Just another j32 swap + 6-speed

Had some issues with my nsx engine journals and decided to do the swap but with 6 speed tranny all from 2003 Acura CL type S. I know I will need parts that I don't know of yet so it was logical for me to buy a diner car. I drove the CL and it was heart braking to rip engine out of working car. I know I'll be faced with fitting issues but I'm not in any rush to get it running. I have desktop CNC that will help out in creating the mounts.

There are few challenges with 6speed that I already see other then the obvious axles and shifter cable. The tranny mounts from the bottom and there is no way to reuse nsx tranny mount unless it will be strange looking mod. Good news Is that the front mount almost aligns but I think the engine sits 1/2 inch lower.

Here are few pics, I'll stay to post the progress as I go along.



Here is list of parts items that I needed to get so far. (will update as I go)
1) Acura CL engine with 6-speed tranny
2) Left and Right engine wiring harness for 6speed. Save a lot of time getting 6speed wiring harness instead of auto
3) ECU, I'm going to retrofit the immo from CL to NSX but if you are not doing it then you need ECU immo bypass
4) Intake Manifold Runner Control (IMRC) module
5) Custom engine/tranny mounts
6) Clutch release 3AN braided hose and fittings.
7) Throttle cable adapter
8) OEM coolant temp sensor sending unit that needs to be tapped in to thermostat housing
9) Fuel rail banjo fitting 12mm hole -6 AN (two one for fuel filter one for rail) + slip on or SS hose 6AN
10) Fuel return hose 4AN SS or slip on
11) Shifter cables. I used B&M 80834 Super Duty Race Shifter Cable 8 ft. Two of them
12) Honda relay for backup lights (VFM-11F41-Z06)
13) Custom coolant hoses
14) Custom A/C hoses

Maintenance to CL (will update as I go)
1) Timing Belt kit
2) Water pump
3) Sparkplugs
4) New clutch disk and flywheel
5) Thermostat
6) MLS gaskets for intake, thermostat housing etc.
7) Headers, headers gaskets
8) Fresh oil/oil filter
9) Send Injectors for cleaning/new seals
10) Fuel filter
11) Replace any rubber hoses with silicone hoses
12) 3M Electrical tape for cables in engine bay and webbing tape for cabin wires. VW part number 000979950
13) PVC valve, coolant hoses to throttlebody, vac hoses anything rubber replaced..
14) Two new Oxygen sensors
15) Generic cat, if you want to be street legal




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I wish you luck. I would love to see this work. I have been trying to figure out if NSX 6spd gears would fit inside a CL/TL 6spd tranny. If you have time and tear into the tranny make some measurements/take some pics. Thanks!


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build loading.....

Will do. I'm trying to reuse nsx mounts but is hard to do. The front mount is almost against the CL clutch release. The hydraulics are on opposite side as in nsx. The push rod for clutch fork is from inside out. Here is my third attempt at the mounting bracket for the front mount.

Here is my first attempt at right mount that needs correcting.

Making the prototypes in wood it's easier and faster, when I'm ready will cut it out of most likely aluminum.




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Good luck with the swap and conversion. Hope you can get the 6 speed to work

The tranny mount needs to be all custom. Too many fitment issues. Just ordered liquid polyurethane and started on fab work. This will take at list couple of weeks with try and error lol.


This front mount I was able to salvage by just over drilling the holes. Now one mount done 3 to go.


The tranny shifter counter weight is very close to mounting bracket but it clears fine. It's welded on so no way to change the direction unless it would be cut out and rewelded but I don't think I will go that route...




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Working on the driver side mount. After few attempts nothing worked but then I notice the tranny has holes that are not tapped. They just need to be threaded and it's good to go. Don't know why out of factory they are not threaded but are in good spot to hold the mount. Maybe that tranny case is used on some other model. After some final tweaking this will work for sure. That will make 3 mounts almost ready. The last rear mount will be a challenge but will share on the progress once I get around to it.

The CL was from Boston MA and they must salt the streets a lot. The engine is all covered in deposits but will clean it before last install.




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Very cool! I'm tuned in.

Went from 3" to 2.5" down to 2" on the mount tube where the polyurethane will be going in. The space is really tight there but after several revisions it fits!! this took way longer then I thought.



Got the intake powder coated already but there is still a lot of cleanup to do.



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Wow! Props to you for taking up such a big project, keep up the great work.

Very interesting. If all goes well, we can mount a TLS/CLS tranny on a C30 engine.

Looking good. I'm in the middle of a j32 swap also. Would love to know what it'll take to use the TL-S 6sp tranny tho. Keep us updated

I'm loving this right now[emoji41]


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Lasy week was soo cold so did not make any progress but we have warm weather this week so I'm back in the garage

I got the liquid polyurethane flex 60 and red dye for it. As test I refurbished the old passenger mount to see how it will work. This might be too stiff for me but will go with it for now.





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If mounts are taking too much time/effort, why not just get it from Velocitized? Maybe he'll sell you just the one you need to finish.

True that, but I'm not in any rush, working on this after our daughter goes to sleep and some time on weekends.

I got my self tig welder but I found can't learn tig welding over few hours lol. This mount will do for now but I have the cad files and can cut another one if I need to. I sand blasted after it was done and powder coat it. This mount fits on CL tranny very good and everything clears so far.




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More power to you. Will feel way more accomplishment knowing you did it yourself. Keep up the great work. You have lots of support here.

Reading these threads makes me want to J-swap even though my C30A is perfectly healthy!

Looking good so far, can't wait to see it running.

Those custom mounts look sick! Very nice work.

awesome!

Some quick updates. Will be powder coating the final rear engine mount and I can say the engine is in
There is not a good way to mount it but I hook up to 3 bolts on the tranny case. Since the load is spread I think that will do the trick.


Here is the front mount with adapter plate that I made. I was able to reuse the oem mount.


The right mount also bolts up to the adapter plate and reused oem mount.


The created new left mount from 1/2 aluminum instead of 1/4 as the last bolt is far from the mount and wanted to make sure it will not flex.


This is one of the prototypes made out of acrylic to see if the bolts align up. It's easier to work and it's see through. I already made the final version in aluminum but it's being powder coated so will post pics in next update.

Next I'm not sure if I should start with wiring or move to axels but I think since it's mounted I'll work on the wiring harness so I can at list hear it run to motivate me move forward


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Very impressive! You have some great fabrication skills.

Dave

Thanks! It's a try and error but it's moving forward I think need to signup for tig welding class because I can't figure out how to keep even weld. It will hold for sure but does not look as clean as it should be. Welding aluminum is def harder then it looks.




Here it's mounted to the tranny.





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Wow... very impressive work!