I’ve seen tons of threads about Type-S engines into a UA6, but none about a base UA7. Will it be cheaper to modify the existing engine?
I will be doing all my own labor

 

Engine only or do you plan on the transmission as well?

 

I believe the UA7 is a type s.

 

UA7 is the type s 07-08. But the type s 3.5 will drop right into an 07-08 base (UA6) TL. The 05-08 RL 3.5 will also fit as its pretty much identical to the type s 3.5 and can be found much cheaper as some places don't know its the same motor. the 07-09 MDX J37a1 will also drop right into an 07-08 TL base or type s. if you're an 04-06, things start getting a little more complicated and more research would need to be done to fit larger displacement motors.

 

For the older 2004-2006 cars with a 6MT, my understanding is the swap can be performed by simply swapping the bellhousing on the transmission and then swapping some sensors. That said, while the J35A8 would be a very desirable swap from my perspective, you couldn't pay me to drop in a J37 of any stripe given the horrible oil consumption issues many of them have.

 

you are correct. just swapping bell housing would do. and that generation J37 does not suffer from oil issues. the j37a1 from the 07-09 mdx is similar to our j32a3 and j35a8 just being a 3.7L. not all of it is the same but it does not have that special cylinder liner coating and piston rings that cause the oil burning issue.

 

I've heard that same thing quoted over and over, and yet I've also heard plenty of oil related issues with the J37A1; I wouldn't touch one unless it was to grab the rods and crank and retrofit them into a J32 or J35 so I could make a J36.

 

there are 2 j37a1s. the 07-09 and then 10+ mdx. the 10+ mdx j37a1 (gen 2) is very different despite the same engine code. I believe that was the first j37 honda decided to try out the new stuff

 

I'll say it differently this time; I have heard lots of theories regarding which, if any, J37s do not have oil control problems. So far I have yet to see any evidence to support any of them being immune to the issue; quite to the contrary actually.

 

this is an excerpt from the bulleting Acura released for the oil consumption. check out the affected models. the first generation j37a1 in the 07-09 mdx isnt part of the list. that's the only j37 that I have heard 0 complains about which makes sense as honda played it safe and just made your standard j37. after 2010, they started messing with different technologies that, as you know, is bitting them and others.

Acura Tech Line Summary Article
July 2016 BTS 160705 Version 1
Engine Oil Consumption
AFFECTED VEHICLES
2010−13 MDX, 2011−12 RL, 2010−14 TL, and 2010−13 ZDX

 

I do not believe there is any such thing as a "Standard J37"; just because Honda doesn't cover those in the Tech Line article in no way means the earlier J37s don't have issues. Said another way, I've heard of any number of pre-2010 MDXs with oil issues. Long story short, you couldn't pay me to put one in my car.

 

I will be doing this swap. Have an 08 base and will be putting an 07 type s engine. Will be pulling the engine next weekend i hope​​​​​​​