A fairly large undertaking, no time soon but still needs consideration

[Secret Chimp]

Unless running through 2-3 changes of transmission fluid and cleaning out my shift solenoids makes things better, ol Stan's transmission may be on the poop-out route.
I am not going to pay for a rebuild. I'm still kicking myself for getting an automatic in the first place, so I'm not going to put hundreds/over a thousand dollars into a transmission I don't like.

What I'm debating here is whether to get rid of the car if the transmission really starts behaving intolerably (slamming gears, blinking "D4" light and whatnot) or to undertake a conversion to a 5-speed transmission. Supposedly, if one hunts right, the transmission, clutch cylinders, pedal assembles, and whatnot can be had for around $500.

Here's a Honda-Tech thread that visually details the whole process:
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1237137

Given the time, I'm fairly sure I could do this. However, the whole problem is time and whether or not I actually could do so. If I had a friend out here that knew Accords or just Hondas in general, I'm sure I could blow through the whole thing in 2-3 solid days. However, I know no such person.
I may be able to get away with transportation by arranging rides with my girl's car depending on where she needs to go. I'd be undertaking this during some kind of a break, either this summer or next spring, depending on how my current transmission revival attempts go and how well the thing holds up.

I'm also in quite a conundrum when it comes to keeping this car. My girlfriend's dad lent me some money to buy it, and I still owe him on it. If I sell it, I'll still owe some on the car (probably quite a bit if it has a slippydickens trans). I'd really love to have an NA Miata. I would poop myself. I want one badly. At the same time, I'm only 22 and have plenty of car-owning time left in my life.
If I were to get a five-speed into this car, I'd really enjoy it. The engine seems unfazed by the last 180,000 miles (lord it loves to get on the cam past 3000RPM, doesn't burn a drop of oil) and the chassis is surprisingly rust-free except for the left rear panel (few spots I can sand and touch up if I unmount the corner of the bumper)

At the same time, there's the question of can I actually find a 5-speed trans, the clutch lines and cylinders, flywheel, clutch+pressure plate, etc etc (that whole laundry list at the top of the Honda-Tech thread seems like an assload of parts to be had for $400-500). And time. This is an old car, things are stuck. I have my trusty Milwaukee blammergun, but still.

Hell, maybe I could throw all of the parts in the back of the car and join one of my midwest Spinner friends for a project? You help me swap my trans, I help you drop in your engine, something like that.

Believe me, I would love to put a 5 speed in this thing, throw on a Progress rear bar and some non-baller springs and shocks. It'd be a fun car (just ask sportyaccordy). I just ask the advice of you all, because I can't figure out how I could possibly locate those parts for that amount of money, and then how I could do that job without working 12 hours a day for a week.

[CJ]

Do it.

[Secret Chimp]

Do it.

Oy.

[Rupert]

If I were in your situation, I'd try to nurse the auto transmission back to health now, and then sell the car if that didn't work. How much could you get for the car? If you wait until the transmission has totally died, you'd obviously get a lot less for it. My experience has been that, with projects of that magnitude, things become unfun and expensive. You can get a good NA Miata for under four grand. I'd look at it by adding what a mechanic would charge for a rebuilt transmission to what you could sell the car for, and if you can get an NA Miata for that, that's what I'd do.

[Secret Chimp]

If I were in your situation, I'd try to nurse the auto transmission back to health now, and then sell the car if that didn't work. How much could you get for the car? If you wait until the transmission has totally died, you'd obviously get a lot less for it. My experience has been that, with projects of that magnitude, things become unfun and expensive. You can get a good NA Miata for under four grand. I'd look at it by adding what a mechanic would charge for a rebuilt transmission to what you could sell the car for, and if you can get an NA Miata for that, that's what I'd do.

According to KBB, an Accord with 185,000 miles in fair condition ("Poor" describes all of the rusted-out GM hoopties people on the west side drive) is worth $3,300 private-party value for my zip code. $3,300. Trade-in value is $1,800. I have no idea what that means in terms of what to expect. I picked up the car with 168,000 for around $2,700 from a wholesaler guy.

I'm on the plus-side in that this is a rather common conversion as far as Accord modifications go. If I owned a Protege or a Camry nobody would be there to help me, but there are plenty of people who know the ins and outs of what I'm considering here.

[Rupert]

Check out the local craigslist for more accurate prices, at least as far as what people are asking...

[Secret Chimp]

Check out the local craigslist for more accurate prices, at least as far as what people are asking...

