Project TL: Engine swap has begun!
11-20-2006, 09:24 PM
#45
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The machine shop has done assembling the internals of the block. It will be delievered back to the shop where we will start putting it all back together. If everything goes right, we will be able to fire up the engine at the end of this week.
I can't wait to break in the engine and start to dyno and tune it.
I can't wait to break in the engine and start to dyno and tune it.
11-21-2006, 10:44 PM
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why are you useing the '07 type-s heads instead of your stock ones. are they not the same. are the cam profiles bigger for the type-s and thats why you need the heads ?
what is that next to your tl motor...gsr?
what is that next to your tl motor...gsr?
11-25-2006, 06:00 AM
#61
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Just came back from Seattle for Thanks Giving shopping. I will be heading down to the shop tomorrow and get an update. From what I know, the block with new pistons are back from the machine shop and the engine is assembled. We should be able to fire it up very soon!
11-25-2006, 07:05 AM
#62
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and worhip. You are the MAN for doing this.I've been waiting three years to see a thread like this.
11-27-2006, 01:31 PM
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bad news. Turns out RL block and TL tranny won't fit, so now we are trasfering all the internals of the MDX block (crankshaft, bearings, rods) and CL-S piston to the TL block. I also ordered a set of high performance piston rings from Total Seal rings so hopfully it will be more boost friendly.
We also figured out a way to install a tranny cooler and we are going to bypass the cooling unit.
We also figured out a way to install a tranny cooler and we are going to bypass the cooling unit.
11-27-2006, 04:54 PM
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Hmm, seems odd that the 3.5 engine doesn't fit as that is what they are now using in the TL-S. Is it possible that the MDX 3.5 engone is different than the RL engine and that is why it doesn't fit? Eaither way, that's too bad because a non-TL-S with a 3.5 in it could be pretty darn cool!
11-27-2006, 05:00 PM
#69
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The bell housing of the TL tranny does not match up with the MDX/RL block. The new TL-S also have a new transmission so they might have changed the design.
However we will be transplating the 3.5L internals into the 3.2 TL block. So the final product will still be a 3.5L engine with 10.5:1 compression ratio.
However we will be transplating the 3.5L internals into the 3.2 TL block. So the final product will still be a 3.5L engine with 10.5:1 compression ratio.
11-27-2006, 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by lookinco
The bell housing of the TL tranny does not match up with the MDX/RL block. The new TL-S also have a new transmission so they might have changed the design.
However we will be transplating the 3.5L internals into the 3.2 TL block. So the final product will still be a 3.5L engine with 10.5:1 compression ratio.
However we will be transplating the 3.5L internals into the 3.2 TL block. So the final product will still be a 3.5L engine with 10.5:1 compression ratio.
11-27-2006, 06:33 PM
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The bore is actually the same. The main difference of 3.5L is the crankshaft and rods. It's basically a stroke kit except that it's all factory Acura parts.
There are actually a few ways to do this. You could use MDX crank and rod with TL piston and TL head with a compression ratio of 11.0:1. Another option would be to use TL-S or RL piston and TL-S head with a compression ratio of 11.0:1. The last option which is what I am doing is CL-S piston with TL-S head with a compression ratio of 10.5:1.
The TL-S head have bigger intake valves, that's why you must use either the CL-S, TL-S, or RL piston because they have a deeper cutout so the bigger intake valve won't hit. I chose to go with the TL-S head because of the bigger intake valves and the hollow camshaft.
There are actually a few ways to do this. You could use MDX crank and rod with TL piston and TL head with a compression ratio of 11.0:1. Another option would be to use TL-S or RL piston and TL-S head with a compression ratio of 11.0:1. The last option which is what I am doing is CL-S piston with TL-S head with a compression ratio of 10.5:1.
The TL-S head have bigger intake valves, that's why you must use either the CL-S, TL-S, or RL piston because they have a deeper cutout so the bigger intake valve won't hit. I chose to go with the TL-S head because of the bigger intake valves and the hollow camshaft.
