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JDM Engine Swap Help Needed!!

2K views 4 replies 3 participants last post by  logic 
#1 ·
Hi all!!

I have a 92 ls sedan w/ AT that apparently already had a different engine put in. I am swapping out my engine (block cracked) with a JDM I got and I am having a couple problems:

1) The new engine comes with a Diff attached but it does not have a cooler in it (no coolant lines from the block or water pump, in fact the WP has NO outlets instead of 1 or 2). I'm afraid my original Diff might also have a problem since the engine froze hard with water in it instead of anti-freeze:( and a lot of water came out before the diff fluid when I drained it, so I wanted to use the new one that came with the new engine. Can I take them apart and put the oil cooler out of my dif? (I'm in Colorado and the high altitude makes for high temps and cooling stresses as bad ad Phoenix where I'm from and I go back to AZ frequently to visit family and friends) Or would I be ok running the diff without a cooler? How would I plug the WP outlet?

2) There is no oil cooler on the engine. my original engine has a cover thing where the oil cooler should be and the new engine doesn't have anything there..... is this a problem or am I worrying over nothing?

3) My old engine has fuel injectors that are difficult to remove (have to use a small hook or jewelers screwdriver to remove one side of the latching wire at a time) and the new engine has plugs that have nice releases built into them (squeeze the sides and it pulls right off) are the injectors actually different (as far as how much fuel they meter) or are just the plugs different?

That's what I can think of now... The JDM engine has a code of C32A - 2050656 if that helps....

Thanks!!
 
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#2 ·
Sounds like you got a newer engine that is similar to the 3.5 RL engines. The newer engines don't have coolant running to the differential or oil pump. The engine is designed that way so I wouldn't worry about it. As for the injector plugs, I'm guessing the JDM wire harness was cut and is on the wrong side, right? If so you will need to use your Legend harness and there is a chance that the fuel rail as well as the Legend injectors. You will at least need to take one injector out and verify that the JDM has the same injectors as I know the 3.5 do NOT.
 
#3 · (Edited)
ari_one, thanks.

I couldn't compare the injector part numbers because the injectors on my original engine are rusted enough where the part numbers are that they cannot be read, so I just used the old rusted ones.

I installed the new motor and finally got it hooked up but the compression test shows #3 & #6 are very low....I paid over a grand for an engine with a blown head gasket!?!?!?!?:mad:

Wasn't there someone on the forum who worked at a dealership that would check records and things for us? I'm wondering if this is really a JDM engine, would an engine for Canada have the same C32A1 designation as a US engine? Canadian cars are LHD also aren't they?

Thanks!!
 
#5 ·
It's all working good now!!!

I got the engine from jdm_nagoya_motor_import.... it must be a later version for the jdmarket... there is a date stamp on the inside of the timing belt cover of 4/97 so that explains why no engine or diff oil cooler, but where do I get a water pump with no nipples??

They seemed easy to deal with and offered me $180.00 partial refund(after I asked for $300.00) if I fixed it or a full refund if I ship it back ($599 - $425 shipping = $174) and admitted that they did not do a compression test before they shipped it out... I accepted the partial refund and fixed the engine and it runs great now, but they didn't send the refund like I promised so I called them back two weeks later and they said they would take care of it right away (like they did the last time I talked to them) and about 5 minutes later I got an email notification of a $150.00 refund minus a $6.00 charge, I called them back and they started arguing with me about several things. first they claimed that they did do a compression check before sending it out and asked if I could prove that the compression was bad. I already fixed the engine because they already agreed to the refund, if they wanted proof they should have said something as soon as I informed them there was a problem, not two weeks later after it's been fixed... then they said that we agreed to $150 not the $180 that they insisted on... at that point I just counted myself lucky I got anything back and will never do business with them again nor recommend them for anything.... the one thing I cannot tolerate is a liar!!!

I thought it was funny that it took me a month to pull the engine, swap the parts from the old engine to the new one, and put it back in, but only two weekends to do the head gasket job. After haw much everyone complained on the forum I thought it would really be hard...

I still need to replace the heater core which apparently ruptured when the water froze, that should be done this weekend since it finally came Wednesday!

thanks again for the help!!!
 
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