Honda Motors and Turbos.

Richard h

Richard h

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I know on the old site before crash there was a thread about which Honda motors you can turbo (stock trim) and which wouldn't hold up. The 3.5a4 was what I thought, a motor you shouldn't turbo unless you built the bottom end to withstand it. The 3.2a2 S motor I thought would hold up as the factory bottom end was stronger.  I have to say in my case I can't imagine a turbo. The weight of the car, and the gearing imo make it quick enough and any more power would be wasted. What have others experienced while doing this?

 
Out of all the motors the j32a2 type s is the one that's the toughest because it has the highest compression. The j35A4 is good up to 7-8 lb.  The j35A3 was the toughest of the motors, in my opinion. Not sure about the newer ones like the A6.

 
We have a j32a2 motor that we swapped to a j35a4 motor, non turbo. The j35 has more low-end torque whereas the j32a2 likes rpm's. In our group one car is a j30 with a turbo, don't know much about them.

 
One thing about Honda's is that you can mix and match parts pretty well.  The J32 blocks are stronger and the heads flow better and have better cams.  One of the J35's out of the acura RL has the 3.5 bottom end with a mish-mash of j32 top end parts (bigger valves/cams) to make more HP.  The longer stroke j35 really helps the torque in the dunes.  The J35a1 had the lowest factory CR (8.5:1 ish) so that helps turbo's a little.  In my humble opinion; you really need an AEM standalone to tune for the turbo.  It's usually the factory rods that go in the J35.

I have heard (never went that high before I sold the car) that even the stronger j32 blocks start to have cylinder issues over 15-16psi of boost and need to go to a closed-deck.

 
Following. If people quote boost psi, timing, horsepower, or a turbo system recipe it would be helpful for an octane lacking guy like me to know what fuel (E85, race gas, pump gas, etc) you were using. I would like to turbo my J35A4 but need use pump gas as E85 is not available here.  

How much octane can you make up for by injecting methanol?

 
LegitDuner said:
Out of all the motors the j32a2 type s is the one that's the toughest because it has the highest compression. The j35A4 is good up to 7-8 lb.  The j35A3 was the toughest of the motors, in my opinion. Not sure about the newer ones like the A6.
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Should have read the j35A3 was the best of the motors for boost.

 
EastMT said:
Following. If people quote boost psi, timing, horsepower, or a turbo system recipe it would be helpful for an octane lacking guy like me to know what fuel (E85, race gas, pump gas, etc) you were using. I would like to turbo my J35A4 but need use pump gas as E85 is not available here.  

How much octane can you make up for by injecting methanol?
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If you're not running an aftermarket computer I would only be running race gas. Many guys ran 50/50 though. If you run an aftermarket controller then you can have it tuned for whatever fuel you choose. I think 5 or 6 PSI with pump would be about the max that I would go though. Your tuner will know.

I wouldn't mess with the methanol injection if you're running a stock computer as well. I was meth injected on race gas at 9 lb of boost. It was a solid runner.

Edited to add. The tuner tuned my meth injection for intake temp since I wasn't running an intercooler It wasn't a constant thing. I think it would kick on at 160° intake temps and above 4,000 RPM. I believe those were the parameters for it to inject

 
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My setup, J35a4, had BCM build the shirt block with Wiseco pistons, p2r Rods. It has a TO4 turbo with 1000cc Bosch injectors on E85. Making 490 HP at 10lbs of boost at the wheels. Not the cheapest route but it’s def a runner. 

 
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LegitDuner said:
If you're not running an aftermarket computer I would only be running race gas. Many guys ran 50/50 though. If you run an aftermarket controller then you can have it tuned for whatever fuel you choose. I think 5 or 6 PSI with pump would be about the max that I would go though. Your tuner will know.

I wouldn't mess with the methanol injection if you're running a stock computer as well. I was meth injected on race gas at 9 lb of boost. It was a solid runner.

