paton5g

OK dudes... This is my 2nd V6 build thread on the same car. Some of you have been following the other thread, here: https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...=j32a3+integra

I have abandoned the first engine, and have bought a second, to finally finish this project. It's been a long road of discouragement and disappointment but it's coming together.

The story (the short, short version):

Liked the V6 swap, it's bad ***
Bought a J32A3 for cheap with 6 SPD trans (this is a Drive By Wire engine, very complicated)
Bought mounts and axles (HASport)
Dropped engine in car
Joined dedicated V6 forum for info
Member (V6 swap expert ...8 swaps and counting) from the forum gave me parts list to get it running.
Bought ALL parts (ECU, harness, IM, TB, gaskets, sensors)
Parts didn't work, engine too new, not compatible
Member said he would help me figure it all out. He didn't, he hasn't.
Removed engine from car
Started parting out J32A3
Sold enough parts to justify buying another engine.

The current:

Bought a J32A2 from member on V6 forum
Arrived last Thursday May 20
Took apart 6 SPD trans to convert the clutch case. The case is missing a sensor boss that I need to run the J32A2.
Ordered clutch case, flywheel, CKP#2 sensor from Delray Acura in Florida
Continuing to sell parts from other engine, prep new engine for install.

PICS!!! Past and present

My original purchase: (came with wiring, intermediate shaft, trans, clutch, alternator, starter)





Pulled out first engine and started parting out:





Bought J32A2 6 SPD from another member


I still don't know why the wreckers does this. Hmm, we can cut it in seconds and save time, but we could pull it out in minutes and sell it for 10 times what we saved.


There were a few busted parts, but I have spares.


Hybrid Racing shifter showed up a few weeks ago


The 6 SPD wiring harness, a lot different from an AUTO harness.


6 SPD trans with LSD originally from the '05 TL. I need to replace the clutch case because this one does not have a sensor boss that I need. It's for a crank position sensor, which reads tabs on the flywheel.




03 CL-S 6 SPD ECU ...these are very expensive.

da_unknown

am gonna do a v6 built nex year... looking good so far

paton5g

What I did today (Holiday Monday)

I cleaned the back of the engine with degreaser. It was covered (and I mean COVERED) in grease from what I'm assuming was a CV boot failure. I used about half the container of degreaser to clean up this area. You could barely see the VTEC solenoid before.



I also modified the HASport alternator bracket to suit my application. The A2 engine did not come with an alternator, so I'm using the one I already had from the A3. I had to grind down some of the bracket and make a stud so I could really crank down on it.




Belt path looks great.


Cleaned up the Civic radiator a bit. The Integra rad will not clear the alternator or exhaust header. The rad brackets will be removed from the rad support and relocated to the driver side. This rad will end up in front of the transmission and once mated to a slim fan, will be ample for cooling duties.


I am currently trying to get rid of all this to free up some room. LS VTEC with LSD, spare LS trans, ITR header, axles, linkage, spare flywheel.



That's it for now. Clutch case and flywheel should be here by Thursday. Then I can swap everything over, re-attach the trans to the engine and drop it it back in.

Fallout

Looking awesome so far.. in for updates!

SolAssassin

good luck! we are working on getting the j32a3 to work down here. its already in the car!

just out of curiosity, was that v6 member "Don"?

paton5g

I prefer not to say. We all make mistakes, whatever. This build is about doing it right... the second time. The experience with the A3 made me a wiser purchaser and has changed me as a car guy forever. I research for information differently now. I thought I was a good searcher before, now I'm a detective.

Got some work done on the jumper harness tonight. I had a few questions about some of the connections, so I've left a thread on my other forum for the experts to go over.

welfarepc

wow dude props to you for being able to solder with that THICK *** soldering wire. thats the stuff plumbers use to join copper!


hope this build ends well. good luck!

raidacaipo

wow dude your determined to finish this. good luck and hopefully you can post a great tutorial in the future.

paton5g

I just melt a bit on the end of the gun. I don't actually hold the solder to the wires when I join them. *wink wink.

paton5g

Thanks man. I will be posting EVERYTHING I can to help out others with a project like this.

94dxcoupe

Bump for the start of a very informative thread! Can't wait for updates!

paton5g

I have managed to get a lot done in the last week or so.

