Found a really nice 2002 but needs a trans. (has 180k on it) I also found a good used trans with less than 80k. Purchas price on both is under $1500.
So how hard is it to swap a trans in one of these. A weekend job in the driveway or is it a major job needing special tools and what not.
I would say an engine lift would be needed at minimum, but past that?
dean1484 wrote: I also found a good used trans with less than 80k.
Untrue. I guarantee that transmission either does or will need a rebuild soon enough after you swap it that you will hate yourself.
Also, it is not a driveway project. FWD transmissions are a pain in the neck. You need an upper engine cradle tool to hold the motor in and a 2-post lift to keep the van up while you use a trans jack (or 2) to drop the front subframe before you can even take the transmission out.
Or.... Van on jackstands, motor supported by 4x4 across firewall and rad support or fenders with a strap or two and a jack under trans (floor or tranny).
Never done it on an odyssey so maybe there's a flaw but have done it on several others
Buyer beware. Internet lore says 80k is about the service limit on one of those trannys. They had so many problems with the transmissions that actual good ones are really hard to find.
2 things, that used trans is a time bomb. No history, 80k it MIGHT last to the end of hte block, it MIGHT last a week. I wouldn't trust it past that.
secondly, the front subframe has to come out, with the LCA/s while the engine trans are supported up top. Then you can take the trans off the engine. there's no way to get it out up top and the only way it fits out the bottom is with the subframe out. IT's not an easy job.
The newer 06+ Odyssey transmissions seem to be much more reliable -- how hard is it to update to one of those?
Yeah, that trans is a POS! Either rebuild, or don't bother. You may get lucky but the original owner getting to 180 was really lucky. I'd say max life is 150k and I wouldn't trust that the other really has only 80k.
I think you should take it too the shop and get the transmission rebuilt because just like everybody else has been saying a junk yard transmission will ether be bad and last u a month or will be really bad and only last to the end of the block
Am I really the first one to say manual swap?
^^^^^ and then Turbo the crap out of it. Because 1029 HP is just enough.
Hummmmmm Me thinks I will pass on this plan. I guess I should be looking from a post 2005
You need an upper engine cradle tool to hold the motor in and a 2-post lift to keep the van up while you use a trans jack (or 2) to drop the front subframe before you can even take the transmission out.
Yeah, that's pretty standard and i got used to it pretty quickly when i did trans R&R for a living (eventually started building too). I actually look back on my trans r&r work as some of the most enjoyable automotive repair work i ever did. I really enjoyed working on a job that was long enough that you didn't have to worry about 'what's next' every 30mins and the complexity of the work (sometimes overblown) kept me engaged whenever i wasn't so practiced in a particular job that i just daydreamed through it. 
But yeah, without a lift, not much fun.
If the trans fluid was ever changed, it could be just fine. Mine was fine when I sold it with 165k.
A major brand rebuild with warranty is about $3500 on one of these, and they're great vehicles.
I sometimes troll CL looking for these with bad transaxles, hoping to find a diamond for about $750 (a frustrated "get it out of here" sale, basically). Don't tell my wife.
Grtechguy wrote: ^^^^^ and then Turbo the crap out of it. Because 1029 HP is just enough.
OHSCrifle wrote: If the trans fluid was ever changed, it could be just fine. Mine was fine when I sold it with 165k. A major brand rebuild with warranty is about $3500 on one of these, and they're great vehicles. I sometimes troll CL looking for these with bad transaxles, hoping to find a diamond for about $750 (a frustrated "get it out of here" sale, basically). Don't tell my wife.
OE remans with 3yr warranty on in the same price range.
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