Alright, I've now done a fair share of googling, searching the forums etc. on what an SL3 transmission really is. I still don't have an answer. Some people say it's a dx, si or even out of a JDM integra.

I bought this tranny to replace my 91 hf one, and it was advertised as an si pulled from a 91 crx. It says SL3, not just L3. The only thing I am almost 100% certain about now, is that it's a 91.

Anyone for *sure* know what it is, if it's possible to know for sure? Thank you very much.

 

hmm, well the L3 is the dual cam ZC tranny if IIRC, so maybe the SL3 is the JDM single cam tranny? I dunno....

 

i'm confused now. i thought the L3 was the si tranny, then this guy said that L3 is on alot of trannies so i'm not sure. but i've always been told that L3 is the si tranny.

 

the dx, si, hf, and zc trannies are all labeled L3 as far as i remember.

here is a couple of pics that should help you out:

 

im guessing its a newer tranny from japan. white barcode serial number "SL3-XXXXXX"
its the same thing as a Si tranny. with probably really nice synchro's. (nothing special, just jdm trannies are newer and less abused) id use it.

Posted by a nother member ( tyson )

 

L3 is the stamp code for the housing... it is on all the ef/ed d-series trannies as well as the D16A1 integra tranny that doesn't work with the ef/ed motor. I believe the L# stamp can even be found on some hydrolic d trannies.

SL# - never heard of it. Is it marked on the sticker or on the casting stamp (found near the passanger side axle hole.)

 

NOw if i remember right SOME L3's came in hf,std,dx which used a small diff BEARing,Them some SI's came with a L3 which had the BIGGER diff BEARing which came in 89-90,Now the SL3 tranny I'm pretty sure came IN 91 SI models ONLY CRX/CIVIC which HAD the BIGGER diff bearing and better synchro's...

Now the jdm ZC/L3 has a shorter final drive, which some people like MYself make a HYBRID trannny with a USDM tranny and a JDM tranny,I use all the gears and synchro's from a JDM/zc tranny still had L3 label and Use the USDM final drive for better gearing...

Gear 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th final

US Civic 1.894 3.250 1.259 1.107 0.771 4.25

JDM ZC 1.944 3.250 1.346 1.107 0.878 3.88

Hybrid trans 1.944 3.250 1.346 1.107 0.878 4.25


Hope this will help you out over all,I would use the SL3...

 

a lot of 91 USDM transmissions are SL3 - the sticker is on the top instead of the front like the L3 - all of the SL3s that i have come across were DX transmissions - i have had the SL3 apart there is no apparent difference between L3 and SL3

edit: don't know for sure, but the Honda parts manual lists 2 different final drives for the 91 Civic Si - the 4.25 same as the CRX Si and the 3.88 same as the CRX DX - could be that the SL3 is the optional transmission with 3.88 final drive

 

my 90 si is an L3 i believe L3's only came on si's

 

Please read the two posts above yours. L3 is the case casting number.
It tells nothing about the gears inside the case.

If you look at your passanger side axle hole you will find a stamp in the case that says L3 and then some number under it. If it's 3000 or 9000 then the case has the large bearing found in the Si and Zc. If the case has been opened up and gears switched around (like MOE@Hyper16Valve and I have done) then you have no idea what you have.

There is a really good post out there with all the gear ratios and stuff... can't find it right now though
This post grabs some of the pictures from the post I can't find -
https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-crx-ef-civic-1988-1991-3/what-look-identify-si-tranny-1551508/


STILL - back to the OP - no idea what an SL3 is though... sorry.
Maybe try the transmission forum?!?!

 

whew.. I was way off... Man Next time I will keep my mouth shut haha, good info though.

 

Well thanks for everyones input. I can't really read the stamp number very well, but there is also a 'H6A' printed on the pass. axle side to the right, big letters. The 'SL3-5079319' is a sticker/bar code. It's in great shape, real clean, so I guess I should just be happy and see what it is once it's in the car. Thanks again.

 

its identical to a L3 Si tranny. no difference. just newer.

ive gotten my hands on a few and opened them all up to make sure.

 

Tyson, what was inside the ones you had? Were they Si, Zc, or both??

 

Yes, I was going to say that my stock 90 Si trans had a SL3-xxxxxxx sticker on it.

Basically, the best way to tell is by looking at the gear ratios as many others have suggested in this thread.

 

Si gearing and diff and final drive.

the while label trannys are just newer. like 92+ they started labelling them differently instead of the goldish sticker.

 

alright im really confused. I bought i motor and tranny from a friend who bought a 88 honda civic(dont know model) anyways i bought the motor and trans for my crx and the motor code is D15B1 16 valve dual piont injection. The tranny is a SL3 i think 4 speed tranny. I dont know wat axles to put in my crx because the guy i bought it from told me it had Si spindles but he had a B16 in it with DA axles. Im so lost can someone help me out!!! Wat axels do i need? Is it a SI tanny or WTF lol

 

like said before, if it is an si tranny it will be stamped on the casing near the axle hole-"9000".
it will be a circular stamp smaller than a dime.
i have known for some to just change the final drives from 3.88 to 4.25 in a dx tranny to make it an Si tranny.
they even have a 4.88? gear ...really low.

 

will da axles fit or do i need special axles?

 

... one year later.

 

ay caramba

 

rebirth.


so the SL3 like the L3

also came in different gear ratios?

 

I got a L3 trans in a 90 Honda civic hatch, but I don't know what year it is, im trying to fine out what axels I can use, having problems with axels the ones I have gotten if they work in the trns they don't work in the disc or backward, can someone tell me what axels I need.......

 

... 5 years later.

You use your stock axles.
88~91 are all same except for the HF and STD chassis.
Those two have a different spline count going into the wheel hub.

 

the one that came with the car r to small for the trans