Boogie_EG

Hello all, this is my first time posting on Hondaswap (NOOB). You guys usually have pretty good insight so Im hoping you can help me out with my problem.

Well, I just swapped a B18B in my 94 Civic Hatchback DX. The car is now running, no check light on, and the car started up in the first try like a champ. While I was taking it around for a test drive I noticed that I didn't have a 5th gear and reverse. The gears just sounded like they were grinding. I was able to drop it into 5th gear once but I had to throw the shifter pretty hard to get in there. It feels like it's in gear but it just gives out a grinding sound and pops out.

I have an AVID shift linkage and I have a B&M short shifter dual bend with energy suspension bushings. My friends think that I might have the shift linkage upside down. We did notice that it's hitting up against the exhaust piping when shifting. Is it possible to install the shift linkage upside down?

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

SHOGUNOVDDRK

hey and welcome to the forum....

you could have the linkage upside down or you may have it put in incorrectly

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I must be crazy

Im australian!

Boogie_EG

Thank you, I'm hoping that it is upside down. But looking at the shift linkage, I don't see how that is possible.

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Boogie_EG

Thank you. I'm not sure if my second post went through. Looking at these pictures I just don't know if it is even possible to put these things on upside down.

phyregod

You did install aftermarket linkages, right? Meant for the swap?

The factory ones wont work. Other than that, get under the car, and check to make sure you arent hitting anything.. Check for proper clearance between the linkage and everything that is near it. Have someone go through the gears while you watch from underneath. And check the rubber grommet on the transmission that has the stabilizer bolted to it, make sure that isnt worn to death and/or missing.

Will the shifter physically shift into 5th and reverse, or will it not go at all?

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Boogie_EG

I used the Avid Shift Linkage made for the EG B18B swap. See the strange thing is that the linkage hits the exhaust when shifting. Which leads us to think that the shift linkage may be on upside down. Another thing is that the short shifter seems to be half n inch longer from the ball down compared to the stock shifter. The bottom of the short shifter practically touches the top of the exhaust pipe.

phyregod

Yeah, thats how they make it a shorter throw.. Longer distance between the ball and the linkage = less movement up top.

Drop your exhaust and try it again, see if you can shift to 5th and reverse.

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Boogie_EG

Not the best pictures but this is the best angle I can get with the car being on jacks. Can you guys tell if I installed the shift linkage upside down? Notice the shifter hits the top of the exhaust.

bluedragon436

I am going to have to agree with phyregod, and say that you should try dropping your exhaust and try shifting into 5th and Rev. with the exhaust dropped. I have seen while doing some research of my own, that some people have been able to somehow install the AVID shift linkages upside down. So if the exhaust issue isn't the problem then try flipping the linkage.