84 Auto, bad tranny, want suggestions

[SloPoke]

The auto tranny in my 84 won't shift out of 1st so it's looking like I either need to rebuild it, or replace it.

When I got the car I bought a salvaged tranny in Joplin for 265 bux. It's lasted just over a year and 30K+ miles but always had nuisance shifts and or slips. Ran good if you drove it hard. Slipped and chattered when just puttin' around.
Wanting to get a little more reliability and do away with any nuisances, I'm looking for suggestions......

Is there a rebuild kit I can buy to do it myself?
Perhaps a performance upgrade rebuild kits available??

Is there another model tranny that's better, and I should look for "it" should I go the replacement route?

This was my daily driver till earlier today so any suggestions will be greatly appreciated as I'm anxious to get this back running and quit driving my 4wd.

I have the original tranny on a shelf in my garage so I don't have to rip this one out as I can rebuild the one on my shelf.

Thanks

[84Accord]

there isnt much performance items for the 84
what is your engine code? the 2nd generation prelude transmission should bolt in.
theres other threads talking about transmission swaps. hope you get it figured out

[Civic Accord Honda]

5speed swap!!!!!!

[2ndGenGuy]

Never got into transmissions myself. They are so cheap and plentiful used, that it's not really worth it to rebuild them IMO. I've picked a few up at the junk yard for between $75-150, usually with 30 day warranties. Usually if it's a bunk tranny, it's going to die pretty quickly, within the 30 days. And swapping them out only takes a few hours.

I would guess that you could find a rebuild kit at the local parts store, if anywhere. No other idea on that myself. Performance kits? Probably not, though I imagine there are valves and things like that you can change around. However, the automatics in these cars are the definition of "slushbox."

If you want to get performance, do a 5-speed swap on the car. You'll probably have to swap to the 5-speed axles, if they're different (check any parts store website to see if the parts have the same numbers). Then all you need is the shifter, linkage, clutch cable, and pedal assembly. It's a pretty straight forward swap and fully bolt-in.

Good luck with whichever you chose. Keep us updated, let us know how it goes and what you decide to do. :welcome:

[SloPoke]

what is your engine code? t
I will find out tonight and post it tomorrow.

Thanks.

[SloPoke]

5speed swap!!!!!!

My initial thought as well but, wanna keep this one an auto.

[SloPoke]

Never got into transmissions myself. They are so cheap and plentiful used, that it's not really worth it to rebuild them IMO. I've picked a few up at the junk yard for between $75-150, usually with 30 day warranties. Usually if it's a bunk tranny, it's going to die pretty quickly, within the 30 days. And swapping them out only takes a few hours.

I would guess that you could find a rebuild kit at the local parts store, if anywhere. No other idea on that myself. Performance kits? Probably not, though I imagine there are valves and things like that you can change around. However, the automatics in these cars are the definition of "slushbox."

If you want to get performance, do a 5-speed swap on the car. You'll probably have to swap to the 5-speed axles, if they're different (check any parts store website to see if the parts have the same numbers). Then all you need is the shifter, linkage, clutch cable, and pedal assembly. It's a pretty straight forward swap and fully bolt-in.

Good luck with whichever you chose. Keep us updated, let us know how it goes and what you decide to do. :welcome:

Thanks for the welcome.
I agree, they are cheap but I'm thinkin' maybe not as plentiful round deez parts.
I'm really not interested in a 5 speed swap. Not really looking for that kind of performance. I just wanting to upgrade if possible as I'm pretty hard on this car, throttle wise. I was hoping someone knew about a valve body upgrade available so this thing can take the abuse of repeated high R shifts. I kinda wanted to to do the holly/webber carb swap and the shortened next gen header mods I've read about and there's no way I'm going to do that if the tranny can't hold together now.

I'm real interested to see if there's a prelude auto that will fit and to find out what the benefits would be. I'll be getting that code this evening and posting back here for more direction advice.

:cheers:

[SloPoke]

there isnt much performance items for the 84
what is your engine code? the 2nd generation prelude transmission should bolt in.
theres other threads talking about transmission swaps. hope you get it figured out

Engine Code: ES2 25068q5

The q could be a 9 but it was kinda odd looking.

Any ideas what trannys would fit? Is there a cross reference available for trannys vs engine codes.

Thanks.

[roodoo2]

does that transmission use a TV cable like the 3rd gen? Your decription of what is was doing sounds like the TV cable was never set properly to the replacement transmission. Makes a big difference and it will tear one up if it isnt set right, just a cable length adjustment .

[2ndGenGuy]

Yeah they use a TV cable, just like the 3gee. Except its hooked to the pedal.

[haridev]

i too think cable adjustment. my mercedes has the same issue whenever i send it for some repairs ecspecially when they mess with the throttle free-play.in your case try loosening it, or tighting. its trial and error....good luck!

another thing, i do not know bout honda's autobox, but do check the clutch mechanism. a simple clutch plate change would do a world of good. regards, dev