Possible project: Transmission swap on my wife's CRX

[Matt Timion]

My wife has a 87 CRX Si. It gets over 30mpg, but in my eyes that isn't enough.

There are two 86-87 CRX HF's (really tall transmissions) in the junkyard. The junkyard has a 50% off sale this weekend.

Can you see where my mind is going with this one?

Anyway, I'm considering getting the transmission out of one of these CRX HF's and then swapping it into my wife's car. It should give about a 10mpg boost (and she'll have EFI to boot!).

The only problem is that I have no experience removing transmissions. There is the ellusive "***** pin" which makes removing the transmissions difficult, and I really have no idea where to start.

Maybe DaX can lend me a helping hand on this one. Any advice? Will it be easy to do for someone like me with no transmission experience whatsoever?

[SVOboy]

The pin is easy to get off with tools, and the tranny is easy if you remember the alternator thingy (I forgot it)!!! It's plug and play, really.

[GasSavers_Ryland]

It's not really that hard to remove the ***** pin, unless you are a 17 year old who was given the car by his grandparents, and watched the Fast And The... bitter? did someone say I'm bitter?
all you need is a 3/16" (I think) flat ended punch, a small hammer, and some penitrating oil.

it's part #26, you can also removed #23 and simply remove the other end of the shift linkage from right under the shift lever.
I checked the Honda service manual, and it's a single page for removing the tranny, they don't even ask you to pull the engine! Click here
is a link to my web page with the dealer service manual for removing the tranny.

[Matt Timion]

I went to the junkyard today and it was raining and occassionally snowing on me.

Screw that. I'll just wait until some other time and get the tranny when the sun is shining.

[GasSavers_DaX]

You'll need:

A 32 mm socket and a breaker bar to get the axle nuts off. Pop out your center caps on your wheels, leave the car on the ground, have someone stand on the brakes, make sure the 32 mm socket is placed WELL on the nut so it doesn't slip, then put all your weight onto it and the nut should turn. I'm scrawny - about 130 lbs - and I can get it to turn if I stand on the end of an extension rod on the breaker bar (approx. 3 ft x 130 lb = 390 ft-lb). You may want to un-stake the nut, but I never do and it comes right off.

Like he said, the ***** pin is a piece of cake if you have a flat ended drift pin and a 3-lb baby-sledge hammer.

The rest of it is bolts, hoses, and wires.

[molecule]

go in with a sawzall and just cut off them axles
slash all the wiring connections
unbolt the starter so the tranny will come off the flywheel easier (though it shouldn't be engaged)
unbolt the inspection plate (between tranny housing and oil pan) if there is one
you can slash all the linkage with the sawzall too and just worry about the *****pin when you get home
if you go this route...your toughest problem will be an extension cord to the car and maybe the clutch cable release arm bolt...
a jack under the engine to release some tension on the mount bolts

let her fall to the ground...and get out of town...
and maybe stop at home-depot to return the sawzall
lol

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by eigerzoom

go in with a sawzall and just cut off them axles
slash all the wiring connections
unbolt the starter so the tranny will come off the flywheel easier (though it shouldn't be engaged)
unbolt the inspection plate (between tranny housing and oil pan) if there is one
you can slash all the linkage with the sawzall too and just worry about the *****pin when you get home
if you go this route...your toughest problem will be an extension cord to the car and maybe the clutch cable release arm bolt...
a jack under the engine to release some tension on the mount bolts

let her fall to the ground...and get out of town...
and maybe stop at home-depot to return the sawzall
lol

I like the way you think. I need one of these sawsall things, in a bad way.

The problem, of course, is figuring out how to remove it the proper way. I usually use the junkyard as a "practice" for when the actual swap occurs. It's nice to know exactly what I'm doing, and practicing on a junked car is kind of nice.

All in all though, it would be nice to just make a quick trip out of it. It might be impossible to get the axle nuts off all by myself, especially considering the car is off of the ground.

[molecule]

and concerning the extension cord...
they might rent an even better tool that will rip thru all that metal even quicker...
maybe something powered by gas
its been a while since i've been in the rental department

i understand wanting to take your time...100%...
but if you dont need any of those parts...screw it...
take your time in a warm garage if you have one...
or at least on the comfort of your own property...
during the re-install
take your time then...
when you have better access to answers for any questions (internet)
few yards are actually decent to work in
most are a slop house...and its actually dangerous
so that would definately be the deciding factor for me
i've never pulled a major component out of a yard car...
usually they dont ask too much more to have the part pulled...

[GasSavers_DaX]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

It might be impossible to get the axle nuts off all by myself, especially considering the car is off of the ground.

There is a way around this for the donor car, especially if it's in the junk yard:

Just unbolt all the suspension things in the front of the car - radius rods, LCA's, UCA's, etc. - and then you can just pull the whole assemblies - suspension components AND axle - right out of the transmission and leave the heap of parts sitting in the junk yard. This is the quick, down and dirty way to get things done in the junk yard. If you're having trouble pulling the axles from the tranny in the junk yard, just take a box cutter in with you and cut the CV boot on the trasmission side of the axle and pull the guts out with the axle, leaving the hub still in the transmission. You can pull the hub out later when you get home.

[Matt Timion]

what I really need are 6 foot bolt cutters.. that'll do it

I seriously wish some of you guys lived closer so i could exploit your ability to do this stuff.