It should, as long as you use the flywheel and pressure plate to match the transmission. You might need to source a 1st gen 5-speed linkage as well, I don't know if the shift linkages are interchangable between the first and second gen Civics. You'd also need the pedals, clutch cable, etc.

By mccullarsp@aol.com (172.173.115.36) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 02:19 pm:

would a 81 cvcc wagon 5speed trans fit a 79 cvcc wagon hondamatic without any mods? i do not like the gas mpg on the two speed.

thanks,

By H (24.70.95.205) on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 07:04 pm:

The 1200 5spds are very hard to find,the next best would be the early wagon 5spd both worth the hassle if you can find one.

By Kurt (205.250.75.226) on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 11:15 pm:

H, so the 78-79 5 speeds in Canada also have the 4.93 final drive? I am running an 82-83 GK 5 speed on my EL but have been tempted to try a Civic 5 speed for the lower gearing. Just not sure on whether its worth the hassle or not.

By Bluebot (Bluebot) (66.178.147.173) on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 04:55 pm:

i have a 79 hondamatic wagon, sexy car, but i like a stick. can i drop a 5 speed standard transmission in it or does the engine prohibit this? i have heard that some automatics can not be converted, is this true?

By evileb2 (219.88.59.229) on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 01:33 am:

hey dude ive just done the conversion from the 4spd manual to the er 5spd from the honda city turbo1 it is the best because it is a true 5 spd not overdrive-but all depends if you can find one...

By H (24.70.95.205) on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 09:21 pm:

To add to the trans options.In Canada the 78-79 1200s could be had with a 5spd (this included the deluxe gauges).The ratios are the same as the 80 GJ.These will be GBs.The Vin will be SBE 7007XXX

By datsroadster@aol.com (68.7.165.149) on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 10:33 am:

I tried pulling the tranny out, but two rear bolts by the firewall got stuck. Should I just keep trying even if they break? I'd love to have a 5speed in my car. Is it worth breaking those bolts?

By datsroadster@aol.com (68.7.165.149) on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 05:03 pm:

Thanks for your help Jonathan. I'll start pulling out that 5speed tranny and post photos of the project. Thank you.

By Jonathan (68.193.6.173) on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 07:54 am:

The 5-speed should be a direct bolt-in, but one thing you might want to get is the 5-speed shifter linkage. The manual I have shows seperate linkages, the difference being a reverse lockout on the 5-speed one. The tranny's don't weigh too much, I'm guessing about 40 lbs, but haven't put one on a scale.

By datsroadster@aol.com (68.7.165.149) on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 11:33 pm:

Ok, I have a 1977 and 1978 1500 CVCC with 4speed trannys, is it possible for me to swap out 4speed trany with the 5speed that I found on a 1979 Honda 1500 CVCC? If so, how difficult is this, do the trany's weigh alot? Please help.

By Canada76civic (Canada76civic) (68.146.162.237) on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 06:48 pm:

Thanks Bruce, for the tip about one 5-spd tranny in a junkyard you saw...but like you said for $200 -- I wouldn't even pay for that much! Converting in Canadian that's almost $260! For that amount I can have it rebuild less than that thru a friend under table.

Jonathan - thanks for the link on specs. I had it printed so I can take with me whenever I find one I wanted. Yeah, either 77-79 California 5-spd tranny or from '80 Civic 1300 tranny would work best. I'll put on my "wanted" list for that.

For now, I'll leave my 4-spd in mine there until I have time to buy a second engine with 5-spd trans then I can rebuild them all once.

Thanks all guys! I think I have got enough info but then again it's never over - right ;)?

By bruce (4.159.56.247) on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 09:29 am:

I know where there is a 5spd on a 79 cvcc, but I am not about to pay $200.00 for a used tranny out of a junkyard.

By Jonathan (68.193.6.173) on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 07:37 am:

http://www.1stgencivic.com/newsite/tannychart.html <--list of Honda trans. ratios.

