Hey folks-

I found this forum searching through some other honda forums recently. I've tried looking for an answer to this question but I haven't been able to find an exact one on the forum, so forgive me if some if this is repost info.

I have a 96 LX with a 5spd box. I just recently picked it up, 133k on the clock. It makes a growling/whining noise when accelerating over 2000RPM in most gears. I've dont some searching and foudn that it could be the main shaft bearing or ISB. I swapped in some amsoil synthetic fluid to slow the inevitable death of this trans...

So now I'm searching for a used replacement transmission. I've been told JDM transmissions are good at a low cost, but i'm finding it hard to determine which transmissions will fit in the car and to the block wiht no modification (I'll likely have a shop make the swap for me). Will an EX transmission work? Do any of you know of a good reliable source for honda transmissions?

Thanks in advance-

K

 

Sell the car, buy another used one with less problems.

 

Buy an EX tranny. Either the EX/Si tranny from a 92-95 Civic will work or the EX tranny from 96-00. All are hydraulic, have the best available gearing, and will bolt up to your block with absolutely zero modification.

The 92-95 Civic EX trannies had aluminum shift forks, more prone to bending and have a modulus of elasticity; they are a little weaker. The 96-00 EX trannies have steel shift forks which are much stronger.

Try and find a 96-00 Civic EX tranny. You can usually find them on places such as here, look in the classifieds section. You should be able to pick one up for $200-$300 shipped. You should also be able to do the swap yourself instead of paying out the *** to have a shop do it. Give yourself the better part of a day and you'll be golden. The whole weekend if you take your time and have never done it before.

Good luck. Any other questions just ask.

 

Thanks the advice you mentioned is helpful. What is the deal with these "JDM" transmissons? I've noticed a few of them on ebay, but i'm not sure which I can use. Is it anything with a "D" in the title that's an option for me?

As far as selling the car is concerned, I'd rather not. Hate to admit i, but I just got it not long ago. I picked it up for 2900 bucks, and similar cars around these parts are going for about 3500 dollars. NOt to mention that I can tell the previous owner took great care of it, the motor had a honda filter on it, telling me it was most likely dealer serviced. Futhermore, I've already got some money into a timing belt and pump change on this car. THe interior is perfect as is the body, all in all this seems worth it for a car that's in this shape. At least I know what I've got with this car, another one could present another host of problems!

Right now the noise isn't very pronounced. Its intermittant and sounds in most cases about as loud a noise as you'd get in reverse normally (i'm referencing that reverse whine that most manual cars have). THe Amsoil seems to have quieted it down a bit.

I'm hoping that if I drive easy and keep good lube in the trans I can squeeze a year out of this trans (about 12000 miles for me). At this rate it really doesn't seem unreasonable. At that point I'll probably sell this car for a down payent on somethign relatively new.

sorry for the rambling!

K

 

The JDM bullshit on Ebay is just to get people's attention. Someone may say "92-95 Civic/Del Sol JDM tranny S20 ...blah blah blah...", when it's just a regular tranny from a 93 Civic EX from their grandmas car.

Don't buy into it.

Like I said, look around here and try and find a used EX tranny. Either from a 92-95 or a 96-00, I already stated the differences.