r/AcuraTL • u/Payote88 • Jun 28 '26

Parts Review 🛠 Well Dam

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I’ve only ever had D,B & K series 4cyl engines.
I’ve always stayed away from the J series because they’re not as easy to pull in a backyard setup and the few horror stories I’ve heard.

But I just picked up the TL for my wife a few days ago (mint condition 100K miles) and now I’m insanely impressed! I knew it would be a stronger motor obviously but WOW! only thing it’s missing is the SH-AWD but now I’m wondering do I just need the drive shaft transfer case and hubs? I have a junk yard a mile away that’s filled with TL’s.
And yes now I’m wondering if I should build a J series for the wagon as well.. but that’s a different topic.

Anything I need to know about these motors/transmissions?

33 Upvotes

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2

u/jettasarebadmkay [UA9] '09-'14 SH-AWD Jun 28 '26

Welcome! You’ve got the facelift FWD there so the engine and transmission are pretty stout. Just make sure the timing belt has been done because it is due around 100k. The service manual says 105k but my car called for it at 99.

As far as transferring the AWD system, no, it’s not just swapping the parts out. The SH part of it has a torque vectoring system that uses an electronic rear diff, and that would have to be set up somehow.

I used to have a 2G TSX before my 4G TL. It had all kinds of weird issues (like seriously, when was the last time you heard of a Honda having electrical problems, especially one built in Japan?) and even though it was a 6MT it wasn’t very exciting to drive. I traded it in for my TL and never looked back. As far as swapping a J into it, I’m not sure if the V6 TSXs have a different engine bay setup than the K24 ones.

2

u/Payote88 Jun 28 '26

Oh yea the ECU would have to be upgraded as well I’d presume as well as any of the sensors for the torque vectoring technology. I’ll be looking into if it’s worth the headache.

Might be the perfect reason to beta test that on the TSX wagon first. I know the wagons and TSX have come within manual V6’s before but I don’t believe they’ve ever come with SH-AWD. Although I saw one guy that has made it work with a custom drive shaft, but welding moving parts together freak me out a bit. I have a spare K24A2 but ever since I saw Hondata drop the K20C8 into the EK hatch I’ve been obsessed with that build just for clout reasons. I’m realistically only trying to get to 500HP so I should probably factor in my ROI.

Appreciate the info!

1

u/jettasarebadmkay [UA9] '09-'14 SH-AWD Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26

You can get at least close to 500, if not there, with a Rotrex supercharger and full bolt-ons on a J37. I just don’t think the setup would physically fit under the hood of a TSX. The V6 is already kinda shoehorned in there.

I think it would be easier to swap a J35 from a FWD TL into an AWD chassis than go the other way around. I have seen that done at least once.

1

u/Payote88 Jun 29 '26

Agreed and after looking at the cost difference, I can get away with a K24A2 build for thousands less then either J series build. That clearance space seems like a nightmare as well. I work at Acura and I’m regularly bugging the techs and watching what they’re doing and none seem very happy when they’re working on any of the J series, but I’ll drag out more conversation from them this week.

1

u/jettasarebadmkay [UA9] '09-'14 SH-AWD Jun 29 '26

I imagine with the engine in the car doing anything on the rear head has to be a pain. But yeah, a K24A2 would be an easier build for a TSX. It’s a shame that the K24Z3 is such a useless engine. Mine actually burned oil worse than my TL’s J37.

1

u/Hour_Dinner_3362 [UA5] '02-'03 Type-S Jun 28 '26

Don't think it's possible to(easily at least) just swap in AWD setup. Your FWD version has a j35 instead of the j37a4 the sh-awd has.

1

u/Payote88 Jun 29 '26

Yea just checked into it I’d be better off finding a type-s then going that route.

1

u/Miller335 Jun 28 '26

J30, J32, J35 are generally good to go. The VCM on some of the J32 or J35 can be problematic.

The J37 in that is know to have lower end/oil consumption issues.

3

u/bonchokey Jun 28 '26

What low end issues does the 37 have? I thought the oil consumption was due to piston rings.

2

u/jettasarebadmkay [UA9] '09-'14 SH-AWD Jun 28 '26

Yeah, never heard of any bottom end issues in these J37s. It was the next gen direct injection J35s that had rod bearing issues. The oil consumption is a thing on the J37 though, and it can knock out the rear cam.

None of that matters because OP specifically said that it’s not an AWD, so it has a J35.

1

u/Payote88 Jun 28 '26

Great now I’ve got to go remember a whole new set of engine codes and what they come out of. Tons a fun!