I found the solution to the B20A "RARE" transmission.

[snoopyloopy]

well then. if this is the case, i should be getting my b20a much sooner than planned. should be easier to ship this way. and also, does this mean we can use the same axles as the a20? (did i miss that part? lol...)

so basically, all we need to get a b20a running is a b20a engine itself and the rear mount/brackets. bc we can use b20a5 ecu and hacked wiring harness (or go obd-1) and a20a flywheel/tranny and it bolts to the driver's side mount. if that's the case, then hell, we can all be running a b20a in september. :lol: :deal:

[thegreatdane]

Makes you wonder why they bothered to make a completely different 5speed for the B20A...

For those who wants to do this, just remember that the B16 LSD only fit's the B20A 5speed.

[88LXi68]

so basically, all we need to get a b20a running is a b20a engine itself and the rear mount/brackets. bc we can use b20a5 ecu and hacked wiring harness (or go obd-1) and a20a flywheel/tranny and it bolts to the driver's side mount. if that's the case, then hell, we can all be running a b20a in september. :lol: :deal:

No...if I understood it correctly you NEED a B20 or B18 bell housing (auto or 5spd) Then you can you bolt up the actual gear housing to the B20/B18 bell housing. Since there seems to be a plethora of auto B20s it allows you to make it 5spd. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

[snoopyloopy]

No...if I understood it correctly you NEED a B20 or B18 bell housing (auto or 5spd) Then you can you bolt up the actual gear housing to the B20/B18 bell housing. Since there seems to be a plethora of auto B20s it allows you to make it 5spd. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

yeah, that's what i meant. it's only absolutely necessary to source the bellhousing. everything else can be hacked to fit from usdm parts.

[Legend_master]

No...if I understood it correctly you NEED a B20 or B18 bell housing (auto or 5spd) Then you can you bolt up the actual gear housing to the B20/B18 bell housing. Since there seems to be a plethora of auto B20s it allows you to make it 5spd. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

From reading you need an auto bell housing to hook up an a20 auto tranny, and a 5 speed bell housing to use the a20 5speed.

[A18A]

i thought it had to be a b18a bell housing :confused:

[Legend_master]

i thought it had to be a b18a bell housing :confused:

From what I understand, that is correct. b18 auto bell housing with a20 auto tranny or b18 5-speed bell housing with a20 5-speed tranny. That is what I am getting from Carotmans statements.

[snoopyloopy]

From what I understand, that is correct. b18 auto bell housing with a20 auto tranny or b18 5-speed bell housing with a20 5-speed tranny. That is what I am getting from Carotmans statements.

yes, i think that's what he's saying. oh great carot, shine some light upon us poor b20a-less usdm mortals. maybe add this to the b20a how-to.

[RobT5580]

Thanks a lot carot you just dropped the value of my spare B20A 5-Speed......No just joking that is a great find indeed and i appreciate it. I was gonna tear down my spare tranny and try to get a match on my damaged gear but no need now.

Thanks for the information you have contributed a lot to this and its appreciated!

[carotman]

From what I understand, that is correct. b18 auto bell housing with a20 auto tranny or b18 5-speed bell housing with a20 5-speed tranny. That is what I am getting from Carotmans statements.

That's right, Auto B18A + Auto A20A or manual B18A + Manual A20A

You can't mix Auto and Manual bellhousings.


snoopyloopy, you can also use your A20A axles with the B20A tranny. It's just better to use the intermediate shaft since most of them come with the engine anyway. You can also turn the auto midshaft into a 5speed one by using USDM B20A5 parts so it's no problem here.

I compared the rear bracket part numbers and here's what I came up with:
Auto B18A: 50827-SE0-930
Manual B18A: 50827-SE0-910

Auto B20A: 50827-SE0-930
Manual B20A: 50827-SE0-930

None of these brackets are available in North America

And here's the rear mount itself:
Auto B18A: 50811-SA5-983
Manual B18A: 50811-SA5-020

Auto B20A: 50811-SE0-980
Manual B20A: 50811-SE0-000

All these rear mounts are available in North America at the Honda dealer


So... this means that the Manual B18A has it's own bracket. Would it still work with the other bracket? I'm pretty sure it would but can't guarantee it. I have no B18A bracket here to compare.

Honda has 4 rear different rear mounts for these engines but only 2 brackets... I guess it's just a matter of how hard they are able to damper the vibrations. I compared an Auto and Manual A20A rear mount myself and other that the AT or MT markings, they were the same.

If you're REALLY worried about fitment issues, you can get that rear bracket through www.honda.co.nz (I bought new parts there myself) or just ask these guys. www.stronghonda.co.nz

Anything that needs to be cleared up?

P.S. In the JDM parts catalog, a brand new B18A bellhousing is listed at 22600 Yen, which is approximately USD $190. Prices might have changed since then but I guess that assuming the B18A bellhousing costs 200 bucks isn't far from the truth. Not too bad but not that cheap. It all depends on how much it costs to ship. The B18A rear bracket is listed at 2750 Yen which is 23 bucks... I would just get one from a Honda dealer in New Zealand and forget about fitment issues.

