Honda Civic STS: For all 2nd Gen MTX

[parisifal]

Well a post on this board had a member mentioning that the Honda Civic STS would fit into all Mx6 or any other FWD application. I distinctly remember a similar statement when I had my rx7 T2 about how all STS for FWD and STS for RWD are the same or at least very similar.

I though it couldn't be that simple, but for $20 shipped from eBay I had to test out this supposed "fact."

Any Civic shifter will do as they are all the same. Matter of fact any Integra shifter will do also. The only stipulation is that they are made for cars between 1992-2000. The other years might fit too cut I won't guarantee it.

Well I'll be damn if it doesn't fit quite well. Not a perfect fit by any means but sufficient enough for me to post on here. SOme pics were after the install used to illustrate before steps since I didn't think about a write up until I was half way through. But they are the same steps so they will serve fine.

Step 1: There she is the stock shifter


Step 2: Twist off the shift knob, have the tranny in neutral.


Step 3: Now remove the plastic cover. Don't worry and be gentle as it comes right off. Once it is off, you can remove the rear retaining plastic piece (you'll know what it is because it is a different piece of plastic right below the handbrake.) Remove the two light socket behind the ash tray and the cigarette lighter. Unplug the cigarette lighter connections also. Now the whole piece is out of the way.

Step 4: Remove the top rubber boot. Just yank on the top portion of the boot gently and it will come off.

Step 5: Now here is a critical step. YOU MUST HAVE SNAP RINGS PLIERS. If you do not have any. GO GET THEM. I can't stress how vital this is since if you rush and destroy the ring your screwed out of luck. Take off this snap ring than remove the white plastic piece below that.


Step 6: Now go under the car and let the cursing begin. You don't have to remove the cat, but I did anyways since it made things so much easier. Remove the nut and bolt from the bottom of the shifter.


Step 7: Now go back into the car and very gently wiggle out the shifter and don't tear the lower rubber boot. It will come out eventually but be patient.


Step 8: Now the whole thing is out of the car. This is a time to go have a drink since the next several steps require you to be slow and gentle and after all the cursing and swearing underneath the car might ruin your efforts.

Step 9: Slowly remove the lower boot from the shifter. It will seem simpossible as a small rubber right can go over such a big lower joint, but IT WILL COME OUT.


Step 10: Now the next step is where most of the patience will come in handy and be very gentle. The stock lower cup will not slide over the civic shifter so you have to cut a slit in the cup itself. The magic is the fact that there are two rubber bands on the top and bottom that will hold it together after it is cut. And the cup itself sits further in the cradel so cutting it won't hurt anything.

It has also been brought to my attention that it seems there are differentiations between the lower joints of the different Honda shifters. I had to cut my lower cup but that's only becausse there was really no way of getting mine on. But it seems that some of them can be slipped through with some effort. So try to slip it through the cup before you resort to cutting it.


Step 11: Now put the lower boot onto the new shifter, again it will seem impossibly large for such a small rubber piece but it will fit through the bottom. And also put the cut lower cup onto the shifter. The picture shows the upper and lower cup on the new shifter next to the old shifter.


Step 12: Now put the new shifter back into the stock location with the lower boot and the lower cup on the shifter itself. NOw it's time to go back underneath the car itself. You will need the new washer, but only one will fit.


Step 13: Since only one washer will fit, do not tighten the bolts so that there is not play, leave a small amount of play in the linkage so the shifter will not bind. It is better if you can find some smaller washer to fit the stock linkage, or if you tried hard enough I'm sure you can wiggle the washers into place somehow. Bolted onto the linkage with the single washer.


Step 14: Now go back on top of the car and put in the upper cup, but guess what, it won't fit.


But never fear, flip it upside down and it will


Step 15: Now unfortunately the white plastic piece will not fit back into the assembly, but than again it doesn't do anything but act as a spacer in the assembly and without it no harm is done. Now push the whole assembly down a bit and put the snap ring back on.


Step 16: Put the upper rubber boot back on. You will have to cut the upper opening as it won't quite fit over the wider base of the new shifter (depending on what you buy.)

Now your done, test to see if the shifter works properly and put everything back together again. The stock shift knob even fits over the whole assembly and you will love it. The throw is much shorter now. The sweet shift is from 1st to 2nd, it feels amazing how short the throw is when you first climb in. I've been jamming the gear harder than I should the last 2 times I drove it today. The entire travel is a 2" by 2" box of play. And the kicker...IT LOOKS STOCK.