Originally I planned to just buy a 6MT from a dealer. However I am scrapping this in favor of putting a new motor and new transmission in my current TL and retaining all my modifications.

Reason for my post is I am completely unable to find any data on an 07 model swap.


I have saved the thread concerning the 06 swap and the 04 swap.
The issue here is the obvious base/type-s parts and 07 vs 06 parts. Anyone have or know of a resource that will help us facilitate this swap, mainly concerning the latter finer details?


I have already collaborated with a trusted experienced mechanic, so now my next step is getting exact parts for an 07 6MT Type-S. I plan to order the parts myself.


Any input or help is greatly appreciated.

 

why.

the MT has different axles, different ECU, different suspension, among other things.

i guarantee your mods aren't that serious if you're looking to swap an entire motor, so just take your bolt-ons off, revert the car to stock, sell it, and buy a 6mt and install your bolt-ons in that.

Even if you are missing stock components from what you modded - it would be cheaper to buy replacement OEM parts and revert the car back to stock, than it would be to get a 3.5 motor, 6mt, ECU, axles, clutch pedal, shifter, linkage, master cylinder, slave cylinder.

The only way I could see this making sense is if you found a junkyard 6mt Type-S with everything you need intact.

 

seems like so much work for the same motor and different trans. might as well get an MT type-s and build a j36/37 with it

 

Reasoning, it will cost about $800(rounded up) in labor to revert to stock. $230 in gas(round trip), $6000 after trade-in*, $230 registration, $1200 for 105k tune-up, and $825 for a new clutch.Totaling around $8460 not factoring tax, just to acquire.


VS
As of now I'm being quoted $2000 in labor, and from comparing the 04 MT swap I'm looking about $3000 in parts. Totaling to an estimated $5350. I'm shooting for $6000, but in the end will have a new block and new transmission plus various parts.


So my question here is how is it efficient to spend more to obtain a slightly less used car, than spend less and obtain unused newer parts? Assuming that maintaining cost effectiveness and efficiency were the goal in acquiring the 6MT.


If there are holes or flaws in what I have laid out please elaborate, because I'm really trying to learn as much as I can here.


*dealer will give me at most is $10k for my TL. They want $16k after TTL.

 

Selling privately is not an option due to downtime and uncertainty.

 

You're forgetting some other calculations. Yes, you spend $8000 now to get the car...but resale value is higher too since it has much lower mileage(I assume it does since you're adding 6k on top). If it doesnt have much lower mileage I would say scrap the idea. It's still the same car even with 6mt...

Also why would it cost $800 to revert back to stock? Only thing I can think of is if you have internal engine mods like cams, pistons, etc which I doubt you do. Even full bolt ons exhaust, jpipe, pcd, IM, TB, CAI, pulley, all that wouldnt/shouldnt total to $800 labor. Not to mention you can sell those aftermarket parts for some $ back.

 

Also, here's a big question. why are you buying a car when you KNOW it needs a new clutch and timing belt service right away?! thats very dumb unless the dealer prices it 2k off, which they would never do.

Don't let the fact that its a 6mt stop you from thinking straight.

 

when you say "04 mt swap", are you talking about swapping the engine and 6mt from an 04 into your type-s or just the trans and then buy a 3.5 engine? If you aren't putting a new Type-S motor in (the 3.5) then you're talking about putting the '04 3.2 motor into the Type-S, and from an 04 there are wiring harness considerations, electrical considerations regarding the gauge cluster, as well as everything else I already mentioned above.

You won't find much information on a 6mt swap here, and that's because nobody does it because it isn't cost effective.

It's an experiment at this point. Take it from me as someone who just dropped 13 g's on an engine build that should have cost 7k. Costs will go up in this endeavor because you are trying to assert a fixed-cost project in an arena of unknowns. You won't be getting an MT swap done from an 04 motor/trans into a type-s for 5k total parts/labor. Just ain't happening, unless you source everything from a junkyard, and even then you need someone who knows their shit in terms of wiring/electricals in a car, not just a mechanic who can slap shit together.

The simple fact that you are saying you can't sell privately due to downtime and uncertainty, and that you're looking to trade in current car to the dealer while they rape you on the other end as they weave the deal in their favor - all of this tells me that you shouldn't be pursuing this project right now.

I used to have an '05 TL. Then I bought my type-s by taking a loan and then sold my '05 privately and then paid off the type-s with proceeds. I don't understand why you couldn't do something like that if you are telling us you have 5-6k cash to spend on this conversion in the first place. Why wouldn't you just take that cash and use it as a down payment and borrow 10k to get into the type-s 6mt, then sell your type-s 5AT privately, either clearing the loan on your 5AT at the time of sale (if you currently have a loan), or pay off the 6mt with the proceeds?