My local craigslist is almost indecipherable. Some cars going for $3500 have 100k miles, other have 170k, pieces of crap are going for $1500-$2000 or whatnot. I might be better off putting up a feeler ad without any pictures to see how many serious inquiries I get if I make the price firm, then relist with different text and pictures when I have a new car picked out (Miatas seem to run around $5,000 around here unless they're in awful shape or have automatics)

[Secret Chimp]

This is just a bad idea, right? Fart tip, cheapie drop... but it's cheap... and has more miles than my car. arg

http://columbus.craigslist.org/car/582035382.html

[Secret Chimp]

OK now this is delicious

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/car/582259255.html

Black 1992, 145,000 miles, hardtop, $2,500. That shit is paid for combined with my current car and my tax refund. I emailed the guy and asked about the timing belt and clutch.

[Cookie Monster]

OK now this is delicious

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/car/582259255.html

Black 1992, 145,000 miles, hardtop, $2,500. That shit is paid for combined with my current car and my tax refund. I emailed the guy and asked about the timing belt and clutch.

Sell your car and buy that. You should have enough money to cover the cost of that car and it doesn't have that many miles, plus a hardtop is nice...

[Secret Chimp]

Sell your car and buy that. You should have enough money to cover the cost of that car and it doesn't have that many miles, plus a hardtop is nice...

Lord, I know. Unless the guy seems like a seedy Jim this is probably perfect.
Thing is, I need to either get a personal loan without any kind of early-payment penalty or borrow money from my girlfriend's dad again. I'd need to have cash and Miata first, sell this thing second. If I sat around waiting for my car to sell, either somebody would buy this car first within those couple of weeks, or my car sells quick but then I have no car, and I have to drive to both school and work.

[Cookie Monster]

Lord, I know. Unless the guy seems like a seedy Jim this is probably perfect.
Thing is, I need to either get a personal loan without any kind of early-payment penalty or borrow money from my girlfriend's dad again. I'd need to have cash and Miata first, sell this thing second. If I sat around waiting for my car to sell, either somebody would buy this car first within those couple of weeks, or my car sells quick but then I have no car, and I have to drive to both school and work.

Borrow from your girlfriend's dad, telling him that you're selling your car and will be able to give him the money back.

[Secret Chimp]

That Miata needs a new clutch and new brakes, if the guy's let those two things get bad at the same time I have less confidence in the engine. boo.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Sell the Accord! Offer $2000 for the Miata.

[Secret Chimp]

I'll let him sit until tomorrow.

[Secret Chimp]

Then again, for an extra thousand here's one with a rebuilt engine, new panels and new clutch over in Pittsburgh:

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/car/577949620.html

[Rupert]

With the black Miata, it's still worth it to go check it out. Maybe the guy was planning on doing a brake job, and then realized the clutch was going bad, so he decided to sell it. After all, you can do those things yourself...

[Secret Chimp]

With the black Miata, it's still worth it to go check it out. Maybe the guy was planning on doing a brake job, and then realized the clutch was going bad, so he decided to sell it. After all, you can do those things yourself...

Yeah, but that's a lot of my time. A new clutch, nice suspension, redone body panels and rebuilt engine means almost nothing I have to do or worry about, short of those dumb taillights. That's worth the money to me, especially with the time I've spent on this dumb thing.

[Rupert]

Word.

[Secret Chimp]

I found a credit union open to anyone in the county that offers small loans with pretty low payments, so I don't even have to half-lie to my gf's dad to get him to give me money for a 18 year old tiny convertible :p
If the car's still there I'm getting it.

[Rupert]

Yes. Yes, that's good.

[S204STi]

I think that M/T swaps are only a good idea in cars that were unique and love able but which didn't come with one from the factory.  For an everyday beater, there isn't much sense in doing one.  The cost to benefit ration just isn't there.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Then again, for an extra thousand here's one with a rebuilt engine, new panels and new clutch over in Pittsburgh:

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/car/577949620.html

Get that mother! And then put a turbo on it!

[Secret Chimp]

Get that mother! And then put a turbo on it!

If I get this car I'll be keeping it forever. If I need more space, I'll just buy a $900 Civic hatchback or something. Tarbo will come, may just be a few years.

[Raza]

www.flyinmiata.com

[MrH]

I had no idea miatas that nice could be had so cheap. You have me thinking for sure. I may have to bust my ass this summer to try and get one.  That blue one looks good to go once you ditch the ricer lights.

[Rupert]

Oh, there are so many fun Miata sites. And they're all linked to from:

http://www.miata.net

[TheIntrepid]

Chimp; please don't buy that blue Miata with the ricey taillights.

[omicron]

I do like where this thread is going.

[Cookie Monster]

Chimp; please don't buy that blue Miata with the ricey taillights.

STFU.