Edited to add. The tuner tuned my meth injection for intake temp since I wasn't running an intercooler It wasn't a constant thing. I think it would kick on at 160° intake temps and above 4,000 RPM. I believe those were the parameters for it to inject
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Thanks for the info! I plan to use an aftermarket computer as well as an intercooler.

 
What Honda V6 engines had forged pistons, cranks, or both? Seems to be some misinformation on the web out there. Thinking about cable throttle body style motors 3.0, 3.2, 3.5.

 
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AZ_Limo said:
What Honda V6 engines had forged pistons, cranks, or both? Seems to be some misinformation on the web out there. Thinking about cable throttle body style motors 3.0, 3.2, 3.5.
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The earlier A3 and A4 were mixed bags for true forged rods. Mostly powder forged or cast. Not sure exactly on the crank but they are stout. IIRC, good for 800+hp by the street guys 

 
Mac said:
Nothing yet, just thinking ahead.
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The torque on the j35 is nice and power is great just stock. Then add easier and cheaper to find. 
 

subies are nice no doubt just hear rebuilds can get pricey and most I know with then have had to get them rebuilt. 
 

I swapped a 2275 vw to a j35 and wish I had done it earlier.  

 
77charger said:
The torque on the j35 is nice and power is great just stock. Then add easier and cheaper to find. 
 

subies are nice no doubt just hear rebuilds can get pricey and most I know with then have had to get them rebuilt. 
 

I swapped a 2275 vw to a j35 and wish I had done it earlier.  
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We have one car in our group that went from turbo subie to Honda 32a2. That Honda motor likes rpm's and they finally went to the 35a4 and they really like it now. The amount of torque in the j35a4 makes them great to drive in the dunes.

 
richard h said:
We have one car in our group that went from turbo subie to Honda 32a2. That Honda motor likes rpm's and they finally went to the 35a4 and they really like it now. The amount of torque in the j35a4 makes them great to drive in the dunes.
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My car is about 1650 in weight and I can pretty much leave in third gear and leave it there. Before with vw I had to shift often. My 4th gear is a big gap from third though and it pulls it good still. Makes it easier to drive. 
 

I had a taller fourth put in for street use 

 
How is the powerband of a Honda compared to a 2.5 turbo subi/2D combo?  I'm looking for something around 400-500 hp.  I keep bouncing back between the K24 and the J35.  I have an ultra light mid engine car.  I would like to be able to make the swap without too many modifications and try and keep the weight as close to the same as I can.

I currently run 110 in my car.  I'd LOVE to be able to do a motor swap that would give me the same power on pump gas (91).
 

 
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77charger said:
My car is about 1650 in weight and I can pretty much leave in third gear and leave it there. Before with vw I had to shift often. My 4th gear is a big gap from third though and it pulls it good still. Makes it easier to drive. 
 

I had a taller fourth put in for street use 
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Mac said:
How is the powerband of a Honda compared to a 2.5 turbo subi/2D combo?  I'm looking for something around 400-500 hp.  I keep bouncing back between the K24 and the J35.  I have an ultra light mid engine car.  I would like to be able to make the swap without too many modifications and try and keep the weight as close to the same as I can.

I currently run 110 in my car.  I'd LOVE to be able to do a motor swap that would give me the same power on pump gas (91).
 
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So your cars weight is same as mine. I have a 2d with a 514 r&p and a 165 3rd gear and a 139 4th gear. With 1450x15 dune sport tires I drive all day in 4th gear. When I really kick it I will down shift to 3rd. My motor is stock and I love that I buy 91 oct gas, and that is just for the extended shelf life. Another thing, fuel mileage, I use much less gas than when I had a built 2276.

I want it simple when I go out to play and I truly could not ask for a setup that would work better for me. Now if high speed is what your after than no, my gearing won't achieve that. Around 80 to 85 mph is max.  @Mac you need to ride in mine before you start thinking you need that much hp, bet you would be surprised.

 
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