C30A Swap?

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Old 03-15-2018, 09:29 PM
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C30A Swap?

Is it heard of for people to swap the C30A motor in? I'm interested because it makes less torque however it makes 10 extra hp AND... Dohc v6's sound orgasmic
Just interested if anyone has done it!
Old 03-15-2018, 10:19 PM
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You're better off doing a J35A3. Cheap and way more torque. Parts are cheap. No downside really.
Old 03-15-2018, 11:56 PM
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Originally Posted by gnuts
You're better off doing a J35A3. Cheap and way more torque. Parts are cheap. No downside really.
I don't want to do this myself (although it would be a very cool swap imo) I was more so just wondering if anyone HAS done it, I think it sounds a lot better than the J series too honestly. But thats just my own two cents
Old 03-16-2018, 07:36 AM
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Why stop at the C30A; if this kind of a swap is going to be done, might as well go all the way and use the C32B instead.
Old 03-16-2018, 08:02 AM
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Originally Posted by horseshoez
Why stop at the C30A; if this kind of a swap is going to be done, might as well go all the way and use the C32B instead.
I'm mainly asking about the dohc engines in specific, just because of how they sound. I love it 😍
Old 03-16-2018, 08:10 AM
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Originally Posted by KeoCepcion
I'm mainly asking about the dohc engines in specific, just because of how they sound. I love it 😍
With the exception of when the engine is exploring the outer RPM ranges, I rather doubt a 4-Valve DOHC engine, in and of itself, will sound any different than a 4-Valve SOHC design.
Old 03-16-2018, 08:21 AM
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Originally Posted by horseshoez
With the exception of when the engine is exploring the outer RPM ranges, I rather doubt a 4-Valve DOHC engine, in and of itself, will sound any different than a 4-Valve SOHC design.
Well I dunno a lot about v6's but I've listened to a LOT of different Cl's and Tl's but none of them sound like a c30a or for other examples a VQ or HR Nissan motor which are also Dohc engines. I also notice a D series vs a b series has a similar sound when comparing a j to a c. I don't know how to explain the difference but I guess the best way to put it is the sohc has more of a whine whereas the dohc engines have more of a throaty sound... 🤷
Old 03-16-2018, 08:34 AM
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The thing is, you are focusing on one difference of literally thousands. FWIW, many DOHC BMW I6 sounds very similar to the J-Series engines.
Old 03-16-2018, 08:41 AM
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Originally Posted by horseshoez
The thing is, you are focusing on one difference of literally thousands. FWIW, many DOHC BMW I6 sounds very similar to the J-Series engines.
That's exactly what I thought and I guess my idea on why an inline 6 sounds different is while they're both dohc one has two cams and one set of cylinder banks while the V engine has two different banks of cylinders and 4 cams. I dunno if it really makes that big of a difference and don't really know what makes the sound so different but i love how the nissan v6's sound compared to a J series tbh
Old 03-16-2018, 08:45 AM
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I know that what I'm focusing on isn't exactly the "right" thing to focus on with an engine swap but I guess I'm also trying to understand just exactly what gives it such a different sound, because I have noticed a 2jz or RB engine sounds really different from a BMW i6 just the same as a J sounding very different from a VQ... Maybe its in head design or something.
Old 03-16-2018, 09:44 AM
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Originally Posted by KeoCepcion
Well I dunno a lot about v6's but I've listened to a LOT of different Cl's and Tl's but none of them sound like a c30a or for other examples a VQ or HR Nissan motor which are also Dohc engines. I also notice a D series vs a b series has a similar sound when comparing a j to a c. I don't know how to explain the difference but I guess the best way to put it is the sohc has more of a whine whereas the dohc engines have more of a throaty sound... 🤷
Throw a header on the CL-S and it sounds like the VQ without all the downsides of the VQ.
Old 03-16-2018, 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by TheWeez
Throw a header on the CL-S and it sounds like the VQ without all the downsides of the VQ.
Lol best part of honda, break em and break em more and don't worry about it, I do already have headers. I got my car a couple weeks ago with a transmission issue (its a 6 spd) and I've been waiting on parts to arrive. It's a set of Manzo headers, gotta clean'em up and throw them on!