[snoopyloopy]

so if we get a b20a, all we'd need is the a20a mt5 transmission, b18a mt5 bellhousing, b18a mt5 rear mount and b18a mt5 rear bracket?

[A18A]

That's right, Auto B18A + Auto A20A or manual B18A + Manual A20A

You can't mix Auto and Manual bellhousings.

so all the problem really solves is if you have a b18 manual gearbox you can just go and blow it up and you can just bolt on a manual a20 gearbox to the bell housing?

so your still gonna have to find b18 manual gearboxes/bell housings?

[snoopyloopy]

so all the problem really solves is if you have a b18 manual gearbox you can just go and blow it up and you can just bolt on a manual a20 gearbox to the bell housing?

so your still gonna have to find b18 manual gearboxes/bell housings?

yes, but it's much cheaper to ship a bellhousing as opposed to a tranny. and also, bellhousing probably wouldn't blow nearly as easily as the whole tranny will for the vast majority of us. but even so, it probably wouldn't be too hard to get something fabbed up if the need arose. much better than getting a whole custom tranny, that's for sure.

[carotman]

so if we get a b20a, all we'd need is the a20a mt5 transmission, b18a mt5 bellhousing, b18a mt5 rear mount and b18a mt5 rear bracket?

You don't "really" need the rear mount. The one you have on your car will do and it's available anywhere. All you need is the bellhousing and the rear bracket (tough the B20A one might work too). You can probably want the flywheel cover (under the tranny) but that's all. Oh, mayne the lower rubber damper is also different. I'll check into this too.

Like you said, the bellhousing is unlikely to break unless something really nasty happens to the transmission. Most of the time they can be rebuilt too if it ever blows a hole near the differential gear.

It doesn't "solve" the problem but it gives us an alternative to the rarer B20A 5speed tranny. The B18A doesn't seem to be that common either but shipping a bellhousing can be done through regular mail when a regular complete tranny can't.

You guys want me to post pictures of that B18A transmission just like in this thread with the part numbers and everything?

https://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43448

[Ichiban]

So what is the part number for the B18a bellhousing? I want to keep my eyes open for one, and just for kicks, approach the local Honda dealer about it.

[Steve_Si]

Does the parts catalogue give the weight of the B18A bellhousing? The cost of sending an entire transmission is astronomical. I could just about fly over with the bellhousing in my carry-on luggage for the price of shipping the transmission by sea lol.

[carotman]

Unfortunately, thye don't list the weight of the bellhousing. It shouldn't be that heavy since it's all aluminium.

[3GCVC]

Yeah i can confirm that this works as when wohdog blew his diff he was running an A18 box we used the diff from an A20A box and it worked perfectly.

sadly the B18 in manual is just about as hard to find as a manual for a B20A in the first place as it only came in the EXL-S as far as i know.

B20A 2G Ludes are the easiest way to find manual boxes for B20 as they came out manual more often.

[A18A]

sadly the A18 in manual is just about as hard to find as a manual for a B20A in the first place as it only came in the EXL-S as far as i know.

i hope you mean the b18 :o

[3GCVC]

i hope you mean the b18 :o

yes i do sorry... fixed..

[bullard123]

Yeah i can confirm that this works as when wohdog blew his diff he was running an A18 box we used the diff from an A20A box and it worked perfectly.

sadly the B18 in manual is just about as hard to find as a manual for a B20A in the first place as it only came in the EXL-S as far as i know.

B20A 2G Ludes are the easiest way to find manual boxes for B20 as they came out manual more often.

Thats great that you guys figured this out but you guys should have posted it earlier. Maybe you might have and I just didn't read it but I've been trying to gat a tranmission for my B20 nearly a year now and this informaion would have gotten my car on the road a lil faster. Its all good now that I know about it. But this will save a lot of members all of the pain and heartache that I had to go through.

[carotman]

sadly the B18 in manual is just about as hard to find as a manual for a B20A in the first place as it only came in the EXL-S as far as i know

Indeed, only in the EXL-S Accord/Vigor

However, you can find them at the Honda dealer in New-Zealand for a "reasonable" price. Much easier that shipping a whole new B20A tranny.

[Steve_Si]

Today I'm going to have a go at removing the bellhousing, is it just a matter of removing bolts or is there something else I should know?

3GCVC you should try and find these guys some bellhousings. They come from EXL-S, EX-S Accords, GXL-S and GX-S CA Accords, MXL-S, MX-S Vigors and LXR-S Aerodecks.

[Steve_Si]

Today I'm going to have a go at removing the bellhousing, is it just a matter of removing bolts or is there something else I should know?

Got all the bolts out from around the edge, and removed this thing that seems to move shit in and out of the gearbox. Help :(

[bullard123]

Sweet! I'll have to steam clean it once gets here. Where r you at Carotman!