6 speed manual conversion

[Amoretto]

is there anyone out there who knows about, or has heard about the possibility of converting a 5spd AT 04 tsx into a 6spd manual

[MarkPinTx]

I have no specific knowledge, but I suspect that it would be such a tall order that one would be better off trading away the 5AT for a 6MT. As noted by a poster elsewhere, the dealer really screwed up the swap of the transmission case on a 5AT that was under the mysterious hold.

With FWD cars, pretty much the entire driveline and engine have to be dropped from the car for transmission work. The margin for error is enormous. That is without knowledge of specific components (flywheel comes to mind) that may differ dramatically between the 5AT and 6MT, not to mention electronics.

We're not talking a 70's Camaro or Mustang here.

[larchmont]

Ambitious question.

I suspect the answer is only slightly less complex than converting to AWD. :eek:

[netoperek]

I was thinking about my old 89 mustang, the most puzzling thing about that conversion was which type of transmission to install. I dont think it would be a good idea to do a conversion on any modern car.

[ChinchillaX]

I am thinking about doing the opposite with my TSX. I want to convert it to a 5 speed auto, I have the 6 speed manual. However, if I want to keep the car longer and have better resale value....I think an auto would be better. I don't want to get another TSX, but instead convert mines to an auto.

[netoperek]

You will end up spending more money for the conversion and running into more problems in the long run than the car will deprieciate.

[larchmont]

I am thinking about doing the opposite with my TSX. I want to convert it to a 5 speed auto, I have the 6 speed manual. However, if I want to keep the car longer and have better resale value....I think an auto would be better. I don't want to get another TSX, but instead convert mines to an auto.
I would think any number of 5AT owners might be glad to swap with you.

Would be interesting to see how many takers you'd have if you made the offer on these sites. I bet you'd have some.

[ChinchillaX]

You will end up spending more money for the conversion and running into more problems in the long run than the car will deprieciate.

In the long run a manual would be harder to sell since not many people around here are interested in it. Plus, I have to deal with a lot of traffic and it becomes a pain the ass shifting up and down in stop n' go. I will do anything to keep my TSX longer than I intend, cuz right now I don't think I would keep this car for 2 more years....unless I change it to an auto.

[CCColtsicehockey]

You would also have to switch gauges cause when you switch sportshift or what ever its called show up between the speed and rpm gausges so you would have to switch them which is probably end und switchings to much of the electronics

[sjlee]

is there anyone out there who knows about, or has heard about the possibility of converting a 5spd AT 04 tsx into a 6spd manual

Waste of time and money... it's not just a bolt-on.

With the amount of resources that you would need, you're better off selling your car and buying a 6-speed.

[tony4311]

if the car had been around for a while it might not have been so bad. But these are so new it'd be an insane amount of money. Not worth it.

[Oxygene]

is there anyone out there who knows about, or has heard about the possibility of converting a 5spd AT 04 tsx into a 6spd manual

Sell your car and buy a manual. It will be heaps cheaper and you get a new car again. If you must, the trans tunnel on the auto is bigger so a manual box will fit. Get a DC5 Integra type R gear box with closer ratios and LSD. This will fit as well.

You will have alot of work ahead of you, I don't know if the auto box has any special sensors hanging out of it but I would say so, then you have to modify your tailshaft as well. You will be very lucky if the holes in the floor line up, which means alot of cutting.

Why did you waste your time with an auto anyways?

[MemRheins]

[B]new stick shifts aint what they used to be anyway, too much electronics, however, for those of us holdin on to our 5AT, anyone know of a shift chip out or in the making for the TSX, Dinan and several other companys have chips for BMW's, Voltz, and a couple others that make there Tiptronics shift faster then a manual, defenutly wouldnt mind that

[sjlee]

[B]new stick shifts aint what they used to be anyway, too much electronics, however, for those of us holdin on to our 5AT, anyone know of a shift chip out or in the making for the TSX, Dinan and several other companys have chips for BMW's, Voltz, and a couple others that make there Tiptronics shift faster then a manual, defenutly wouldnt mind that

I wouldn't waste your money on something like that. Even though you can "shift faster than a manual", it'll still be slower than a true MT because you're still have a tranny where you lose more power between the engine and the wheels.

