If I'm looking at a Honda 5-speed transaxle, out of a car and with no other reference, how can I determine if it is for an '88-'91 Civic or CRX si?
Thanks,
Jim

 

Here are some of the notes I've gathered over the years regarding the L3 tranny:

88 Tranny, 21 spline input shaft
89-91 Tranny, 20 spline input shaft

PL3/3000 cast into the casing just above the fill plug = SI
PL3/A000 or A100 denotes the smaller bearing HF, DX, STD tranny.
88's have no markings….D'oh!

If it has (around the input shaft snout):
no groove cut around, =1988
1 groove=1989
2 grooves=90-91

The last method I know of is to have the tranny in front of you and make a mark with some white paint at the 12 o'clock position on the input shaft and on the output shaft edge. Turn the input shaft 10 complete turns. The input shaft flange should spin to about 10 o'clock for an SI. 8 o'clock for a DX and even less for an HF.

I hope that helps.