Need help in the Champaign, IL area. Anyone around?

(I wasn't sure where to put this post. Hope this is the right place)

Hey all. I've got an 86 LX-i hatchback that's been sitting in my driveway for a year now due to a failed auto tranny (Big surprise, huh? Hadn't even owned the car 10 months when it happened, too. :mad: ). Now here's my dilemma. The car is still in decent shape, body wise, interior, etc, and the engine only has 153k on it. I was recently quoted close to 2k from Aamco to have the (already supposedly rebuilt once) tranny rebuilt, and that's too much for me. Now I know, you'll all say "Just do the 5 speed swap and be done with it!". I'd love to, but I don't have most of the tools I need and I definitely don't have a place to do the work at. So, is there someone in my area with some time and tools AND garage space who'd like to help get my car back on the road? I'd rather drive it again, but if I can't get it fixed I'll have to sell it. I'm moving out of state in a couple months so I need to do something with it very soon. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Unless you just want to go ahead and do the swap, why not just pick another auto tranny from the junkard and put that in? They are not that expensive, easy to find, and don't require any real special tools per say. At least it would get you up and running.

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Originally Posted by Robs89LXi

Unless you just want to go ahead and do the swap, why not just pick another auto tranny from the junkard and put that in? They are not that expensive, easy to find, and don't require any real special tools per say. At least it would get you up and running.

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Yeah that would work too. But, again, I don't have most of the tools (like the proper tools for removing and re-torquing the axle nuts) or a place to do that kind of work. The big issue is not having a place to work on the car. And out of all 2 yards in this area, one doesn't have it, and the other, well they don't know what they have and I don't know what will work. Will just about any auto tranny from the right year range work? Are there compatability issues between tranny's from EFI and carbed setups? My preference though would be the 5 speed swap as I detest autos. But, I'll go with just replacing the tranny if it'll get me running again.

This is the only auto car I've ever owned (I don't trust them), so it figures that the tranny went. Damn autos...

I don't like giving out information unless I'm sure about it, so no, I do not know for sure the compatibility of the different models auto trannys. Patience though; I'm sure someone on here will respond who does know. I recently removed/replaced my 5-speed though, and was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. I'm blessed with having all the tools I need though, but you'd be surprised at how few you actually need to do the job, and certainly nothing special outside of normal hand tools. Don't you have any neighbors/family/co-workers/friends that you can borrow from? You will need:
Jack (your car jack will work)
Jack stands (or suitable substitutes)
Lug wrench (you should already have that too)
Assorted wrenches: 17mm, 14mm, 12mm, 10mm
Assorted sockets: same sizes + 32mm(?) for wheel nut
Philips screwdriver
Flat head screwdriver
Needle nose pliers

You will also need a ball joint puller, but you can check one out from your local Autozone.

As for parts, you might want to go ahead and replace your rear main seal, and two axle seals. Again, no auto tranny expert here, so not sure what else you might need.

Heck, even buying those tools would be a whole lot cheaper than Aamco, plus you will need them for your 5-speed swap later :).

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Originally Posted by Robs89LXi

I don't like giving out information unless I'm sure about it, so no, I do not know for sure the compatibility of the different models auto trannys. Patience though; I'm sure someone on here will respond who does know. I recently removed/replaced my 5-speed though, and was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. I'm blessed with having all the tools I need though, but you'd be surprised at how few you actually need to do the job, and certainly nothing special outside of normal hand tools. Don't you have any neighbors/family/co-workers/friends that you can borrow from? You will need:
Jack (your car jack will work)
Jack stands (or suitable substitutes)
Lug wrench (you should already have that too)
Assorted wrenches: 17mm, 14mm, 12mm, 10mm
Assorted sockets: same sizes + 32mm(?) for wheel nut
Philips screwdriver
Flat head screwdriver
Needle nose pliers

You will also need a ball joint puller, but you can check one out from your local Autozone.

As for parts, you might want to go ahead and replace your rear main seal, and two axle seals. Again, no auto tranny expert here, so not sure what else you might need.

Heck, even buying those tools would be a whole lot cheaper than Aamco, plus you will need them for your 5-speed swap later :).

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Yeah, I know the tools are easy enough to get a hold of. My biggest issue for doing any of the work really is a place to do it. I've got the driveway (short, at a an incline, and no shelter), the grass (yeah, nice soft dirt, great for wheeling a jack around on, and no shelter), and the street (not possible anyway. Oh, and no shelter.). And, sadly, if I don't do a swap now, there's little chance there'll be a later as I'll be moving to an apartment from here. Most managers, so I've heard, aren't too keen on major car repair being done in the parking lot. :)

LOL. Yeah, I know what you mean. Just move to a POS complex like I used to live in, then it won't matter :). Wish I lived closer, Dude. I've got the room and the tools. Good luck, and let us know how it ends up.

Moodybluesr lives close to you, but he has his own problems with getting his Accord/truck road worthy. I would help you out, but you live like 5 hours away. Wish I could help out. I have the stuff to pull the tranny out.