 

so you can't sell privately, but you have enough time to redo wiring, and swap a motor? Electrical wiring is a bitch. Also isn't there a law that says if you swap a motor you will need a motor that is equal or newer to the year of your car?

http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production...ngswitch_0.pdf

 

I didn't elaborate very well, the labor for stock parts also includes body work that needs completed on the rear quarter panel and door for it to hold up to trade-in value. I also forgot to factor in another item but its negligible as it will be serviced either way. As for the bolt-ons, I absolutely want to keep them.

The issue with the tune-up is since we all know the 6MTs are few and far between, the only search hits that match for me have 88k miles to 105k miles on them. While the original clutch on my saturn lasted 157k miles, my friend's used civic went out at 105k miles.

The 6MT is the last mod I would want to do with the TL. It's been a perfect car and I have every intention of keeping it in my ownership regardless if it's AT or MT. I just feel the MT would complete the car overall in satisfaction and utility.

 

1-week labor vs uncertainty? 1-week.
I don't understand the last part. It's the same OEM motor manufactured for the same TL Type-S. " ...There is a reasonable basis for knowing that
emissions are not adversely affected as described in Memo 1A."
Regardless, the EPA is irrelevant to a large number of us.

 

i have a feeling most ppl doing engine and transmission swaps arent too worried about the law lol

 

Just do it and tell us how much it will cost you after everything is said and done.

 

Never gonna happen, and for good reason

 

This was one of my reasons for considering this. I would like documentation.

 

there is probably not going to be any on acurazine. try v6p. There are a few accord that when from auto to mt

 

If you were to do this yourself and not have to pay labor it could easily be done for under 3k. Having to pay labor, you better get something in writing for cost or you could find yourself paying a lot more if the shop has any uncertainty with the swap.

 

Little update in case anyone was curious on a parts list.

Right now copying the parts list from the other conversion threads... Im at $2.8kish just for parts alone.

"clutch
flywheel
flywheel bolts
ecu
engine harness
engine to ecu harness
master cylinder
slave cylinder
clutch lines
clutch pedal
brake pedal
shift cables
shift lever + accessories
clutch reservoir
tranny mounts
Speedo cluster
starter"
+various bolts, mounts, wires, etc.

The Type-S MT is listed being less expensive than the 04 MT.

Throwing in a brand new 3.5 block and 07 MT tranny brings the parts total to around $9.2k

edit: This parts list is sourced from an 07 MT.

 

Why would you need a new engine? Isn't the 5AT TL-S also a 3.5L? From my understanding the engine is identical and you have more power loss in the AT than you do in the MT.

 

It was my understanding that the 3.5 block on an AT only bolts up to an AT transmission.

 

The part numbers are identical for the block between AT and MT on acuraoemparts.

I seriously doubt honda made a separate block just for the MT.

 

 

Let me be a little less vague. I read on here in another thread that there is a separate block for each transmission. Whether that's true or not is still be be figured out. Until more information comes to light, I'll play safe.

 

I'm really quoting myself?

 

i swapped mine out a little while back.. never looked back to AT.

It IS worth it.....

 

Never mentioned anything before, since I know some guys are pretty hesitant to do electrical work since most don't have a clue when it comes to it.

I studied the pin-outs of the 04-05 Acura TL a good bit and you could get by with an AT harness doing the AT to MT swap on those years.

You'd have some extra connectors hanging around, the entire C connector on the ECM wouldn't be needed and the plugs around the trans itself would be disconnected.

Other than that the AT has only a few extra wires:

Difference between A/T & M/T Pins

A/T
Pin Function
A13 Sport Shift Down
A19 Sport Shift Up
A22 Shift Lock Solenoid (equivalent function to M/T A22 - No concern)
A31 METINH (Gauge cluster input for trans.)

C-Connector --> Only for A/T

M/T
A22 Reverse Lock Solenoid (equivalent function to A/T A22- No concern)
A30 Clutch Pedal Position

You'd have to add a wire for the clutch pedal position, and alter the wire that goes to A22 to connect it to the reverse lock solenoid on the MT.

Other than that everything is identical between the harnesses.

That's for 04-05 though, I'd bet it's probably a similar situation for the 06-08 harnesses but you'd have to dig into the service manual to figure it out.

There are a few other wires though, the M/T has an extra wire coming off the alternator to feed power to the reverse lock solenoid, and then some grounds and such for the clutch pedal position switch .. lol it could be done though

 

I wouldn't do it. It just sounds absoultely crazy