Hey everyone. I have a '90 2+2 and having too many engine problems to fix and not worth it in my own opinion. I will be getting my tax return soon and was wanting to do a TT swap. I've read many places that all you need is a TT front clip with manual tranny due to TT flywheel.

I have also came across someone telling me I would need some other stuff also if I got a jdm clip.

I dont really want to spend over $4k on the project. Luckily I can do all the work myself instead of paying someone to do it.

Would like to hear from someone that has experience with the swap or has good knowledge of the swap. I want to know everything i can before I start buying things.

If anyone could spare me some thoughts on the swap it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Well I've been doing some looking around. The cheapest front clip I can find is $3800 shipped from conceptzperformance.com. I have a friend here locally that is willing to sell me 2 Z32's. One is N/A 2+2 and the other is TT. I need a 2+2 due to kids. The TT has bad head and 2 bad turbo's. He told me to make an offer. I offered $2500. He told me to come look at them and he would think about it.

I know the guy that owned them before he did. I actually helped the previous owner go pull a motor at pull a part for the 2+2 when he owned it.

So my question is should I stay with the front clip swap for $3800 with guarantee on engine upon start up, or should I get the 2 Z's for $2500 with possibly more problems than just the head and both turbo's which will be expensive to replace already?

Would love to hear everyone's opinions.

 

I'm not sure about the details of the TT swap, but if it really is $3800 & no problems vs $2500 & bad head & bad turbos & who knows, I'd say stick with your car and do the swap. Then there's the transmission which you mentioned, but there's a difference between the TT and NA manual transmissions.

 

Dude, you can't stick kids in that car...

 

I do. I have a car seat in the back for my 3 year old boy on the passenger side and since the car doesn't have air bags I've talked to the local pd and they said my 7 year old girl can ride up front. Everyone fits comfortably.

I have a 02 Accord sedan. Going through divorce and its parked to see where it goes. Reason for it to be parked is I've got to put a tranny in it. Don't want to spend my money and she ends up with the car.

 

Ive been leaning towards the front clip due to less of a headache. The plus side to going with the 2 Z's is the bad turbo motor has some upgrades. Was dyno'd at 450 rwhp when it was first built.

If I went with the front clip I could do upgrades next tax season. That is what I'm thinking would be the best.

 

I understand that, but that car is not great for that, the car seat works for now but soon no, if you're dead set on it go for it, otherwise once everything is final is get a cheap beater 4door n jist sell the 2+2 n get a coupe TT

 

TTs are 2+2, so that would be a bit redundant to do.

 

Ummm.... No, the twin turbo only came in a two seater t top configuration in the u.s. and thats not the proper usage of redundant.

 

My bad, I didn't think they would make a JDM TT 2+2 and not a US TT 2+2. But if you replaced a TT swapped 2+2 with a TT 2+2, that would be redundant. Now that I've reread your previous post a few times though, I realize this is not what you were saying.

 

no if you owned both at the same time that would be redundant. close, but not quite the same. lol. no bigs im just a little **** about the usage of that term due to my college career.

 

Your career is "college" ? Hehe...

 

The more I think about it the better deal seems to be the front clip.

Now I'm just waiting on my tax return. Might go over the $4k budget. Wanting to do timing belt and some other things while the motor is out. I might upgrade turbo's. It just depends on if I can find a good deal on some.

Tax return is going take a couple of months due to ex claiming the kids on her taxes. Both kids live with me so I hope she has fun with the IRS lol. It gives me time to do all my homework on the swap.

 

No during college career where I trained to both be a pilot and an air traffic control specialist, every piece of equipment in an aircraft or a control tower has redundancy, aka when one thing fails something can take its place.

 

Ok I've run into a snag. I could send my ECU in for it to be reprogramed for the TT for $250. Then i found an upgraded TT ECU for $160 and it would give a 60 hp increase.

Question is will a TT ECU run the N/A fuel pump controller?

I know the N/A fuel pump controller is a 2 speed and the TT is a 3 speed. Does anyone know if this will work or not?

 

Found the answer. The TT ECU will not operate the N/A fuel pump controler.

I did find out that z1motorsports will not only program your N/A ECU to TT specs, but they will also upgrade it. So I guess that is a plus.

 

Nice.

 

I haven't updated in a while. I've ordered a j-spec front clip with manual tranny, phantom series autometer boost gauge, gauge pod, TT spark plugs, z1 urethane motor mounts, and 2 N1 style exhaust tips.

I've got everything except exhaust and front clip. The exhaust shows its here locally on the delivery truck. So I'll have it today. Don't know when the clip will be here. They told me it usually takes 7-10 days to arrive. Today is day 7.

I've got to take my daughter to the doctor at 12:00 so hopefully if it does show up today it won't be while I'm gone or I could have someone else run over here for them to unload it.

 

Quick question. Anyone know if the jdm TT tranny the same as the N/A tranny? If it is I'll just swap motor and tranny both due to mine seeping and 4th grinds every once and a while at high rpm's. Didn't know if the driveshaft was different length or anything.

 

Do a complete timing belt kit, replace every seal and hose, replace the oil pump and check the turbo's for leaking seals and shaft play, also might want to look into a new wiring harness while everything is out.

I don't know why you wouldn't trust a z32 with a kid in the back seat?

 

I have plans to do all of that. I just want to inspect everything before I buy everything. If some thing looks good I'm not going to replace them.

 

I got my exhaust welded up just now. Got rid of the resonators. It's a lot louder than I thought it was going to be.

 

Nothing like pissing off the neighbours

 

The front clip arrived this morning. When I ordered it I told them I have no way of unloading it. So they told the shipping company it would need a lift gate. Well the pallet was bigger than the lift gate and the pallet jack couldn't move it.

Finally I thought of calling a roll back and they got it off nice and smooth.

The clip has 92k miles on it. All the belts look brand new. The efi harness has no corrosion that I can see. Not a single connector that I can see is even broke! All the body panels are already removed. So that will make it a little easier. I can't see any leaks anywhere.

Looking at it is a little intimidating. I know that some of the stuff will not have to be transferred like the hicas and adjustable ride height systems. I have two people thats going to help with the swap. since 2 of us are unemployed we will start first thing Monday morning. Should have the motor out in one day. Then I'll do a good inspection on it. Probably pull the motor out of my car by Tuesday sometime. Hoping to have the swap done by Thursday or Friday next week.

 

Well here is an update on the project.

I've got 4 bell housing bolts, 1 power steering line, 1 A/C line, and the motor mounts left to unbolt and the TT motor will be out of the front clip.

After its out I will park my car and start tearing it down.

My goal of having it done by Friday looks like it is slipping further away. It might spill over some into next week.

I'll post pics when I get a chance. My phone is my only source of internet unless I go down somewhere I can get WiFi at. All my pics are on my phone and it won't let me upload them from it.