Auto to 5spd swap shift linkage problem

[BreckAConner]

This is my 4th CB. My 3rd one was hit one night on the side of the road and was totaled. Before and After it was hit car drove fine, shifted fine and all. No problems, just really bad body damage. Now that I have it all swapped into my 4th CB which was a automatic. It's hard to put the car in 1st, 3rd, 5th, and Reverse. I've adusted the linkage at the shifter on the floor but really hasn't made a difference. The plastic or rubber piece that goes in the floor and out where the exhaust would be looks funky. I'm not sure how it's supposed to sit, my friend is the one that swapped the tranny for me. I was also wondering if the rear motor mount has anything to do with the shift lines. My friend told me the shift line or lines had ran through the rear mount? I'm so confused on getting this fixed. I just want my car to shift smooth again. I'm just looking for helpful knowledge I can use to go get this sucker fixed. Also any pictures to show how it should look.


3rd CB 90 EX 216K miles 5speed

4th CB 90 EX 120K miles Auto

Thank you!

[deevergote]

Did you use a auto to manual conversion mount? Or did you weld in the manual mount bracket?
If not, your engine and transmission aren't sitting properly. Not only will your shifting be off, but your axles will break.

[BreckAConner]

Did you use a auto to manual conversion mount? Or did you weld in the manual mount bracket?
If not, your engine and transmission aren't sitting properly. Not only will your shifting be off, but your axles will break.

Yes I have the conversion mount from ExplicitSpeedPerformance.com. Fits perfect no problems.

[BreckAConner]

Okay, I straightened out the linkage a bit more, but It seems like it got worst. When I put it in 1st, 3rd, 5th it has play in the line. Could it now be because I have a rear automatic motor mount and not a manual? The lines have to curve around the mount unlike on my other 5 speed they have plenty of room with it's stock manual mount. I'm really stumped I can't figure this out, only thing I can think of it that manual mount, and if that doesn't fix it, well crap I don't know what to do.

[cp[mike]]

it's a tight fit trying to run the shift cables over the top of the automatic rear mount, the 5spd came with a shorter mount & bracket to accomodate.

regardless, the cables should be running the same way - out thru the floor (with the metal cover plate bolted to the chassis from the BOTTOM, not from the top), up on top of the rear crossmember, around the driver side of the rear mount, and then take a 90deg curve toward the tranny by looping overtop of the mount.

the cables should NOT be running "inside" or "through" the rear mount. its a tight squeeze, but they definitely should be over the top of the mount, and not crimped against anything or twisted over each other.

another thing to check is the actual ends of the cables where they attach to the transmission itself. they move around a lot, and there may be stray wiring or hoses in the way when they are moved a certain way. have somebody sit inside the car and shift through the motions, while you look to make sure nothing is bumping into anything.




edit: to get everything to fit, the hydraulic "plunger" unit needs to be removed from the side of the auto rear mount. it occupies exactly the space where the cables need to go (the driver side area of the mount)

[BreckAConner]

it's a tight fit trying to run the shift cables over the top of the automatic rear mount, the 5spd came with a shorter mount & bracket to accomodate.

regardless, the cables should be running the same way - out thru the floor (with the metal cover plate bolted to the chassis from the BOTTOM, not from the top), up on top of the rear crossmember, around the driver side of the rear mount, and then take a 90deg curve toward the tranny by looping overtop of the mount.

the cables should NOT be running "inside" or "through" the rear mount. its a tight squeeze, but they definitely should be over the top of the mount, and not crimped against anything or twisted over each other.

another thing to check is the actual ends of the cables where they attach to the transmission itself. they move around a lot, and there may be stray wiring or hoses in the way when they are moved a certain way. have somebody sit inside the car and shift through the motions, while you look to make sure nothing is bumping into anything.




edit: to get everything to fit, the hydraulic "plunger" unit needs to be removed from the side of the auto rear mount. it occupies exactly the space where the cables need to go (the driver side area of the mount)

Tomorrow I'm going to go through the lines again, and check everything you said. I really appriciate the reply. I'll let you know how things turn out. Hopefully I can get this fixed.

Thank you Mike

[BreckAConner]

Okay, I ran the cables over the auto mount. Lines didn't really feel any better, and actually couldn't get reverse out of gear. I'm going to try and put the manual mount back in when I get that from my friend, it's on my old motor that came out of my scrap car. I hope while doing this it's not bending or breaking anything in the tranny. I don't want to have and pull the tranny back out, that wouldn't be good.

[plee3]

Sounds like you need new shifter cables. Inspect every inch of your shifter cables. If any part of the cables are broken, you will not be able to shift properly.

[BreckAConner]

Sounds like you need new shifter cables. Inspect every inch of your shifter cables. If any part of the cables are broken, you will not be able to shift properly.

I'm still going to try that manual mount and if it still does it, then I'm going to buy new lines. Is there any way that forks could of bent while driving on the cables like this?

[BreckAConner]

Okay now I need help finding new shift cables, can you recommended me to a good online shop to buy from?

[BreckAConner]

Okay now I need help finding new shift cables, can you recommended me to a good online shop to buy from?

Thanks to cp[mike] he told me that 94-97 accords and 92-01 preludes linkage can be used on the CBs in case of replacing the lines. Note also my linkage was stretched or twisted, replacing my lines fixed my problem and also putting in the rear manual motor mount. If someone comes across this post later down the road with similar problems I hope this helps. I couldn't really find straight answers. Neither could I find lines online to buy that were new. I went to my local junkyard and found close to new lines, and they work perfect. I was so scared that it was something to do with the tranny, but I'm glad I tried the lines first.

[deevergote]

Thanks for posting your results, even if you weren't able to find help.
In the future, check www.hondaautomotiveparts.com for anything you need. They're a Honda dealership in CT that does a lot of online parts sales (so their prices are USUALLY better than any other for OEM parts.)
The shift linkage is listed on there as "may have been discontinued", and is priced at nearly $300... so it's probably best that you went used anyway!