I am new to the honda scene but am pretty mechanically inclined just want some tips on how to swap the auto to manual and what transmission would work and be the best for the application want to boost it as well I would appreciate any feedback! and if there are any downsides to doing it or even a parts list to make it easier on everyone thank you in advance!

 

Read here for the steps and parts.
https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-...2A%2A-1229014/

 

Good luck danny! I'd love to do the swap myself and would if I knew how. I have been told on here it's about a $6K job, cheaper to find an original for that price. If you lived close to me I'd come over and help, just to learn how to do it.

 

I was lucky to find a 1999 EX 5 speed manual 2 years ago, Took a while - but worth the effort to look until I found one. Last MPG average with some - but not all highway was 27.8. It's rated 28 MPG highway.

 

Try cruising at 55 mph. Anything over 60 begins to drastically waste fuel overcoming the effects of drag.

At 70 mph my 2003 Honda Civic 4 cylinder automatic would get 38 mpg over a 200 mile trip. However, at 55 mph it would average 46 to 50 mpg over the same distance.

I'd have to check my car's logbook (each of my cars have one) but I seem to recall that my 2002 Accord 4 cylinder automatic got close to 40 mpg on its best run, which was 550 miles from Maryland, NC to close to Lewisburg, WV back in 2015. That was at 55 mph the whole way. I was nearing "empty" but I think I could have made it Lewisburg had I been willing to gamble.

Reduce your speed, you'll see a difference.

Stel.....congrats on your manual find. I plan to do the same fairly soon.....manual shift is just where it's at.

 

I agree that 55 is going to give you better gas mileage, but it's not drag that causes it in these cars, it's the engine efficiency sweet spot. I've done a lot of aerodynamic testing over the years on vehicles, that's the only reason I know its' not drag. You have to get much closer to 100 before you notice drag effects on most cars (outside of a very flat vehicle such as a cargo van or truck). Even a 50's car like a BelAir doesn't have has much drag loss as you would think (although it's terrible by comparison to today's sedan). The civic engine is just made for 55 with it's little 1.6 (or so liter engine), short gears, and revving up over 3500RPM just eats into the sweet spot of efficiency.

An easy example today is to open all your windows and drive with them vs closed. You will notice almost no different in gas mileage, but there is a difference in drag. Again, this is using the example of the civic. I happened to use a civic for 1000 mile test not long ago and when compring open vs closed (1000 miles opened vs 1000 closed) it was measurable in 1/3 of a mile difference at 55, 65, and 75 miles an hour.

Sorry if this post is a pet peave, your point about lowering your speed was valid for improved gas mileage.

 

I'm going to disagree on this one......but whoever is right, try driving at 55. You'll save gasoline, limit your carbon footprint, have more reaction time, and have a more relaxed drive.

You can also see how little alert other drivers are. Instead of looking ahead to see who they are gaining on, they tend to wait until they are right behind me to realize I'm going slower than they are. LOL. They missed all the opportunities to pass when the passing lane was clear. I had even had police make that mistake. Lazy driving on their part. Maybe self driving cars will do better.

I would like to see your experiment data though, that sounds interesting.

 

I rarely exceed the 65mph speed limit. I'm very satisfied with the fuel economy of my Honda. My point was that manual transmissions of that era 20 or so years ago tend to outperform automatics if utilized properly. Not the case with modern cars with CVTs and 6+ automatic gears. Driving 55 would impede traffic in my area and I've seen slow drivers cause potentially dangerous situations. I don't consider a drive relaxed when someone is right behind me on my bumper!

I really like how the '99 Accord is geared - resulting in what I believe is the sweet spot around 60-65 mph. At 65 mph the rpms are around 2450. With a previous Subaru Outback I had it was around 3200. I don't know why in the world they geared that manual transmission so low in 5th gear (high numerically).

That was a '98 Outback. Just another plus for the Gen 6 Hondas - you rarely see Subarus of that era in these parts. Plenty of Gen 6 Hondas though. Not knocking Subaru - they have their highlights but it just seems that an inline engine is the way to go over a flat-4.

 

Most people give in to bullying......tailgating is perhaps the most common form of it. Oddly, tailgating people around here causes people to go slower, very strange! I know a guy that will just come to a stop. He's very cynical though.

Personally, on a two-lane road, if I am holding someone in a hurry, I pull off the road and let them go on. At night, since I hate the very bright lights on newer cars, I usually pull off and let them go on. I'm about the only person that engages in such courtesy, at least that I've seen. On the interstate, well, they can use the passing lane. If they have trouble staying in their lane when they finally pass, I'm known to memorize plates and make a call....sometimes police actually show up!

Any time we give in to bully behavior, we encourage more of it.

I like driving at 55....of course I can count on one hand the numbers of cars I've passed since I started doing it in the summer of 2006.

 

Agreed on the gears for the cars of this era. My 99 auto Accord very nice at 65-80, relatively quiet, doesn't feel like it's straining. Do I wish for more oomph when having to jump out into high speed traffic? Yes, but for cruising, it's been great. Once I put in the new suspension, tire pressure right, and adjusted the alignment, averaging 28 miles to the gallon all day long. Can't complain at all for a car this old and with 185,000 miles on it.

 

Wow - averaging 28 mpg is great, especially as you mentioned on a car 21 years old. My average certainly isn't that high - it is used mostly around town though. Your automatic may be a couple hundred RPMs less on the highway than mine. Automatics are usually geared higher (lower numerically) in top gear.

 

Yeah, this wasn't meant to be a brag, just happy the car still works pretty well. Probably right about the gear ratio.

 

What's wrong with bragging? We're happy whenever a guy gets the Honda he wants.

I sure wish my 2002 was a manual!

 

Certainly not considered a brag - you were just stating a fact. It's great to hear when a Honda of our vintage is performing well.