Performance Shifter Problem

[robdtoth]

I've been tryin to find a way to put a better automatic shifter in my 93 LX. I cant find anything and I know I can make something work. Does anyone have any experience with this at all? Any clues? Anything? Either that or I need a shift kit or something. Probably both. Any thought is welcome.

[visualpoet]

A better automatic shifter? Does yours not click into "D" well enough?

The autotragic in our cars is completely different than the ones made in the pre-computer controlled era. I don't think a shift kit is even available for a computer controlled tranny. The best thing you could do is a 5 speed swap, although if you wanted to keep the auto you could swap in an auto from an H series Prelude or you might be able to swap out the TCU or have it reprogrammed for different shift points. It's not going to do anything for the gearing and it's still going to be a slow automatic transmission though.

[deevergote]

They made shift kits for my 02 GTP, so I'm sure one could be made for the CB7.

However, I'm quite certain that you will not find a kit. It would have to be custom.
I would suggest contacting a company in NJ called Level10. They have experience with Honda automatics. If anyone knows how to make your automatic transmission perform, they should.

[visualpoet]

They made shift kits for my 02 GTP, so I'm sure one could be made for the CB7.

However, I'm quite certain that you will not find a kit. It would have to be custom.
I would suggest contacting a company in NJ called Level10. They have experience with Honda automatics. If anyone knows how to make your automatic transmission perform, they should.

How'd that work? A harder shift so less power loss to the wheels from it being smooth?

[Nizmo]

I was able to upgrade my 350z's auto, had to send it to Stillen though. I know they upgraded the valves and reprogramed the TCU. It was'nt cheap and I could of just put a 6 speed for half the price. That is your best bet, just put a 5 speed and upgrade the clutch and flywheel...

[stretch JDM]

i have a auto . that has been reworked. trackmasters in huntsville al. they changed the shift points on my 91 TCU.it was costly though . i gave around 400.

[robdtoth]

Thanks guys. Good info. Keep it comin.

So what you're sayin is that rather than being a pressure system it's electronic which means that it has to be controlled via a cpu. That's not too terribly bad as long as i can find someone who can get into the system. The main thing I'm focused on is looks. Obviously just changing the shifter wont help the transmission any. I was lookin at tryin to modifying a B&M shifter but Im concerned about the button so I can disengage from park and reverse and all that crap.

[slade gunar]

if your concerned with looks get a shifter and a wheel off a vigor. it doesnt bolt right up but with a little common sense you can redrill the hole and tap it out to fit the bolt. as far as performance goes with a auto....

i have a 86 rx7 with a c4 trans vac based running synthetic royal purple with a big hayden cooler a external fliter and stage 2 b&m shift kit. all the shift kit does is re route the flow of the fluid through the plates inside of the trans, but once you start deleting shit off your vac system your shift points get weirder and weirder with a automatic.

i also have a automatic cb9 so i would have to say that the best thing you can do is flush your trans and make sure its up to oem spec and throw on a external cooler if you plan on making bigger numbers than stock with your car.

what i did which is probably not the smartest thing and will get me some negative critisizim.... i took the tcu out of a 93 prelude si with a p14 and threw it in place of my wagons tcu to get a higher shift point.... originally i wanted to have the "sport shift" feature of the earlier cb7's but couldnt find where the 2 pins jumpered to inside of the body harness and no one else really messed with swapping one into a newer cb before. so i gave up on that idea and went with the tcu out of a sportier car to improve the shift feeling. was it the smartest thing to do?

NO.
but if my trans blows up ohhh well. 5 speed time

[deevergote]

Don't flush an old trans... just replace the fluid. Flushing can cause more issues to surface.


I believe the CB's automatic is pressure AND electronic. Most newer cars are. My GTP was.
Again, contact Level10. They will be able to offer MUCH more advice.

[slade gunar]

Don't flush an old trans... just replace the fluid. Flushing can cause more issues to surface.

thats a good point.... i didnt mean "flush" flush. just a fluid and screen change. my bad on that one

[robdtoth]

Awesome. Here's something that I've been tryin to figure out. In my 99 Ford Ranger I had, the tranny went out at 150xxx. A few weeks before it started shifting like I was driving a manual and revving up a couple hundred rpm before actually engaging into the next gear. This car isn't doing that but it is a little sluggish on the shifting. Unless I'm milkin it or running pretty hard, it seems to maintain a high rpm for a few moments before actually deciding to shift. Sometimes to get it to shift I actually let off the throttle a touch and let the rpms drop and then it'll shift right away. Do the cb7's just have a 'dead spot' in the shift points or what?

[slade gunar]

i dont really know much about these cars but it sounds like the way mine was acting before i changed the fluid and tcu. keep in mind your driving a family car though.... its not a sports car and the tcu knows that. it wants to keep you comfortable and keep the rpms down for economy. mine liked to shift arround 3k unless i was beating the piss out of it then it would want to do a "quick shift" it got better after i changed out the fluid. check the fluid to see if its still reddish or if its that lovely black with a burned smell lol

[deevergote]

The fluid should ONLY be changed with Honda ATF. Nothing else.

And many MANY people change out the TCU for no reason. Often a TCU error code (flashing S or D4 light) is misinterpreted as a bad TCU, rather than a good TCU telling you that there is another bad component in the transmission.