J R Jones
09-11-2025, 09:02 PM
I am the third owner/constructor of a 2014 818. I bought the incomplete build to put under a Ferrari Dino replica body.
To emulate the Dino drive I am installing an Acura 3.2 V6 with six speed manual. Frankly it is more complicated than I envisioned.
The transverse configuration is similar to the Dino; the weight and dimensions are similar. The power exceeds the Dino by almost 100 and there is one more gear.
Making the swap appear more doable, the third generation TL (2004-2008) has an aluminum subframe holding the FWD powertrain plus most of the suspension and steering.
Respecting Honda engineering I chose to incorporate the isolation system: Six isolators subframe to chassis and five isolators for the powertrain.
To make it a "bolt-up" I cut the Acura frame rails and spring towers out of the original chassis. The frame rails are abbreviated by 1/3 and the spring towers shortened.
The shock/spring struts are replaced with coil-overs, fabricated 4130 lower control arms, the rack/pinion is replaced with a fixed rack and tube structure added top and bottom.
I rolled it out of the garage for the first time today with the V6. The body is about 85% integrated with a bit of fitment to do to the inner fenders and fabricate a rear body mount.
jim
BTW I bump steered the IRS and it is almost perfect. I feel 500lb springs are appropriate.
218703
218704
218705
218706
218707
To emulate the Dino drive I am installing an Acura 3.2 V6 with six speed manual. Frankly it is more complicated than I envisioned.
The transverse configuration is similar to the Dino; the weight and dimensions are similar. The power exceeds the Dino by almost 100 and there is one more gear.
Making the swap appear more doable, the third generation TL (2004-2008) has an aluminum subframe holding the FWD powertrain plus most of the suspension and steering.
Respecting Honda engineering I chose to incorporate the isolation system: Six isolators subframe to chassis and five isolators for the powertrain.
To make it a "bolt-up" I cut the Acura frame rails and spring towers out of the original chassis. The frame rails are abbreviated by 1/3 and the spring towers shortened.
The shock/spring struts are replaced with coil-overs, fabricated 4130 lower control arms, the rack/pinion is replaced with a fixed rack and tube structure added top and bottom.
I rolled it out of the garage for the first time today with the V6. The body is about 85% integrated with a bit of fitment to do to the inner fenders and fabricate a rear body mount.
jim
BTW I bump steered the IRS and it is almost perfect. I feel 500lb springs are appropriate.
218703
218704
218705
218706
218707