 09 MDX cams or even the 05 RL. But there is just know good cam specs to be found and since I will be running the stock TLS ECU I did not want to raise the CR above 10.7:1 so I went for a new CLS cam and springs. I could be mistaken but I believe that over on the 3G side I read that the a2 head flowed with in 10 CFM on the a8 on the intake and the same or slightly more for the exhaust. It will be fun to see what kind of power i can get out of a budget built j35a3.

DoC-JoneS

So after I did headers I really am feeling like intake needs to be my next upgrade. So IIRC...

09' + Manifold
Accord Top Plate
P2R TB adapter

And that should be it? Stephen i'm looking to you on this one. Then the top half should be done.

Stephen00TL

The p2r adapter sucks I oils get a custom one made. The 09 intake manifold is a great upgrade and you should get ported and polished runners to do at the same time. Also build a 4" intake when you put all that on

Stephen00TL

This was my setup when I first installed it. My aem intake no longer fit



This is my set up now

fsttyms1

DoC-JoneS

How did the VSA delete go? I may be able to get a shop locally to make an adapter for the TB. Also has it been confirmed the Honda top cover will work with the 09' manifold?

Stephen00TL

I did not have vsa since I have a 2000. The honda top plate will work but I'm not sure which yeAr to use