Bob's 3.7L M90 Supercharged Build

165563 Views 288 Replies 54 Participants Last post by VolvoFan, Jul 29, 2020

dopes6070

Discussion Starter · May 13, 2016 (Edited)

Here is my current progress. Going to use the stock intake mani spacer to keep the torque curve low. Already have KTuner and Bisimoto is gonna take care of the actual tuning.

305hp on tap will be a HUGE improvement. :grin:

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jeb

· #61 · May 23, 2016 (Edited)

dopes6070 said:
https://youtu.be/r9Tmekou9SM

Here is a startup vid for you guys. I will have some driving clips tomorrow. Life has been chaotic getting home sorry for the lack of quality!

Hey man she sounds like she's running great.

Is there a small exhaust leak? Maybe straight piped cats? Just sounds a little buzzy, possibly just the cameras sound and it's probably cold. Sounds like she's a cold start.

I've noticed the 3.5 in my accord sounds like that for the first 15 seconds or so when I cold start it and then it like "clicks off" and it's quiet as a mouse.

Either way what a successful swap, man. Which starter did you use? It sounds like the same starter on those 09+ Ridgelines.

dopes6070

Discussion Starter · #62 · May 23, 2016

jeb said:
Hey man she sounds like she's running great.

Is there a small exhaust leak? Maybe straight piped cats? Just sounds a little buzzy, possibly just the cameras sound and it's probably cold. Sounds like she's a cold start.

I've noticed the 3.5 in my accord sounds like that for the first 15 seconds or so when I cold start it and then it like "clicks off" and it's quiet as a mouse.

Either way what a successful swap, man. Which starter did you use? It sounds like the same starter on those 09+ Ridgelines.

It's the PCDs for sure and it was a cold start. I had them before the swap too but someday may go back to the stock pre-cats. I like the power the PCDs offer and the exhaust note under WOT but the cold start sound is kinda unrefined.

I used the stock starter. The engne does crank slightly slower than it did with the 3.5 and its lower compression. I have an AGM battery so it gets plenty of current.

dopes6070

Discussion Starter · #63 · May 23, 2016

I have a dyno tuning appointment at Bisimoto on June 14th so I will have some numbers at that time.

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jeb

· #64 · May 23, 2016

dopes6070 said:
I have a dyno tuning appointment at Bisimoto on June 14th so I will have some numbers at that time.

Right on! What does the stock Ridgeline make? Has anyone done one?

dopes6070

Discussion Starter · #65 · May 24, 2016

The RL optimistically makes about 200 wheel horsepower I should be somewhere around 250whp. At least that's what I'm hoping for.

Here is a zero to 60 time on a slight uphill for your viewing pleasure

https://youtu.be/JSivVpbyofA

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IanRTL

· #66 · May 24, 2016

I can't believe I've missed this thread. This is spectacular! Great work and a very viable option for those with the tools and time. This appears to be the same power output one would get if a turbo or supercharger kit existed for the RL, but with none of the potential problems created by such a system and at a fraction of the price. It would certainly be great if this would work for the 06-08. I have no real need or desire to do this swap in my old girl, but for those with older, higher mileage trucks, it could breathe new life into an old RL.

dopes6070

Discussion Starter · #67 · May 24, 2016

There are many options within the J series family including using a 3.7L crank and rods in a 3.5 giving you a 3.6L engine. You can also take it a step further and replace the pistons with base TL or TSX v6 ones giving higher compression. Thats just the bottom end the heads are a whole different ballgame! ;-)

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dopes6070

Discussion Starter · #68 · May 25, 2016

Update for today…

I checked the TC stall speed and with the higher engine output it sits right at 2250rpms. Standard is 1950rpms with the stock engine. That alone is proof that there is more low-end torque available to get things moving. This should make pulling my 4400lb trailer much more pleasurable except the additional heat in the TC and transmission. I have the HDS as well so I will be keeping an eye on the trans temp while towing and may depending on temps, add a larger cooler.

The fuel economy meter in the gauge cluster is reading too high at about 17mpg. I am getting about 15.5mpg with LOTS of WOT runs based on 1 full tank of fuel. I’m guessing this is due to the duty cycle of the injectors decreasing from the stock tune since they are larger. I am going to see if this is something that can be dealt with either with the HDS or kTuner. One way or another I’ll get it adjusted out.

I uploaded another revised tune this morning. The power band is getting smoother and more linear with each revision. At 5k rpm plus this thing is AMAZING! I am going to see if my tuner wants to adjust the fuel cutoff to match the J37A4 in stock form which I believe is 6900rpm.

I also ordered a rubber tube to replace the aluminum bend in the intake. I am really trying to make this look as stock as possible and what better way than black rubber parts ;-)…

My intake tube clamps, IM cover and some other misc. parts from Honda should deliver tomorrow!

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dopes6070

Discussion Starter · #69 · May 25, 2016

Here is a shot of kTuner... The software is excellent!!

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speedlever

· #70 · May 25, 2016

Uh oh. If OhSix sees this thread, I bet he'll come knocking on your door! Maybe Carsmak too.

(I know I would!)

