I am wondering if the D-series gears are interchangeable (particularly 96-00 DX hatch gears) in the sense that 3rd can be used as 4th, and 4th as 5th.
I got to thinking about this once I saw the infinitude 3/5 gears on http://www.mfactoryhk.com. For the EX transmission you use their shorter 3rd gear, stock 3rd as 4th, and their shorter 5th (stock 5th works too). This gives you gearing similar to a 99-00 Si.

Now, I want to use the infinitude 3rd gear and then essentially shift the other gears up. So stock 3rd as 4th, stock 4th as 5th...and get rid of the stock 5th. If this is possible, it would give me gearing that is very close to a hydro GSR (besides 1st & 2nd - they would be longer). I am doubting this idea very strongly but I figured I'd better ask because it would be a cheap way to get better gearing. Tons of unwanted DX trannies out there I'm sure and the infinitude 3rd is only $325.

Here are some graphed comparisons on http://www.fatboyraceworks.com (green is my hybrid one):
Mine vs Stock DX
Mine vs Stock EX
Mine vs Infinitude 3rd EX
Mine vs GSR

As you can see it's fairly decent gearing, especially when compared to the stock DX...which blows. You hit 3rd using stock DX gears and the car falls flat on it's face, and 4th will make you cry. I was also thinking that if I couldn't use 4th as 5th then the stock 5th could stay. It would allow the rpm's to drop big time but I guess that isn't such a big deal. Thanks guys.

 

Up for some answers...I bet if I was asking about an intake I'd get responses.

 

I've never heard of them being interchangable from the DX gears into EX. However, lots use the JDM ZC cable tranny. Use the 3rd from it, then take a 3rd gear from an 88-91 HF as your 4th or JDM ZC 4th (but it need to be modified to fit), and then use the ZC 5th again.

So:
1st - Stock EX
2nd - Stock EX
3rd - JDM ZC
4th - HF 3rd gear or modified JDM ZC 4th
5th - JDM ZC

This is the tranny I'd like to build, however I can't find a JDM ZC Cable tranny!

 

I always used 3rd gear from CX tranny- same as the old school 4 speeders I believe. It makes for a short 3-4 shift...but 2-3 sucks if you don't run ZC third

 

I'm just talking about using the infinitude 3rd in a 96-00 dx hatch trans opposed to an ex trans (it's meant for the ex). If I can do that then I'd like to also use the stock dx 3rd as 4th...is this possible? I'm not interested in other configurations because this would allow me to retain my stock dx trans instead of paying for a new one. I'm talkin about cost effectivity here. So forget the ex trans, I'm talking about infinitude 3rd in a dx tranny.

 

Okay well I just got the answer myself from mfactoryhk.com. Awesome response time from those guys BTW...I contacted them through their site at like 9:30 tonight and they got back to me at 11:30 - that's nuts. Anyway, they said <U>yes</U> it is possible to use their 3rd gear in a DX tranny (and stock 3 as 4). 1-2 remain the same (they aren't bad) and 3-4 are very close to a GSR, while 5th is retained for comfortable highway cruising. I hope you budget guys see the potential in this...way better gearing than stock DX, better than EX, almost as good as GSR. The standard for most sohc folks is the EX, and on top of that you'd spend $325 for the gear and/or ~$500 for a final drive. Do this and you can keep your current DX transmission and only drop $325 on the gear.