Just go by that list and see by what percentage your final drive would be off. The 77-79 CVCC models for Califorina had a 5-speed with gears 1-4 about the same, and a final drive about the same as your transmission. The bonus would be a 5th gear for highway travel, just don't try to climb any hills in 5th Same goes for the '80 Civic 1300. You probably won't notice a difference around town or accelerating, but you'll still have another gear to pull once you're on the highway.

By Canada76civic (Canada76civic) (68.146.162.237) on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 07:08 am:

Butch, from what you said in your post:

"Using the later model trans with the higher final drive ratio (lower number) is like using much taller tires on your car. It takes more power to turn them and the 1200 runs out of steam on the top end without modifying it for more horsepower and/or torque."

I am now seeing that it would not be a good idea to take up that kind of work unless I have a spare engine to rebuild to be able work with the 2nd gen tranny with all the mods done on there. So I'll wait til I have time, money and find a second engine to play around!

Now there is one other point I wanted to know: I read and had been told that the 1st gen CVCC 5-spd tranny would bolt fit on 1st gen 1200 engine since both engine blocks are the same design-wise. If I'm lucky to find that tranny, would it work? Or - will it the same like what we've been talking about with the 2nd gen tranny (higher gear, car become slower while running)??

I definely am learning about these little cars!

By bruce (4.159.56.250) on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 06:10 am:

thats good to know cause I found two 5 speed trannies off of an 81 and an 83, in a few weeks am going to pull them out of the junk yard.

By Butch Dennis (216.40.234.254) on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 11:37 pm:

This is posted elsewhere, but bears repeating. The second generation 5sp. trans can be used with 1st gen engines by using the corresponding (2nd gen) flywheel and pressure plate. There is a .200" difference in the step of the flywheel where the clutch disc and pressure plate bolt up (2nd gen is shallower). The clutch disc seems to change over without problems. Using the later model trans with the higher final drive ratio (lower number) is like using much taller tires on your car. It takes more power to turn them and the 1200 runs out of steam on the top end without modifying it for more horsepower and/or torque. Good Luck.

By Adrian (Evocivic) (141.168.20.152) on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 08:35 pm:

He's taking about getting a bit more power out of the engine (with things like exhaust, cam, carbs etc.) to be able to turn the extra gear and most likely taller diff. Some of the early EN gearboxes supposedly have a 4.9:1 diff like the EB but not many and they are hard to find. Most you get will be the later ones with a 4.6:1 diff. The extra gear chews up a few hp plus with the taller diff a standard 1200 will have a harder time getting itself up and moving. It'll certainly drive ok and cruise at lower revs but it'll have less pickup.
It's not quite true to say NO mods are needed. If you use an EB clutch cable you need to bolt the EB cable bracket onto the EN box, which requires grinding about 1mm off one side of the bracket . If you use an EN bracket you should use an EN clutch cable.
Also remember that your speedo will be out (not that they are ever very accurate).

By Canada76civic (Canada76civic) (68.146.162.237) on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 08:01 pm:

Andrew , can you enlight me in what "mods" are you talking about? You said that EN1 gearbox will bolt in but unless it had some mods , it would run somewhat slower than before...right?

That's exactly what I have to know before I do something. Thanks!

By Andrew Fatseas (203.63.44.193) on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 06:20 pm:

EN1 (GN) gearbox bolts up fine with no mods required, but the gearing is somewhat higher overall, so you'll find that your car feels slower unless it has had some mods.

By Glenn Biscan (211.30.144.154) on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 01:26 pm:

en1 gearbox ( gn is written as the gearbox number) from a second gen civic

By Canada76civic (Canada76civic) (68.146.162.237) on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 12:02 pm:

I had some thoughts (had been told by one poster) and come here to ask you who might know more about transmissions. I've been told that 2nd gen 5 spd would work with 1200 engine in my civic with little work.

I have a 1200 with 4 spd in there, but would like to get a 5 spd someday when I'm ready for that. So I'm looking in what type of tranny I should look for? And let me know what models (civics, accords and ??) I should check for 5 spd trannys and what other parts needed to make it work with a 1200 engine. Thanks!