Transmission trouble: rebuild or replace?
judebert
familEE
From other threads, you all know I'm converting an 88 RT4WD to electric power, I've removed the entire rear drive train for battery space, and the tranny is providing way too much resistance (at least compared to my HB). So now I've got to decide whether to do something half-assed like ignoring the problem, or actually pull the whole thing apart and fix it.
The only fixes I can think of are rebuilding it and replacing it. (Lighter oil didn't help.) Nathan says that nobody will rebuild a manual, because it's just not cost-effective.
Question 1: How difficult and expensive is it to rebuild a transmission on my own?
The other option is replacement. I doubt I'll find another 88 RT4WD tranny, but I've read in multiple posts that we can swap nearly any same-gen Honda transmission directly into our Wagons. Since I don't have an engine my situation is a little different, though. You can see my adapter and how it fits my transmission here. (The adapter bolts to the electric motor and gives it the same end profile as the original engine.) It actually kinda tucks behind the transfer case cover in the last picture.
Question 2: In your opinion, could I use a tranny from a 2WD Civic and keep the same adapter plate?
Thanks in advance for any help and opinions.
The only fixes I can think of are rebuilding it and replacing it. (Lighter oil didn't help.) Nathan says that nobody will rebuild a manual, because it's just not cost-effective.
Question 1: How difficult and expensive is it to rebuild a transmission on my own?
The other option is replacement. I doubt I'll find another 88 RT4WD tranny, but I've read in multiple posts that we can swap nearly any same-gen Honda transmission directly into our Wagons. Since I don't have an engine my situation is a little different, though. You can see my adapter and how it fits my transmission here. (The adapter bolts to the electric motor and gives it the same end profile as the original engine.) It actually kinda tucks behind the transfer case cover in the last picture.
Question 2: In your opinion, could I use a tranny from a 2WD Civic and keep the same adapter plate?
Thanks in advance for any help and opinions.
Comments
I'll answer ?#2 1st. 'cuz it's easy.
Yes & Yes.
Nathan's right.It'll be cheaper to buy a rebuild.To rebuild it 100% correctly is TOO costly 'cuz of all the extra tools you'll need.
It's cheap to rebuild if you use "used" parts.It's not that hard to do a half ass rebuild.I'm not saying BAD,but good enough.I believe you have the intelligence & mechanical aptitude to meet the challenge.This is what I did.
1) Get a HOnda Shop Manual(or print 1 from the CRX link you read about from our earlier postings).There's a great step by step rebuild section.
2)Get a digital camera or 2 2WD trannies.It's not that bad.I picked up 3 Civic trannies from 3 different peeps for $50- $75 each.I did the 2 tranny route.The reason is if you mess up on 1 you have a reference model.Besides you need parts off the other tranny.
3)Go SLOW.The 3 hardest parts are removing the snap ring to take apart the tranny , unbolting tha nut at the end of 1 of the shafts(need a vise & 2 blockes of wood) & rearranging the gears back together(that's why you have the 2nd tranny).NOT trying to scare :evil: you.This was the first time I ever rebuild a manual tranny.
4)The only tranny related tools I got were feeler guages & a caliper.Just follow the Honda rebuild procedures the parts you can do... do.The parts you can't do ...don't.Just use your common sense .Compare parts see which looks like it's worn less.shake parts on the shaft to see which 1's are lossier .Look for broken parts.I swapped tranny parts around till I got most of the good parts into my tranny.I must have dismantled the tranny 4x's+.I was ready to put the tranny .While sitting at the kitchen table I got this bad feeling (spider senses) so I went back to the basement & riped it apart again....1 of the synchro forks tip was broken.BOY was I glad I didn't put that tranny in.