[blueiedgod]

In the long run a manual would be harder to sell since not many people around here are interested in it. Plus, I have to deal with a lot of traffic and it becomes a pain the ass shifting up and down in stop n' go. I will do anything to keep my TSX longer than I intend, cuz right now I don't think I would keep this car for 2 more years....unless I change it to an auto.

Have you priced a 1993 Acura Legend with a stick? It demands more money now than an auto. There is a dime a dozen Auto Legends, but a handful of manual legends. I am not about to teach you how to drive stick in traffic, but I drove from CT to NJ everyday, and see a handfull of traffic jams. You don't need to shift. Keep it in 1st or 2nd and play with the throttle. One of the beauties of manual is that you have direct connection between the engine and the wheels, you can accelerate and slow down with just the throttle. No need to clutch or shift.

Currently I have a 2002 Civic Si, and when stuck in traffic I can do the slow 5 mph crawl without clutching or shifting, and then briskly accelerate, still in 1st gear and slow down just as dramatically. Now, if you have auto, you have to keep switching from gas to brake because auto will not let you do 5mph crawl down hill without brakes.

[Ray]

I did a conversion on my 98 maxima without a problem, its just a matter of time before someone makes instructions for a conversion the value of the car is just too high now for it. Wait till it drops to $12 grand then you will see people doing it.

[larchmont]

I did a conversion on my 98 maxima without a problem....
Wanna tell us about it? Like, cost, plus whatever else? I bet a lot of people would be interested.

[TSX 'R' US]

I did a conversion on my 98 maxima without a problem, its just a matter of time before someone makes instructions for a conversion the value of the car is just too high now for it. Wait till it drops to $12 grand then you will see people doing it.
$12k!!!! :shock:

[larchmont]

$12k!!!! :shock:
:sprint:

[Ray]

Wanna tell us about it? Like, cost, plus whatever else? I bet a lot of people would be interested.
It was so long ago, but here is what I remember, all the parts for the conversion cost me $1800 that did not include the ACT performance clutch for about $330 labor was $900. After that was done I drove home and 2 weeks later see a leak from the transmission it was the differential bearing. Went back to the place that put it in he said it would cost another $300-350 to fix the bearing so I just purchased a Fidanza Flywheel ( $340+ ) since the tranny was coming down. Oh I almost forgot when the job was done the first time my car was hesitating to start I had to drive to the nissan dealership to find out what the problem is for $300 more apperantly the connection between the engine and tranny was not good.

After about a year I burned the ACT clutch and put a stock one on for another $600 all around car started costing me too much thats why I had to buy a new car.

[larchmont]

It was so long ago, but here is what I remember, all the parts for the conversion cost me $1800 that did not include the ACT performance clutch for about $330 labor was $900. After that was done I drove home and 2 weeks later see a leak from the transmission it was the differential bearing. Went back to the place that put it in he said it would cost another $300-350 to fix the bearing so I just purchased a Fidanza Flywheel ( $340+ ) since the tranny was coming down. Oh I almost forgot when the job was done the first time my car was hesitating to start I had to drive to the nissan dealership to find out what the problem is for $300 more apperantly the connection between the engine and tranny was not good.

After about a year I burned the ACT clutch and put a stock one on for another $600 all around car started costing me too much thats why I had to buy a new car.
The plot thickens!
The arithmetic says it wound up being close to $4000, and the rest of the story says it also sucked. So, even though the initial conversion was "no problem" (as Ray said), the whole thing was hardly no problem.

Ray, it seems surprising that your basic overall recollection would be that it was no problem!