11-28-2006, 02:02 PM
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I ordered the new TL block and piston rings yesterday. Hopfully the parts will be here by the end of this week. Then three days at the machine shop and three days back at the shop for the finaly assembling. So hopfully it will be done in three weeks. I guess this will be my christmas gift this year!
11-28-2006, 02:42 PM
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If I were to reuse my orignal block, I would need to rehone it which would probably cost about the same as getting a brand new bare block. A new block only cost me $450 with free shipping, so I decided to go with a new one.
11-28-2006, 04:26 PM
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This motor is gonna be the best christmas gift anyone could give this year! Funny, I bought my car as a christmas gift to self in 2004. By christmas 2005, I had all the mods they made for it, except supercharger and pro cats. Nothing justifies the modding addiction better than 'Its christmas, and I WANT one'! 
11-29-2006, 08:51 AM
#79
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OMG. That's insane man!
If you had a turbo kit that would make your car even MORE one on a kind. The ultimate one of a kind TL.
So this is costing your probably around $2,000 after all is installed (not including charger of course). ? (If you don't wanna say, that's cool too).
If you had a turbo kit that would make your car even MORE one on a kind. The ultimate one of a kind TL.
So this is costing your probably around $2,000 after all is installed (not including charger of course). ? (If you don't wanna say, that's cool too).
11-29-2006, 12:56 PM
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I did think about a turbo kit. The main problem is our bumper design do not allow us to put a front mount intercooler. There is an option to use the Versus Motorsport front bumper but I don't exactly like the looks of it. I know the 7th Gen Accord people are coming up with turbo kit. When it comes out I will see if it would fit. I know they have very similar engine and exhaust setup, so it should not be hard to adapte to the TL (fingers crossed).
As for cost, if i where to do it all over again, it would cost me much less. But since I am the first to do it and had to go through trial and error, it cost me more.
If anyone where to do this swap again, this is what you need.
- a TL bareblock $477 (you can reuse your orignal block but you would need to rehone it)
- MDX or RL crankshaft $632.05
- MDX or RL connecting rods $440.28
- cylinder head gaskets $236.60
- piston rings $189.72 (Total seal piston rings $120)
Option:
Upgrade to TL-S cylinder head (must use TL-S, RL, or CL-S piston) $1531.50
Change to RL piston $289.08 (11.0:1 cr)
Change to CL-S piston $202.80 (10.5:1 cr)
Parts that you can reuse from your orignal block includes all the bearings for the crankshaft and connecting rods if they are in good conditions. You can also reuse the front and rear cylinder head. If you want to upgrade to the TL-S cylinder head (bigger intake valves, hollow cam shaft, better cam profile), then you must use either the CL-S or RL piston as those piston have a bigger valve pocket to match the bigger intake valves in the cylinder head.
As for cost, if i where to do it all over again, it would cost me much less. But since I am the first to do it and had to go through trial and error, it cost me more.
If anyone where to do this swap again, this is what you need.
- a TL bareblock $477 (you can reuse your orignal block but you would need to rehone it)
- MDX or RL crankshaft $632.05
- MDX or RL connecting rods $440.28
- cylinder head gaskets $236.60
- piston rings $189.72 (Total seal piston rings $120)
Option:
Upgrade to TL-S cylinder head (must use TL-S, RL, or CL-S piston) $1531.50
Change to RL piston $289.08 (11.0:1 cr)
Change to CL-S piston $202.80 (10.5:1 cr)
Parts that you can reuse from your orignal block includes all the bearings for the crankshaft and connecting rods if they are in good conditions. You can also reuse the front and rear cylinder head. If you want to upgrade to the TL-S cylinder head (bigger intake valves, hollow cam shaft, better cam profile), then you must use either the CL-S or RL piston as those piston have a bigger valve pocket to match the bigger intake valves in the cylinder head.