Those who did the 5spd swap - Honda Prelude Forum

Enhanced · 07-07-2003, 02:36 PM

Where did you get your swap done? The shop name, the number and the person you dealt with. How did they do with the swap, have any problems, throw any codes?

vipastyle · 07-07-2003, 04:37 PM

I have some Houston shops I can give you but I'm guessing you want local RI shops, correct?

Enhanced · 07-07-2003, 05:57 PM

Well, if I could find a local shop it would be better but I will travel to get a really good shop.

pearl type sh · 07-07-2003, 07:38 PM

wow where do i begin? its allot to cover in one post. i have posted numerous post about this for the past year. all you have to do is search. I KNOW ppl probally say that but it works.

a quick over view:

i did the swap at a shop called ATOMIC PERFORMANCE in irwindale. back in 99. since then the guy who did the swap DR CHARLES AKA (charles madrid THE MAN FOR IMPORTS ON THE WEST COAST) has going to work for area 51 in irvine, which was shut down for unseen issues.

as far as a shop that you could go to. i would recommend any shop that has done any sort of engine/tranny swaps. its not that hard, but here is the trick. i still used my key which is encrypted to the ECU from my auto ecu. the main issues will be hooking up the wiring to your reverse lights, ECU not reading in 5th gear and the key issue. those are the main issues. so you need to find a shop that can accomadate those issues. the pulling of the SS tranny and swaping the 5 spd in is not an issue for any shop or person that can pull out a motor. type SH tranny will not fit up to base motor. i was and still ( i think) only person that has done this. you need to completely fab the brackets to the base motor. I didnt know this untill i had the motor shipped to the shop and paid for it. no returns. thus i had to deal with what i got. the base tranny is easier anyways to find. you can allways use the 92-96 set up. and you;ll have the p72 ecu.

obd 2 blows anywho....

hope that helps. its soo much to type i can be here all nite. but the past 2 years on this board there has been about 231456789456123546879789456132513897 threads on it.

good luck.

Enhanced · 07-07-2003, 08:41 PM

Ok so I have to get a 5spd ecu and use the key from that ecu instead of mine? How did your shop fix those two other problems, the reverse light adn teh ecu not reading 5th? I have searched and came up with some good info but I also got info that was the exact opposite of anotehr thread so I don't know waht to use.

Enhanced · 07-07-2003, 09:05 PM

Do you have a number to atomic performance?

UZ 2 B AUTO · 07-08-2003, 10:34 AM

i got all my stuff from www.importautosalvage.com man they have sooo many right hand drive vehicles and sooo much stuff there. hell while i was there they had a 2 rsx type s' and an s2k come in. also my mechanic that did my swap is a honda tech. you DO NOT need a red key to get the 5 spd. ecu to work properlywith your auto vehicle even if you dont have your red key. soon2bsh's 5 spd. ecu simply plugged and played from what i gathered from calling DB honda in cali. but when mine was plugged in it wouldnt work (not cranking) then about an 30 min later after 'playing' with it..."I" got it to work....

on another note. i talked to one of the tech.'s at my local dealership adn he said that he could make the 5 spd. ecu work with the auto vehicle even if i didnt have my red key...he said that they couldnn't do it because it is a HUGE no no. they can get in some serious trouble for tampering with it. you are suppose to have to buy a new immobilizer unit that comes with a red key.

Phamine · 07-08-2003, 10:37 AM

Don't know about any RI shops. But a former luder had his auto 4ws turned into a manual in NYC. He owns the shop, his AIM name is preludeny.

Enhanced · 07-08-2003, 02:49 PM

Ok for the best results I would get a ecu, immobilzer and a red key all from a 5spd? Is that right? What you said was honda can do it with a 5spd ecu with a auto red key but they won't because they can get into trouble? But if I had the 5spd ecu adn red key then they can do it?

luder94si · 07-08-2003, 04:01 PM

I have a 4th gen but I did the auto to 5-speed swap - I had it done by a great guy, but he's all the way down in Georgia - Are you willing to travel that far?

UZ 2 B AUTO · 07-08-2003, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Enhanced
Ok for the best results I would get a ecu, immobilzer and a red key all from a 5spd? Is that right? What you said was honda can do it with a 5spd ecu with a auto red key but they won't because they can get into trouble? But if I had the 5spd ecu adn red key then they can do it?

i'll talk to a couple people and see how/if you can tell the guys at the dealership to hook you up with fixing the immobilizer if you dont have the red key. you do need a 5 spd. ecu however...if they can't make your car work with the immobilizer without the red key then you can just shell out the $ for a unit and then it will work

Enhanced · 07-08-2003, 06:35 PM

Ok, I went to honda today adn they said they can't do it but someone with a lude asked them a little while ago and they quoted him for the hell of it and they said around $12000. Thats is not a mistake, it is 12 thousand. I know it isn't the clerks fault but I was about to yell at them. If two people come in and want 5spd swaps at a honda dealer that is in a small town shouldn't they know by now that the SS is no good. I want to call honda and tell them my girlfriend died because of the faulty shifter and tell tehm I will sue if nothing gets taken car of. That would be funny but I don't think it is legal. Anyway, I went to a place today adn he can do ti but he won't know exactly how much it is. The guy seems like he knows what he is doing. He had a lambo and a rolls royce in the shop but he didn't know whawt the red key was for so I don't know. Yes I am willign to travel for a really good shop. If I travel, I want the shop to be really good though.

UZ 2 B AUTO · 07-09-2003, 10:28 AM

your best bet is to get a good/great mechanic to help you out in doing this...this kind of work at a dealership is a

i am not sure how far gerhard is from you but for the right $$$ he may help you out in doing this and has also done his. the only thing you should need from the dealership is the 'fixing' of the immobilizer. the entire swap for me was 1249+shipping shouldnt be more than like 200 bucks shipped to you...i did however opt to buy a clutch and flywheel but could have gotten away with just buying a clutch if it is an issue..you will also need to make spacers for the clutch pedal because of you dont then it will feel like the clutch is slipping at random times.