[Ray]

The plot thickens!
The arithmetic says it wound up being close to $4000, and the rest of the story says it also sucked. So, even though the initial conversion was "no problem" (as Ray said), the whole thing was hardly no problem.

Ray, it seems surprising that your basic overall recollection would be that it was no problem!

I really enjoyed it alot! Before doing a conversion to your car you should be ready for the worst. Things happen it is only metal. :007:

[larchmont]

:donno:

IMO the moral of Ray's story is, don't do it -- even when it goes well, it still sucks.

[tony4311]

not totally true. I'm going to be getting it done to my Integra.....once I've got money. It'll cost me more though but save me some of those very headaches. For one the tranny is going to be brand new. I'm going to go with a new ITR (Integra Type R) tranny and leave the clutch and flywheel alone so the tranny won't have any problems. Then I'm probably going to pay about $500 labor maybe less since I used to be neighbors with the guy that works there. Plus the other various parts. Although it's not going to cost me 4k it will cost me probably a little over 2k for the parts. 1,700 for the tranny alone but it's new and with a parts warranty. It'll be worth it. I used to be able to stand the auto until I got the tsx with the 6-spd. Now every time I drive the integra I hate the auto a little more even though it's my favorite car.

[larchmont]

not totally true. I'm going to be getting it done to my Integra.....once I've got money. It'll cost me more though but save me some of those very headaches. For one the tranny is going to be brand new. I'm going to go with a new ITR (Integra Type R) tranny and leave the clutch and flywheel alone so the tranny won't have any problems. Then I'm probably going to pay about $500 labor maybe less since I used to be neighbors with the guy that works there. Plus the other various parts. Although it's not going to cost me 4k it will cost me probably a little over 2k for the parts. 1,700 for the tranny alone but it's new and with a parts warranty. It'll be worth it. I used to be able to stand the auto until I got the tsx with the 6-spd. Now every time I drive the integra I hate the auto a little more even though it's my favorite car.
I think we are now approaching the moment of truth, the moment we have all been waiting for.....

Why wouldn't you just trade it in for a car that has MT?

[tony4311]

because I've owned this car since it's been around. I know everything it's been through and how its been treated. I've taken care of it and owned it for four years. Nobdy knows it better then me and I'll never get rid of it. I can't have a car that I'm going to care about and now know everything it's been through and how it's been treated. I could trade it and get a faster gsr but it wouldn't be MY car. It'd be someone elses old car and I just can't care about a car that I queastion how it's been treated. It's also the reason I'm spending more and going with a brand new tranny. I'm willing to pay for the extra comfort and lack of questions and voices in the back of my head asking how it was treated before I had it. I won't have the money to do this until next summer at the earliest though. :)

[larchmont]

That's kinda what I thought.
But, with the conversion, it won't really be the same car any more, will it?

I guess you think it will. I think it's more like a sex-change.

Not that there's anything wrong with that..... :D

P.S. I do see what you mean.

[TSX 'R' US]

Now here's a question...how bout changing the TSX from a FWD to a RWD :D

[TSX 'R' US]

That's kinda what I thought.
But, with the conversion, it won't really be the same car any more, will it?

I guess you think it will. I think it's more like a sex-change.

Not that there's anything wrong with that..... :D

P.S. I do see what you mean.
Are you trying to tell us something there larch? :D :laugh:

[tony4311]

nope it won't be the same car anymore. It'll actually be a quick car instead a slow bastard. :P The only difference will be that I actually get to truly drive it :)

[larchmont]

nope it won't be the same car anymore. It'll actually be a quick car instead a slow bastard. :P The only difference will be that I actually get to truly drive it :)
But if it's not the same car any more...... :D

Larchmont, who doesn't really expect Tony to have to say any more about it. :D :D

[MemRheins]

