I have a couple of things to share regarding replacing the engine in a 2nd gen TL. The idler bolt that holds the timing tensioning idler broke. Not sure how that happens but it sure did. That causes idler to come off and the belt to chew itself up. And of course it trashed all the exhaust valves.
Interestingly enough, the local Honda dealer had 2 of these bolts in stock. So maybe that happens frequently. I replace the engine (262,778 miles) with one from a salvage yard that had 130k on it for $368 bucks. And bought a new timing kit with water pump off amazon for $223 and was happy with the quality. I ended up messing up the downstream O2 sensor so that was another $30 from amazon. New coolant, oil and filter (and a quart of trans fluid) for $78 and I was all set. Roughly $700. Seems like a hefty price tag for this old of a car with this many miles. But in IL the cost for tax/title/lic on a used car is almost $450. And the trans was replaced before we got it so the trans only has $80k on it.

Everything went great until I test drove it and it only had 1st and 2nd gear. After searching the interwebs I found out that I probably swapped a couple of connectors on the trans. Sure enough, the last two connectors on the harness going to the trans were on the wrong plugs. Switched them, reset the code and it's good to go now. Just thought I'd share in case anyone had a P0780 code after an engine swap.

 

Nice info, how was your experience with the CrankShaft pulley bolt? they can be pretty stubborn.

I think those connectors are color coded; might help to hit them with some electronic contact cleaner (to clean but not east the plastic).

 

^^

Nice job, John G.
BTW, you would not happen to have the blue & white Aisin timing belt box & instructions that you could take a picture of?
Reason being, you bought it from the 'AISIN Store' on Amazon & some people on here think that legit Aisin kits can't be purchased on Amazon.
Pictures would prove that it is possible to get them from Amazon.
TIA

 

The crank pulley bolt was stubborn. But I had the heavy weight 19mm impact socket paired with a Milwaukee M18 impact. It didn't zip right off but handled it after about 30 seconds. And I agree on those color coded plugs. But these suckers were both black and both identical. I was shocked that they were interchangeable. But after unhooking one was longer than the other and it made more sense that it went to the farther plug. Live and learn I guess!

 

You bet! Here you go.

 

^
Nice!
Thanks for the pictures.
Just curious, was your 130K mile salvage yard engine a J32A1 (Base / Premium TL) or a J32A2 that came with the TL Type-S?

 

It came from a CL. Was identical. Which is what I wanted. I wanted the easiest solution.