I am planning to purchase a LSD for my ’87 Prelude si. I have two options – send them the entire tranny and have them do the job as well as inspect it and replace the typical worn parts for $300 which covers the labor (plus cost of parts and LSD). The other option is to just send them my stock differential core.

How difficult is it to take the stock differential out of the tranny? What tools would I need? I only have access to the basic tools – stuff like socket wrenches (not specific tranny tools). I looked through the service manual and it doesn’t seem that hard to take out, but I could quickly be proven wrong once getting into the job. Probably be better off having someone else do the install even if I decide to only ship the core out. The engine will soon be out of the car, so that will make things much easier.

What did you do / recommend? What is a typical price to get an LSD installed and have the tranny looked over?

Sounds kinda silly, but how much do trannys typically weight? Trying to figure out shipping costs.

 

Ive very familiar with trans internals
If you don't have the right tools, it can be hard
the first time can be intimidating

In your case, I'd just send out the whole trans

I'd guess that a trans weighs about 75lbs

 

I'd send the whole trans, not so much to avoid the labor yourself, but to get everything looked over and refreshed. No point installing a pimpy LSD if the tranny is going to munch itself in a few months.

 

Ouch! ~$80 in shipping each way. If I decide to send them the core and have a local shop instal / looked over and refreshed.

How do most other people do it?

 

Dude, that is so freaking ironic that you post this question. I just got a 4.7 final drive for my civic ex. I got hooked up with a new/used tranny and decided to go ahead and get another OPM LSD while I was at it, so that I could use the new final drive with a new LSD, and still have a good spare with LSD. Anyway, since I had to send the core to OPM, I read the service manual until it somehow seemed a little more straightforward, and removed it with no problems LAST NIGHT with nothing more than snapring pliers and a 12mm and a 14mm socket wrench. I do believe I can put it back together myself, as well as install the final drive gear and countershaft. It is amazing what you can do once you get tired of paying people to do **** for you. Worst case scenario, you take it somewhere in a box and fork over the cash.

 

BTW - If you bring over a bunch of parts in a box, expect to give them a lot of $$$. There's nothing worse than putting something back together that you didn't take apart.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">BTW - If you bring over a bunch of parts in a box, expect to give them a lot of $$$. There's nothing worse than putting something back together that you didn't take apart.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You are probably right, but at least you will have respect for the fee you are paying, after having failed at your attempt. Also, you will have gained valuable knowledge about the delicate internals of that gearbox that we often abuse under race conditions.

 

I'm in the same boat too. Lost reverse & fifth gears. I like to know everything about my cars. It was time to read the manual(s) over & over till they made some sense. So I split the case & found that the first/second gear shift fork was broke. Same in my back up gearbox. Now just waiting for the new part + other new seals. Point is, if you are going to race, you should know your car inside/out!
Good luck!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lyonel 13H4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I read the service manual until it somehow seemed a little more straightforward, and removed it with no problems LAST NIGHT with nothing more than snapring pliers and a 12mm and a 14mm socket wrench.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lyonel 13H4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> It is amazing what you can do once you get tired of paying people to do **** for you.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I hear THAT!!!! I used to always go to the Acura Dealer in town for service back a few years when I had a GSR Sedan and no wonder it only took 3 trips there for work before I bought a $60 Helms manual and started the moddding the bejesus out of my car by MYSELF. The best part is that I saved so much money I was able to go to 2 trackschools