Old 03-16-2018, 10:59 AM
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Just go with a C32B....
Old 03-16-2018, 11:53 AM
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Hey man. A few years back I was thinking about what to swap into my Prelude. It already had a J32A2, I was also thinking about the C32B, but a few things kind of put me off. The obvious one is price: NSX parts are crazy expensive, as we all know. The second - if I remember correctly, the C32B is a 90-degree V motor, while the J32 is a 60-degree. Plus I'd imagine that the DOHC heads are cumbersome, so there might be some packaging issues, no? And finally, let's talk tuning the J32 and C32 motors. NSX aftermarket parts are pricey, and as far as I know - these motors just don't respond to bolt-ons the same way a J32A2 does. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in terms of power-torque - you'd be way better off getting a J32A2. It's fairly easy to get the horsepower levels to surpass that of a relatively stock C32B. Concerning the sound aspect - bear in mind that you'd probably be hearing these motors in NSX's, and the difference is probably down to the fact that exhausts are routed differently than in a TL/CL. The NSX's I've seen with a J-swap sound pretty much the same as stock, so go figure. The only good reason for doing such a swap is having something unique, otherwise it seems like a pretty pointless exercise.
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Old 03-16-2018, 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by KeoCepcion
I know that what I'm focusing on isn't exactly the "right" thing to focus on with an engine swap but I guess I'm also trying to understand just exactly what gives it such a different sound, because I have noticed a 2jz or RB engine sounds really different from a BMW i6 just the same as a J sounding very different from a VQ... Maybe its in head design or something.
I have to disagree with you here. I've heard BMW X6's and 640i's pass by multiple times, and I could've sworn those were JZ's or something along those lines. The turbo N54 or whatever it's called (the 3.0 turbo motor) sounds very-very similar to a 2J.
Old 03-16-2018, 11:57 AM
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firing order does play apart in sound
Old 03-16-2018, 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by KeoCepcion
That's exactly what I thought and I guess my idea on why an inline 6 sounds different is while they're both dohc one has two cams and one set of cylinder banks while the V engine has two different banks of cylinders and 4 cams. I dunno if it really makes that big of a difference and don't really know what makes the sound so different but i love how the nissan v6's sound compared to a J series tbh
Can't agree with you here either. I much prefer the J32 to a VQ. I guess it's a matter of personal preference.
Old 03-16-2018, 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by justnspace
firing order does play apart in sound
Aren't J-series and C-series the same in this regard?
Old 03-16-2018, 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by InspireJ32A
Aren't J-series and C-series the same in this regard?
I was more thinking of like the growl from a VQ motor and a J.
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Old 03-16-2018, 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted by InspireJ32A
Aren't J-series and C-series the same in this regard?
Yes. 1-4-2-5-3-6
That's for both the J and C series.

Old 03-16-2018, 12:17 PM
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Regarding firing order; the vast majority of V6 motors use 1-4-2-5-3-6, which if I am not mistaken, is used on all Honda V6 engines. Other less-common firing orders I've seen are 1-6-5-4-3-2 and 1-2-3-4-5-6.
Old 03-16-2018, 12:51 PM
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The bottom line is probably that you wouldn't gain anything from such a swap, imo.
Old 03-16-2018, 02:17 PM
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Thank you guys for all the input, Idk for sure but doesn't the Acura Legend use a C engine?? That's where I got this sound I'm striving for! Maybe it was the setup in specific that I heard that I liked a lot but I just assumed it was that engine that sounded that way...
This video specifically :
Old 03-16-2018, 02:19 PM
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It does, I think it's a C32A. It has to be the exhaust though. Maybe I'm wrong.
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Old 03-16-2018, 03:36 PM
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I'm thinking the exhaust has like 95% of the responsibility for the difference in the sound.
Old 03-16-2018, 05:42 PM
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Do you guys know if an X-pipe will lose enough back pressure to affect torque negatively? Maybe go with a slightly smaller exhaust to compensate?
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