Trans swap?

oilspotoilspot Wagonist
in Engine & Drivetrain
I'm getting tired of this 25-28mpg I'm getting from my rt4wd. It doesn't snow around here, and the second gear syncro on my trans is getting a little on the crunchy side. I have to do a lot of driving every day, and I get a strong feeling that it will not be that long before gas prices are back up again.

I started looking at the faq at the top of this forum. So the final drive on a rt4wd is 4.4. More than even a crx trans at 4.058. Add that to the extra drag of the 4wd system and that explains the bad mpg's. (I think, just starting to educate myself with honda transaxle stuff)


So.... What all does it take to convert from cable trans to a non cable. (i assume the others use that more common honda linkage). I know about taking the rear end, viscous coupler. My question mainly centers around the linkage.

Comments

  • x88EE4xx88EE4x New Wagonist
    disengage your 4wd, it'll help on the gas mileage.
  • oilspotoilspot Wagonist
    x88EE4x wrote:
    disengage your 4wd, it'll help on the gas mileage.
    Yeah I saw that. In my plans of "things to do tomorrow".

    I've got a a6 shortblock that I'm in the process of rebuilding. I'm running a fresh z6 head on my current tired a6 bottom end. I figure instead of changing syncros when I'm swapping the bottom end that I could just have a trans waiting to go.

    I just think once I swap into a standard trans that i'll prob never really miss the rt4wd.

    I hadn't really thought of this option till I drove my friends 92 teg with a b20 swap a few days ago. I almost felt embarassed when we started talking MPG's. That car flat flies and gets way better gas mileage than my little wagon.
  • superhatchsuperhatch Moderator
    x88EE4x wrote:
    disengage your 4wd, it'll help on the gas mileage.


    I thought we already determined that this didn't really change your mpg much?

    I'm not sure if, due to our cable trans, we have the mounting points of the linkage assembly:

    InstallShifterBushings4.jpg

    I'm sure you could mount them, but you would also have to cut a hole to account for the shifter coming through the floor. We might have a punch out area that never got punched out, but I've never really looked hard enough.
  • FakeJDMEF8FakeJDMEF8 Senior Wagonist
    dont do all that, ill trade ya a 1991 civic wagovan FWD and b16a swap for your RT...im in albuquerque....

    pm me
  • CharbCharb Administrator
    superhatch wrote:
    x88EE4x wrote:
    disengage your 4wd, it'll help on the gas mileage.


    I thought we already determined that this didn't really change your mpg much?


    More heresay...
  • The_HeadThe_Head familEE
    I wonder if your engine is just tired.
  • oilspotoilspot Wagonist
    The_Head wrote:
    I wonder if your engine is just tired.
    Yes the bottom end is tired, even so that's just about the same mileage everybody else with a RT is reporting
  • SiWagonSiWagon Council Member
    As far as the linkage all you need is Wgn. shift linkage & manual hole(where shifter comes into the cockpit).This is easily cut out of any manual 88-91 Civic.Any 88-91 Civic linkage can be used,but one of the linkages has to be lengthen .Depending on length you can custom it so the shifter is closer or further away from you.Me & Jaker have done the swap.Do a search for complete details.
  • x88EE4xx88EE4x New Wagonist
    Charb1618 wrote:
    superhatch wrote:
    x88EE4x wrote:
    disengage your 4wd, it'll help on the gas mileage.


    I thought we already determined that this didn't really change your mpg much?


    More heresay...

    i get around 30-35 city/highway combined milage in 2wd and 25-30 in 4wd.
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