Now here's a question...how bout changing the TSX from a FWD to a RWD :D


Now theres an Idea I can get behind, Isnt one of the Versons of the Accord 4wd, Why couldnt Acura of dipped into the MDX part bin and given us 4wd, would of defenutly helped the TSX compete against the BMW 325 xi and the Infinity G34 which prob are as well as the Mazda 6 (which looks a hell of a lot like the tsx) our top competors

[sjlee]

Why couldnt Acura of dipped into the MDX part bin and given us 4wd, would of defenutly helped the TSX compete against the BMW 325 xi and the Infinity G34 which prob are as well as the Mazda 6 (which looks a hell of a lot like the tsx) our top competors

Because Acura didn't want to compete against the 325ix or AWD G35 (which is more a competitor to the TL).

Besides the 325i, the TSX competes against the A4 1.8T, Saab 9-3 and C230.

[larchmont]

Because Acura didn't want to compete against the 325ix or AWD G35 (which is more a competitor to the TL).

Besides the 325i, the TSX competes against the A4 1.8T, Saab 9-3 and C230.
Yes. And BTW that's just about the complete list of genuine comps for the TSX.
I would add the Volvo S60, even though for some reason most people seem to insist that the S40 is the TSX's comp.

But I think the main reason is that Honda/Acura doesn't seem to view the TSX as much of a focus, and certainly not much of a "building block." Seems like as far as Acura is concerned, the TSX just is what it is.

I still think it's quite possible the TSX is mainly some kind of "experiment" in the minds of Honda/Acura, some kind of marketing experiment to guide them about other/future stuff, more than something that they will be looking to develop to any significant extent.

[Andynolife]

Yes. And BTW that's just about the complete list of genuine comps for the TSX.
I would add the Volvo S60, even though for some reason most people seem to insist that the S40 is the TSX's comp.

But I think the main reason is that Honda/Acura doesn't seem to view the TSX as much of a focus, and certainly not much of a "building block." Seems like as far as Acura is concerned, the TSX just is what it is.

I still think it's quite possible the TSX is mainly some kind of "experiment" in the minds of Honda/Acura, some kind of marketing experiment to guide them about other/future stuff, more than something that they will be looking to develop to any significant extent.
:stupid:
agree .... ~~ they were just trying to see the reaction for a JDM model in NA ... and the result r turning quite good ~ :loser:

[Noel]

Why not just buy a 6MT straight off instead when it's easily available from factory? The fact is money spend on changing cars would equate a lesser loss for a gearbox conversion that completely reduces the resale value of the car to nothing. That's my biggest concern against this idea.

[larchmont]

:stupid:
agree .... ~~ they were just trying to see the reaction for a JDM model in NA ... and the result r turning quite good ~ :loser:
Sounds very possible -- maybe that's most of it, or even the whole thing.

It's an important and interesting point.
But, since you came to that answer so fast and there might not be a whole lot more that can be said about it, it might not get any attention. :donno:

Well, let's see if we can do something about that:

HEY C'MON, EVERYBODY -- ANDY JUST TOLD US WHY ACURA GAVE US THE TSX!!!!! :D

[ClutchPerformer]

In the long run a manual would be harder to sell since not many people around here are interested in it....You're doing this to RAISE the resale value? A manual TSX will be 100 times easier to sell than a homemade Frankenstein auto TSX.

[larchmont]

You're doing this to RAISE the resale value? A manual TSX will be 100 times easier to sell than a homemade Frankenstein auto TSX.
Absolutely. We didn't focus on that part of it -- in fact I think we probably didn't even notice.

But yeah, who tf is going to want that???


Besides, I'd bet pretty heavily that it's wrong that a manual TSX will have worse re-sale than an automatic. Yes, probably fewer people will want a used manual TSX than a used automatic, because that's what the market is. But remember, there are fewer manual TSX's than automatic TSX's, in exactly the ratio that Honda/Acura thought would reflect the differing demands. And from what we've seen, if anything they UNDERESTIMATED the market for manuals.

So.....why are you so sure, AC? (BTW that's 2004_Acura_TSX's "real name.")