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The Volta

· #71 · May 25, 2016

Nice! Sucks that I have an 06, i wish there was some tuning options out there for us. I was cruising around craigslist and saw your motor for sale, funny that I would stumble on this thread, i am never on here too!

Awesome job though!

Carsmak

· #72 · May 25, 2016 (Edited)

speedlever said:
Uh oh. If OhSix sees this thread, I bet he'll come knocking on your door! Maybe Carsmak too.

(I know I would!)

I'm following this daily.

If "dopes" ever wants to race at Irwindale or Fontana, I'm in, I want to see some 1/4 mile times...

EDIT:, I'm bone stock, but it would be a great comparison
>

dopes6070

Discussion Starter · #73 · May 26, 2016 (Edited)

The Volta said:
Nice! Sucks that I have an 06, i wish there was some tuning options out there for us. I was cruising around craigslist and saw your motor for sale, funny that I would stumble on this thread, i am never on here too!

Awesome job though!

Thanks!! Yup I threw the engine up on CL. No sense having a perfect engine sit unused. I can't believe that these 09+ engines are priced so high. I checked car-part.com and the closest few higher milage and older engines were 2k plus.

If all you 06-08 guys post in the Ridgeline section on the kTuner help forum maybe we can get support across all model years ;-)

Carsmak said:
I'm following this daily.

If "dopes" ever wants to race at Irwindale or Fontana, I'm in, I want to see some 1/4 mile times...

EDIT:, I'm bone stock, but it would be a great comparison
>

Haha I gotta get rid of the terra grapplers first! They are so heavy they are probably adding at least .5 seconds to my 0-60! Im definitely up for making some passes in the next few months

OhSix

· #74 · May 26, 2016

dopes6070 said:
Here is a shot of kTuner... The software is excellent!!

Bloody Fugging Hell! Damn you dopes, damn you!

It's one thing to dangle an awesome, total sleeper mod like this in front of drooling enthusiasts lusting for more cow bell in their RL's, but to toss another log on the fire by teasing bit-weenies with cool software dashboard GUI's is the equivalent of waterboarding your own troops!

Project envy, Hardware envy. Displacement envy. Stealth envy. One-of-a kind envy. Software envy. Results envy. Is there no end to your cruelty?

I pity the poor unsuspecting fully hot rodded, noisy piped Taco you bump into at a stop light!

Seriously. Hands down, without a doubt, no question about it, this is the single most awesome mod in RL history! Very nice work, Very nice post authoring. Very nice attention to detail.

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speedlever

· #75 · May 26, 2016

Yep. I smell a road trip in the works. Hey, it's not that far from Sandy Eggo, is it?

Now your task, should you choose to accept it, is to figger out how to make this swap work in a 2006-2008 RL. But I fear the CANbus issue may be a tough nut to crack on this one.

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dopes6070

Discussion Starter · #76 · May 26, 2016

I’m here for you guys! ;-) I’ve always had and loved sleepers! Yesterday morning I got to walk all over a 00-04 tundra v8 4x4. I think a stock RL would be a close race with one of those as I believe they have about 240hp. I’m sure the guy was surprised, as from the next light he didn’t punch it and ended up settling in behind me.

One of my favorite cars was my Taffeta White 01 Civic sedan with a turbo D17A1 @ 17psi & 280whp. I loved the bipolar personality of low compression and high boost. Unfortunately the synchros in the transmission just couldn’t match the shaft speeds quick enough and it would start grinding after about 10,000 miles each time I replaced them. There were no triple cone or carbon synchros at the time for my application so I was out of luck with wanting to make it reliable under extreme use. When I had to rebuild my D-series manual transmission for the 3rd time I decided to do a K-Swap

I had given up and bought a wrecked 2002 Acura RSX-S. I pulled the powertrain, brakes, front springs and anything else mechanical that I could and swapped it in to my Civic. Before that swap, I ripped the transmission apart and put a TSX 6th gear in it along with a WaveTrac LSD…. See I love transmissions.. I never did break that one ;-) That car was CA BAR approved and the swap looked ABSOLUTLY STOCK except the engine was big in a tiny engine bay.

I drove it for a while and got bored because I stopped wrenching on it. I still miss that car and often wonder if it is still around or if it got wrecked. I would buy it back in a heartbeat if I could!

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I love this place!!! Honestly! This forum is full of the most relaxed awesome people! Hopefully that never changes!

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Thank you all for the kind words and encouragement!!!

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dopes6070

Discussion Starter · #77 · May 26, 2016

Here are a couple old oics for you guys! Notice the 5 lug 06 civic wheels were required to clear the RSX-S brakes.

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IanRTL

· #78 · May 26, 2016

^^ That looks like a clean college kid's car from the outside. Little do they know that under the hood lurks a gem of a powerful small engine.

Heli ATP

· #79 · May 26, 2016

Nice work dopes6070,
I wonder if you will be able to smoke the GEN 2 RL like you did the Toyota? Have you put the 3.7 decal on?

IanRTL

· #80 · May 26, 2016

Heli ATP said:
Nice work dopes6070,
I wonder if you will be able to smoke the GEN 2 RL like you did the Toyota? Have you put the 3.7 decal on?

Would likely be a close race. The Gen2 will be slightly lighter, but his will have more power in general. I'd like to see it.

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