Rep Power: 0

I've got a 99 Civic HX with a CVT.

This car is currently on it's 3rd transmission.

Original factory tranny died.
Honda replaced it with a rebuilt for free cause it was under warranty.
The rebuilt died 6 months later. Honda claimed the rebuilt they threw in was "defective".
Car was still under warranty. They put another rebuilt in at around 50K.

Now I'm sitting at around 104K and I think my CVT is shot.

When I accelerate, I always hear a grinding and gurgling noises. When I hit about 40MPH and let off the gas, the noises goes away. If I give the car gas, the noises start again. I've got some lag when I accelerate. The car shakes occasionally when accelerating. Sometimes it shakes when I go up hills under 45MPH.

I took the car to Aamco and they test-drove the car. They told me that it sounded like my torque converter was shot.

Wanting a second opinion, I took the car to Honda. Honda test drove it and said the transmission was shot. They offered to put in, what will be this car's 4th CVT transmission, for a "mere" $2600. I'm not under warranty anymore.

Given the track record I've had with CVTs, and the horrible experiences other people have had with CVTs, I'm looking to put something OTHER than a CVT in my car.

Is it easy to throw a EX automatic tranny in my car?

A world famous tuning shop just a few miles away said they could do a manual conversion for $2000 labor.
I found a 5 spd tranny on eBay for $600.

What do I need besides the tranny (and shifter/clutch pedal obviously)? Any idea how much I'll end up spending on the rest of the parts (everything but actual transmission)?

Any input, at all, would be greatly appreciated.

 
Rep Power: 0

hmmm. i would say do a manual tranny swap. for sure, but find someone cheaper!!!!!

 
Rep Power: 245

$600 for a tranny is high unless its new.

I found a tranny at a reputable junk yard for $400 with 50,000 miles on it and some people think that was high but it was in great shape. I see ads on craigslist in my area for these trannys for $200 but in unknown condition.

Besides the tranny and pedals you'll need:

shift linkage
shift boot
clutch master cylinder
clutch hydraulic hard and soft lines
clutch and pressure plate
flywheel
tranny fluid

There are write-up on other forums with step-by-step procedures complete with pics and comments. Check on Honda-Tech.

If you are a decent mechanic you can probably do it yourself and source the parts from eBay, craigslist, car-parts.com, or local junk yards. If you're not sure of the tranny's condition I would take it to a tranny shop and have then dissassemble it and inspect it. That should only cost a couple hundred bucks.