J37A1 block with J32A2 Heads. Could it be done??

[j32noober]

Here's the deal. I was doing research to build a J32A2 to a 3.7L with a goal of 300whp. But I found that I could just buy a fully assembled J37A1 bottom end from Acura for less then 1500. So why bother with buying all the parts, doing the machine work to achieve what's already been done from Honda?

The J37A1 from the 07-09 MDX is rated at 300hp and 275tq (crank). It has a 90mm x 96mm b/s, 11:1cr, piston oil sprayers and the J37A1 use 36mm intake valves and 30mm exhaust valves like the J32A2. So I say buy the bottom end from your local Acura dealer and install the J32A2 heads.

Is this to good to be true? It can’t be this easy, can it? If so, this would be a great starting point to build an affordable and very reliable engine with some great numbers considering internally everything would be O.E.M. So far this is what I’ve started with.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/4843147623_78e0644682_b.jpg

The differences are in red that I notice. Now these renderings aren't always 100% accurate but they're pretty close. The only way to find out is to order a gasket and match it to the heads I would use. I'll be doing some more research on this. Now I can only assume that the trans would still bolt up but I'm not sure about the flywheel bolting to the crank, again I'm assuming at this point. If anyone has some input on this please feel free to share.

[TLdream]

Nice. It looks pretty good. I remember reading somewhere you will need to use a 07-08 tl type s manual trans. Its the only one that will bolt to that j37

[wolydotmatrix]

X2
The bolt pattern's are different

[j32noober]

X2
The bolt pattern's are different

Yeah I noticed yesturday afternoon the 03+ MDX pattern was different. The 01-02 MDX and all the TL's up to 08 seem to be the same. So even if you had the 07-08 TL-S 6spd trans it wouldn't bolt up to the J37 out of the MDX. I knew it couldn't be that easy.

[TLdream]

Yeah I noticed yesturday afternoon the 03+ MDX pattern was different. The 01-02 MDX and all the TL's up to 08 seem to be the same. So even if you had the 07-08 TL-S 6spd trans it wouldn't bolt up to the J37 out of the MDX. I knew it couldn't be that easy.

Your wrong there. The TL's up to 08 are not the same. The 07-08 TL type S is different. I ran into that problem when trying to sell my 08 Type S transmission. Here is the answere i got.

This will only work for a 3rd gen or 4th gen tl, the tranny will only bolt up to a newer block and will not bolt up directly to a J32A3 or older engine. A 3rd gen would need to use a J35A8/J37 engine to use this, 2nd gens are SOL due to major sensor changes with the newer engines, now that being said, A 3rd gen could easily take this setup and mate it tyo a MDX J37 and drop the pair into thier car with a FIC to add the needed fuel to run it right.

[j32noober]

Your wrong there. The TL's up to 08 are not the same. The 07-08 TL type S is different. I ran into that problem when trying to sell my 08 Type S transmission.

Yeah your right, the 07-08 TL-S is different. If you had to find a trans that's as rare as hen's teeth then it would defeat the purpose. Not that the CL-S 6 spd is any easier to get.

[TLdream]

Im not sure how hard they are to find. I bought a motor, when it came it, i looked on ebay for a transmission and found one in 3 days. It cost me $1500 but it didnt take me long to find it.

[j32noober]

I could be reaching here but I wonder if it would be possible to change the clutch housings on the transmissions. I say that because the 03-07 Accord 6spd and the 07-08 TL-S 6 spd transmission cases have the same part# 21200-RAT-020.

If the bolt pattern is the same to mate the clutch case to the trans case in those models, then it my also have the same bolt pattern as the CL 6 spd. If that's the case those who have the CL's 6 spd could order the 07-08 TL-S clutch housing and swap them out. At the very least you could do it with the Accords 6 spd trans being the trans housing is the same as the TL's anyway.

So assuming that's the case and assuming as I've mentioned before about the possibility of the head swapping over to the J37's block, this would open up lots of possibilities being the 07-08 TL's clutch housing is around 300.00 online.

[TLdream]

Its worth a try! you could be the pioneer. There always has to be a first, to bad it cost so much damn money, and it might go wasted.

[wolydotmatrix]

Need someone on this site to own a junk yard full of honda's to try out all these combo's :)

[j32noober]

I help run one in Maryland. The problem is they're so damn rare we never get the 6spd models. Plus the autos are being sold as fast as we get them in. Also the way we get them around here, through insurance auctions, is the same way that dealers and people around the world can get them now. It drives the cost up because we're bidding against people from all over the place who want to rebuild these cars and sell them. It has a direct result on the cost of the parts up because we pay so much for the cars. The last five years in the business has sucked since they've allowed more people from all over to bid online and we're limited to about 4 different auctions within 100 miles of us. We've been bidding against people from Central America, Nigeria and other countries. Not to mention that as of late there are more and more theft recovery vehicles being sold off stripped to the bone, making it harder to get good motor swaps.

[dornon13]

I am also curious about this combination regardless of the transmission issue. anyone have any more info to share?

[dornon13]

I have a J37A1 block and was able to throw a set of J35A4 (same part # as J32A2) headgaskets on it. Just as suspected in the diagram everything lines up. The only difference is the one oil drain port on the J37 is more oval in shape as where the J32/J35 at that location is a circle. I believe this can be overcome just by simply using the J37 headgasket since it has the larger hole.

As soon as I get my hands on a complete J32A2 longblock I will be investigating the rest. I do not foresee any issues considering there are guys using J37 crank/rods in J35/J32 blocks everything else should line up fine.