koolme88

I picked up a 90 CRX HF today that needs a tranny i found what is said to be a 89 CRX Si tranny for cheap from what i read it will work i just have to use the hf cv shafts but i want to be shur befor i go an spend the money on the tranny this is my 4 crx i have owned but havent been around them sence high school thanks for the help

NOFX

I have an '88 HF, which is a bit different from what I understand, but I can't recall all the differences.

My HF transmission went out and I replaced it with an '88 Si transmission. Everything bolted up just fine. Didn't have to change anything besides the transmission itself. Still using HF axles and such.

The car does cruise at about 4,000 rpm while doing 70-75 mph now though. Suddenly I'm burning oil, when the car had no issues before, but I'm about to swap in a D16Y8, which is made to run at higher rpm anyway, so I'm not too worried as long as I don't put too much wear and tear on this engine until then. Very close to swap time so I'm not concerned.

ef_cowboy

if you do put the trans on i would put a different head for more power(16 valve)...

koolme88

That would be the plan but i am just trying to get it up an running so i can make the 1800 mile trip from AZ to WI i am here right now helpin my grandma for a few weeks

gnxpro24

iTrader: (1)

youre not supposed to put a 16 valve head on an hf block, without modifications. I have 2 genuine hf transmissions, 1 is in my daily driver and one is a back up transmission. I would be willing to sell the backup transmission

gnxpro24

iTrader: (1)

thats exactly right. makes sense. the hf engine is made to make lowend torque, not run at high rpms. thats why the hf transmission will allow you to cruise at 2300 rpm at 65mph. running the si tansmission probably put too much stress on the ole' hf engine at those high rpms

NOFX

If you make that trip, BRING EXTRA OIL AND CHECK IT OFTEN.

I had my oil light pop on twice on my cross country (DE to WA - about 2880 miles) trip. I made the same trip about a month before and had zero problems with burning oil and the transmission and tires were the only changes between the trips.

If the oil light pops on, pull over immediately. I mean immediately. Right away. from what I understand about Honda oil lights is that they basically pop on when it's just about too late.

I had mine pop on the first time at the last toll on the Ohio Turnpike (because I hit the brakes), pulled over and dumped in a quart of MTF to get me the .3 miles to a shop off the next exit (thank god it was right there). Luckily the guy hooked me up with three quarts of free oil (!!!) and I was on my way once again.

Remember long distant trips like this will mostly have you off the brakes and not hitting aggressive turns, so the oil light won't pop on even if it's really low.

The Si tranny in an HF can get you moved, but I wouldn't recommend if for driving much more than that just because of my experience.

Btw, my engine had 160k miles when I picked it up in April and has 170k on it now. Original engine for my 23 year old car.

gnxpro24

iTrader: (1)

yea, the oil light doesnt turn on til you are down to about 1/2 quart of oil so youre engine is almost ready to fry by that time

julious88

You would only need a different clutch and flywheels to run 90-91 tranny on what had an 88-89 tranny on it

gnxpro24

iTrader: (1)

actually 88 was the only transmission to have a different spline count on the input shaft of the transmission

koolme88

I figured i would check the oil with every fill up it dont puff smoke when you rev it up but that dont really mean much an from what i read around on here that it will work with the clutch an fly wheel that is on the hf correct??? it was 88 that had i diffrent spline count but i am going to start pullin the old tranny today befor i go buy the other one an if i run in to anymore problems i might be just payin the 350 to ship my dog home an fly my self

NOFX

I never smelled a thing, nor saw any smoke on my drive and I watched for it.

Still had that oil light come on twice. The second time was when I was in South Dakota/Montana, on Park Street or whatever it's called (it's a 200 mile section of two roads that bypass 80/90, but it's in the middle of Indian reservations and there's only one gas station the entire way).

tonylovesjdmEF9

ahh okay bro check it out 88 tranny you need 88 clutch and flywheel 89 tranny you will need 89 clutch and flywheel and 90-91 you need 90-91 clutch and flywheel

tonylovesjdmEF9

as far as axels go they are all the same bro its just the main shaft of the tranny that changes and the gearing that bout it pm if anything i just did my tranny swap on my ef had dx 90 -91 went 89 si it was a piece of cake

Projekt_ED3

all the axles are not the same 88 civic hatch dx trans uses hf axles because the hubs are the same as the crx hf ones. 89-91 all use the same axles.

tonylovesjdmEF9

umm if im correct dx hf and std(88-91) use the same wheel hubs because of the brakes only si have bigger hubs or ex ..... i know for a fact cuz i have dealt with front brake convertions and swaps with many efs

koolme88

from what i read on all of the sites go back an forth one post says it will work one says it diffrent but if my clutch slides on to the new tranny input shaft i can use my old clutch set up?

i know i should change it wile i am in there but at this point i am running low on funds with not working an being 1800 miles from home so my plan it to use the old one being that it didnt slip an seems to be ok the tranny i am takein out of the car was F***ed with it in gear you could turn the tires an watch the cv shaft bobbel around in the tranny housing but the car still drove just made alot of noise i made it the 50 miles back to where i am staying

tonylovesjdmEF9

**** you might be lucky and have a 90 hf that was made with 89 parts still it would all depend on the hf tranny check for the groves on the main shaft if it has 1 then you dont need a new clutch if it has 2 groves then you will need a new clutch and flywheel bro sorry =/

koolme88

I went on AZ website an looked up the clutch for both cars an this is what i got 90 "Disc outside diameter 8 3/8", spline inside diameter 7/8", spline count 20 " an on the 89 "Disc outside diameter 7 7/8", spline inside diameter 7/8", spline count 20" so i can use the clutch from my car with a 89 tranny they both have 20 splines

tonylovesjdmEF9

no bro cuz of the differences on the diameter will not fit right causing major damaged

koolme88

I dont quite get that if the cases are the same there should be room for the PP under the bell houseing the shaft size is the same an the spline count is the same it the bellhouseing was diffrent i should be able to look at the tranny an see its diffrent with out counting the splines an what not

Projekt_ED3

If that was the case when napa mixed it up and gave me dx axles it would have slid right in but it didnt. The spline on the outside section that goes into the hub was too big. I had to take it out and take it back and get the hf one and it went right in. Also if this was true I wouldnt have had to switch the front hubs out when I went b series either. 89-91 all use the same wheel hubs but 88 was the black sheep of the body style and used **** that wasnt all the same. Most of it was but not all IE: Front hubs and rear LCA.

TeamRedline89Hatch

89-91 do NOT all use the same hubs. The hf/std share the same hubs (23 spline) and dx/si share the same hubs (26 spline).

koolme88

I got it all back together didnt start it yet have to pick up a battery. Not shur if i got the drivers side axle in all the way i poped it back out a couple times an shoved it back in pounded on a pice of wood tryin to get it all the way in. there is about 1/16 of inch gap between the shaft an the tranny