Honda CRX HF Gearing ...and/or engine swap
 

I only recently learned why my HF screams @ highway speeds.
Apparently there were 2 different transmissions available for
the HF (the "49 state" and the other one). My last HF had
the good tranny, which turned @ 2250RPM at 70MPH. The one I
have now is about 500RPM higher. I'd really like to swap that
5th gear for the taller one...but where can I get one of
those?

www.car-part.com seems to have them, alot of them, cheapest/closest to me is $100 for a whole tranny.

it looks like there were 3 trannies in the HF, a "normal" one, a high altatude, and a californa only, I suspect you have the high altatude one.

HF Tranny
 

Worst part is that unless I can get some inside information
from Honda Motor Co., it's just going to be trial & error
when I just start pulling gears out of HF's....as I know of
no method to deciphering which will have the tallest 5th
gear. I'll likely wind up with the same as what I already
have.

Yay, time for me to be of use! But first of all, introduce yourself in our intro forum, :)

https://crxmpg.com/8891dgearing.html

As you can see, the difference is not in the gears, it's in the final drive!

Great! Your from my (weekend) homeland...sort of. I drive from VA Beach to Monmouth Cty, NJ every weekend. Anyway, I don't know a whole lot about transmissions...and never cracked one open. What's the deal with the final drive? I sure wish I had my old '91 HF...now THAT was the tranny/gearing to have. Instead I've got this crappy gearing that makes me work like hell just to obtain 47MPG. I used to get 50-55 MPG in that old '91. Okay, what's my solution?? I'd love to go 6-speed...but somehow I don't see that as feasible. **Are you a Honda head? If so I've got more questions for you (FE questions).

6 speed isn't feasible unless you feel like fabbing up some awd b stuff, or awd d stuff, or going k series, :p

Anyway, the solution that's easiest would just be to buy another HF transmission, but get one that's 49 state this time.

Fire away with your honda questions!

Nice! Here goes: As much as I've been wanting to get this better (taller gear/final drive) tranny back again, I would still have to install it in this 63HP CRX HF of mine. I can't help but wonder though, what if I get my hands on the Civic VX ('92-95) D15Z1 motor...which makes 30+ HP than my HF does.....and couple that with the fact that I'd be dropping it into my HF body, which is ~200LBS lighter than the VX (not sure about motor weight difference). If I then couple that with the gearing from my HF tranny...and larger diameter (but lightweight, of course) wheel/tire combination....wouldn't I be in a major sweetspot? I would figure 92 HP would help me make decent highway power (on inclines & whatnot) where the little HF motor struggles. Wouldn't this combination be the perfect platform to work with for super high EF?

Yes, you've indeed figured that out well. It is the perfect plaform, and I really wish I had one but no luck finding one in good shape around my neck of the woods. I think there's an importer around you though, iono.

Ah. I rarely see these damn VX's. Saw one last night at the supermarket, but was too late to leave a note on the window. If I do track one down I'm going to be all over it. So should I assume the HF tranny bolts directly upto the VX motor? (just wasn't sure about that). Sorry to chew your ear off, but I only just found this site after 6 years of being an HF owner.