I have a 96 civic hx w/ 104k mi. it is automatic with the Continuously Variable Transmission. I had it at the Honda dealer and asked them why it shudders when you start moving from a dead stop and they said it was the Start Clutch which is a couple hundred bucks + $600-700 in labor

Now I dont know a lot about transmissions, but Here's my options:

- Buy the start clutch and install it myself with the help of chilton's manual

- Buy a used CVT tranny for $500-$700

- Do a 5 speed swap.

The 5 speed swap would be Ideal but I'm not sure if it would be more trouble than it is worth.
I have a spare 92 Si tranny complete w/ clutch/flywheel, axles, shifter, linkage, 5 sp pedals right now.
I would need to get :
-HX manual ecu (since it has to work w/ the vtec-E head)
-HX manual engine harness (the CVT engine harness has different sensors)
-master, slave cyls + lines
-engine mount conversion to mate a 5sp to an auto chassis.
The wiring is what has me concerned since the HX w/ the CVT is so different from other civics.

I have no idea how long I can drive the car as-is, the shuddering does not bother me. I start off easy and it is not as bad, but I dont want to do and additional damage to anything else by driving w/ a bad start clutch. the 96 is just a daily driver, no mods.

I've searched, alot of unanswered questions when it comes to the CVT, any help is

 

lol dang. if it was the "Start Clutch" going bad or whatnot. Then I drove around like that for a long *** time. My bitch *** CVT gave out at least 4 times. And this last time I'm tired of fixing the ****. So I'm going 5-spd. I can depend on it more. I didn't know about changing the wire harness and stuff? I'm gonna be using the HX 5-spd ECU. So...

BTW: Your 96 has less miles then my 97. lol all the lady did was drive it on the freeway. It has 198k+ Miles on it. That y5 has held on GREAT.

 

good luck with the used tranny. I have heard nothing but bad about those CVT's. Why spend 500-700 on a used one that will probably break on you too. The refurbished CVT's go for around 1300 on ebay. I would personally covert to 5spd

 

I have the same problem, and decided to go with the manual swap. I got all the parts from a DelSol S. But I still need an ECU. Can I run my ecu with the manual tranny? or is ther a way to convert it over?