My parts came in last Thursday from Delray Acura in Florida. It was actually cheaper for me to buy them from the US and pay for shipping then to buy them at home. The Canadian dollar was up so I took advantage...

'03 CL-S Flywheel
'03 CL-S Clutch Case
'03 CL-S CKP Sensor (goes into a boss on the rear of the clutch case, senses triggers on the flywheel for crank position)

This is what $1000 of brand new Acura parts looks like:








I had to transfer all the internals from the TL clutch case into the CL-S one. These transmissions are IDENTICAL inside.





Out of the old, into the new. The quality of this case is unbelievable. Everything went back in with a perfect fit. The design of the trans itself is awesome.
There's a PD pump that runs off the diff and it sprays fluid onto moving parts. The reverse gear is also fully synchronized.

It took me about 2 hours to get everything moved over. Tools that saved time: Punches, bearing puller.
The bearing for the 2nd tower (not the input shaft) was the only one that is pressed into the case. It took a bit of work to get it out but it wasn't bad.
Even the shims were re-used for the new case as all parts were still in spec. Thank you Honda quality machining.


Almost buttoned back up. Re-installing check *****, sensors.








Not shown in pictures: Grinding off the levelling mechanism from the back of the passenger headlight for alternator clearance.
Re locating passenger side rad mount over to drivers side.


New intake gasket. Most of the gaskets on these J engines are metal.


Installed wiring, fuel lines, rear heater hoses.


New TB gasket.



Also not pictured: Slim fan install, civic rad, rad hoses, alternator, intake tube, new fan switch, new VTEC pressure switch, knock sensor plug, air temp sensor, charge wire from alternator into under hood fuse box.

To do: Buy intermediate shaft, install HASport axles, finish wiring, make power wire for starter, make grounds for engine to body, buy J pipe for exhaust (connects both manifolds and merges under the engine.

DSRxCandyh2bEG

iTrader: (4)

Looks like a fun build. Good luck

alterdcreations

wow, determination

rey_boricua

nice work keep us updated

I CRX I

incredible! good luck man, im subscribed!

nus_dogg

Looks awesome man!

there's a guy down here in MN that did this J32 swap in his DC2 Teg and it was sweet. Fast too compared to other Integras.

markspan6243

i like what i see

spencerskate93

iTrader: (1)

Good luck on the build man

asianpoet

thats a crazy swap........
lots of work...

hondare

way to go man. that's sick.

paton5g

Thanks for the comments guys. The most exciting part of this update is that... IT RUNS! Got her started on Thursday last week. I've been plugging my way through wiring diagrams and asking a lot of questions online. The idle is surging up and down but I'm not really too worried about it yet. I still don't have any O2's hooked up, or exhaust, so I'm expecting it to behave weird. I also slid the HASport axles into place.

My girlfriend has the camera right now, so the most recent car pics will be up soon.

I bought a few ebay items last week, I should have this stuff by Friday. Picked up a set of DC Sports ceramic headers for about $413 CDN shipped. They were the best choice I thought. There are some makes that are around $100 but they look extremely cheap and very vulnerable to cracking. I wanted something mid to high range as far as price, which comes with mid to high range reliability and performance. There are also headers priced just over $1000 but I don't need to explain why I didn't go with those.



Also bought a METEX Multi Meter from a guy in the UK. My father has one of these and he's always swore by it. The one I bought is almost 20 years old and is in MINT, (proper mint) condition. These were way ahead of their time when released and you can do up to 20 Amps of testing through it! Awesome.



I also have a set of shift cables on order from the local Acura dealer. Believe it or not, there wasn't a single set in all of the US or Canada, so they're coming from Japan. JDM cables!!! Ha.

JDM_K!D

yeah, looks good so far.. GL

hybridae101

wow all props to you man, i wouldve committed suicide already

paton5g

It runs! It drives!

After we put my new set of DC's on, my friend and I took it around the block for a spin, open header. My neighbours hate me.

It ran a bit rough when I was testing different things in the last week or so. Today, with the primary O2 installed, it made all the difference.

Let me be clear... THIS CAR HAULS ***. It lays down solid rubber in 1st and all the way through 2nd with some serious chirp into 3rd. The torque is unbelievable, and all this is without a functioning IMRC (Intake Manifold Runner Control) which helps correct a the transition into VTEC and add power.

Video to come tomorrow...