[jesse7mm]

I just did a transmission swap on my ‘04 pilot and thought I’d share a quick tutorial.

tools needed: 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, 36mm sockets and a hammer

step one: remove battery, battery box, air box, front wheels, starter, brakes, sensors, CVs, exhaust, drive shaft, steering column,
subframe, shift linkage, hoses, power steering line, then unplug all of the wires and don’t forget to label where the hundreds of nuts and bolts went.

step two: disconnect half the motor mounts so you can tilt the engine and trans so you can swap in your $500 junkyard transmission that hopefully came with a warranty. Swap the trans without crushing yourself.

step three: put it all back together.

Should only take 12 hours for an experienced mechanic. 20 if you’re me, but have access to a shop and smart friends handing you beers.

I love Hondas but wow this was a lot more work than my Chevy truck and Camaro 😂

 

[jesse7mm]

 

[Nail Grease]

G

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Good Grief!
AWD certainly made this more difficult.
Dropping the subframe is a killer.

 

[Cousin Itt]

Good time for a lift kit.

 

[zerog2k]

Eric the car guy has a series on YouTube with a 2003 Pilot and he does it by dropping the entire engine/transmission on the subframe as a package. Looks like a lot of work but easier to work on once it’s out, and you can do stuff like TB and valves while it’s out.
search for #etcghackhawk

 

[Nail Grease]

I'm thinking that this will eventually be needed on my Crosstour 2wd. I'm removing the hood and going out the top.

 

[Cousin Itt]

Eric the car guy has a series on YouTube with a 2003 Pilot and he does it by dropping the entire engine/transmission on the subframe as a package. Looks like a lot of work but easier to work on once it’s out, and you can do stuff like TB and valves while it’s out.
search for #etcghackhawk

That's how they're assembled at the factories. Actually takes less time to drop the complete assembly with the struts axles etc..

 

[Nail Grease]

That's how they're assembled at the factories. Actually takes less time to drop the complete assembly with the struts axles etc..

I'd want to avoid having to get a front end alignment. How does the steering not play into this method.

 

[Cousin Itt]

I'd want to avoid having to get a front end alignment. How does the steering not play into this method.

Either way you do it will require having the alignment checked. With dropping the complete cradle assembly you remove the struts from the towers leaving the rest pretty much alone. Without dropping the cradle assembly you'll have to remove the struts at both ends to get the axles out. With dropping the cradle you can leave the strut adjustments alone, and just break the lower ball joint loose to remove the struts, etc. as an assembly.

 

[Cousin Itt]

Good time to replace that hard to get at PS hose also.

 

[aggrex]

I'd want to avoid having to get a front end alignment. How does the steering not play into this method.

With the overall PIA task at hand to replace the transmission without a lift...getting an alignment is small fries 🍟

 

[Nail Grease]

With the overall PIA task at hand to replace the transmission without a lift...getting an alignment is small fries 🍟

When you live 20 miles from a place that does alignments, it's large fries.

 

[plplplpl]

You need to convince the chief gurus at your compound to invest in a Hunter Wheel Alignment Machine, and maybe Hunter can throw in one of those Hunter Road Force Balancers that @xGS is always going on about.

One more step toward the compound going off the grid, except for a big old barrel out by the side of the main road for RA and Walmart deliveries.


BTW, haven't seen our lovable curmudgeon for nearly a fortnight. Hope he's OK.

 

[aggrex]

BTW, haven't seen our lovable curmudgeon for nearly a fortnight. Hope he's OK.

I concur…maybe in 2022