Someone helped me out from 3geez when I needed it, I'm sure someone will help you out! Good luck

www.centralillinoisimports.org may have someone around that could help you out. I don't have a garage and have alot of work that needs to be done to two of my cars anyway. Failing that, I would get a used transmission (about $100-150) from Coultas in Danville (443-0510) and have someone install it on the cheap (Neal Auto on State St. in Champaign comes to mind) if you can't find a garage to do it yourself.

Or you could sell the car and buy my '89 Prelude which already has a 5 speed tranny. :D

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Originally Posted by Moodybluesr

Or you could sell the car and buy my '89 Prelude which already has a 5 speed tranny. :D

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Or you could swap cars, he could pay you the difference, you could use that money to put in a 5-speed, then you could swap back even! :rofl:
See, got it all figured out for you.

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Originally Posted by Moodybluesr

www.centralillinoisimports.org may have someone around that could help you out. I don't have a garage and have alot of work that needs to be done to two of my cars anyway. Failing that, I would get a used transmission (about $100-150) from Coultas in Danville (443-0510) and have someone install it on the cheap (Neal Auto on State St. in Champaign comes to mind) if you can't find a garage to do it yourself.

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Would Coultas have the tranny pulled already? (Man, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't skeptical of getting a used auto... I mean, I wouldn't know it was bad until I got it installed.) Have you had work done at Neal Auto before? (Yeah, I don't trust shops either. :hs: ) And, are they the kind of place that'll install used stuff you bring in?

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Originally Posted by Moodybluesr

Or you could sell the car and buy my '89 Prelude which already has a 5 speed tranny.

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Originally Posted by Robs89LXi

Or you could swap cars, he could pay you the difference, you could use that money to put in a 5-speed, then you could swap back even! :rofl: See, got it all figured out for you.

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Unless the Prelude is dirt cheap, I doubt there'd be any trading or selling to meet the price. I mean I don't expect my LX-i is worth much in its current condition. :D

Though, if the Prelude is in good working order and it was in my price range (Yeah right. :) ) I would be interested.

I want $1500 for the 'Lude; dunno if that is in your price range. I have an ad posted for it on CII. Yes, Coultas will pull the tranny for you. I know they will guarantee the tranny, but it would still suck to get a bad one. Best bet is to grab one out of a wrecked car so you can assume it ran ok until it was totalled. I have had Neal Auto do some tranny work for me before (put in a clutch and a used trans in my 90 EX) and they are cool to work with. A couple of older guys that do quick quality work for a good price.

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Originally Posted by Moodybluesr

I want $1500 for the 'Lude; dunno if that is in your price range. I have an ad posted for it on CII. Yes, Coultas will pull the tranny for you. I know they will guarantee the tranny, but it would still suck to get a bad one. Best bet is to grab one out of a wrecked car so you can assume it ran ok until it was totalled. I have had Neal Auto do some tranny work for me before (put in a clutch and a used trans in my 90 EX) and they are cool to work with. A couple of older guys that do quick quality work for a good price.

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Actually, that's a workable range (though I don't look to have all I need until the end of July :( ) I checked out your post on CII. I'd love to check it out sometime. It's possible I could make something happen if the car is right for me. We should exchange contact information.

I remember I was out of town and my fellow 3GZ member helpd me out.
Zeta Honda Phi Frat

Well, it's looking like the LX-i is gonna go back on the road. :) Nothing is for certain yet, but I can get a tranny for $133 and I found a shop that'll do the job for $280.

And, for those curious, I thought I'd put up a couple shots of her.

This one was taken not too long after I got her.

And this one was taken just a few days ago. That's where and how she's been sitting for the last year. I didn't realize how much and how fast my bumpers have faded. Oh, anyone got any REALLY cheap alloys? I'd love to lose those stock wheels. :D

Edit: The pic links work again :)

Man, that is one clean looking hatch! And an LXi to boot! I'm glad to hear you will be fixing it, and I hope that tranny turns out to be a good one. These realy are very good cars, and will last you for a real long time with very little upkeep. Get some bumper dressing and it will take care of the fade, and be sure to let us know how the fix turns out. Good luck.
Oh, as far as wheels, check out good ol' Discount Tire
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/home.do
You can get some pretty cheap deals from them, they will mount and balance them for you, and since they are everywhere, you save on the shipping.

Well I got the money down on the tranny yesterday. I should have it by Friday or early next week. Got a working alternator put in the car (previous one had frozen up while sitting) and got the car started up last night. She's got a bad misfire close to 3000 rpm. She always had that problem, but it's worse now. Chances are it's the distrubutor (lot's of red dust inside). She started right up though and idles fine. Radiator fan fuse was blown (had to pull one from one of the power windows as I didn't have a spare) and the A/C no longer works. It worked last time I started the car, so I'm hoping the system is just empty (moving to Nevada. I'm going to want that working :D) Car runs a bit on the rich side, but she always did. I'll have to take care of that if I'm going to pass her on emissions though. But that's the current progress. Need to find a distributor next. The yard I went to didn't have many, and only one or two TEC ones as I recall (is there only one style of TEC distributor?). The one I checked out was on a 200k miles car. Had a bit of dust and possibly some metal in it though, but it still looked better than mine. Anyone got a good TEC distributor for sale? :)

Should I still post updates in this thread, or is it better posted somewhere else?

Oh, if anyone was trying check out the pics in the past days, the links work now :)