90 to 91-94 transmission swap. what do i need to change??

[Junkyardspecial]

So I have had a field day swapping transmissions out of my 90 awd. I bought a 1992 transmission and realized output shaft spline count and shift linkage arms are different sizes. I have the matching transfer case available but what else will I need to swap? I have been getting different answers. Will I need the driveshaft, cables, and shift assembly? I have a short shifter in my car so I'm wondering if that will make a difference. This is starting to get frustrating.

 

[e85_4g63]

So I have had a field day swapping transmissions out of my 90 awd. I bought a 1992 transmission and realized output shaft spline count and shift linkage arms are different sizes. I have the matching transfer case available but what else will I need to swap? I have been getting different answers. Will I need the driveshaft, cables, and shift assembly? I have a short shifter in my car so I'm wondering if that will make a difference. This is starting to get frustrating.

You will need the trans and t case. Shifter assembly and cables. The correct bracket on the trans for the shifter cables (90 and 91+ are different). Basically Everything that has anything to do with the trans (except the mounts, slave cylinder, clutch line, and flywheel/clutch) will need to changed. You cannot use your 90 short shifter with the 91+ shifter assembly because the 1990 shifters have a larger diameter bolt going through the shifter. 91+ shifter base and cables can be from a FWD turbo or AWD turbo doesn't matter. The trans mounting bracket must be from an AWD..


*** edit *** You can reuse your 90 drive shaft and axles. They are all the same.

 

[Junkyardspecial]

You will need the trans and t case. Shifter assembly and cables. The correct bracket on the trans for the shifter cables (90 and 91+ are different). Basically Everything that has anything to do with the trans (except the mounts, slave cylinder, clutch line, and flywheel/clutch) will need to changed. You cannot use your 90 short shifter with the 91+ shifter assembly because the 1990 shifters have a larger diameter bolt going through the shifter. 91+ shifter base and cables can be from a FWD turbo or AWD turbo doesn't matter. The trans mounting bracket must be from an AWD..


*** edit *** You can reuse your 90 drive shaft and axles. They are all the same.

That saddens me so there is no way to use the 90 shifter assembly at all? And how do I remove the cables?

 

[Bouche Dag]

That saddens me so there is no way to use the 90 shifter assembly at all? And how do I remove the cables?

Nope. Unfortunately if you were using a 90 trans in a 91+, you would only have to change the bracket. 91+ requires swapping all the components. Just fyi though, the 92 trans (NPXV) is a very strong trans!

The cables are cake, two nuts on the firewall in front of the ECU and pop the bushings off. Very easy.

BTW, you can use your 22 spline t case, you just have to change the output shaft. I hear it's relatively easy to swap. I've never done so myself though.

EDIT: Yep, looks super easy. Just follow steps 1-3 on the vfaq and reassembly should be reverse of removal. http://www.vfaq.com/mods/Trannyrebuild.html

 

[Junkyardspecial]

Nope. Unfortunately if you were using a 90 trans in a 91+, you would only have to change the bracket. 91+ requires swapping all the components. Just fyi though, the 92 trans (NPXV) is a very strong trans!

The cables are cake, two nuts on the firewall in front of the ECU and pop the bushings off. Very easy.

BTW, you can use your 22 spline t case, you just have to change the output shaft. I hear it's relatively easy to swap. I've never done so myself though.

EDIT: Yep, looks super easy. Just follow steps 1-3 on the vfaq and reassembly should be reverse of removal. Tranny Rebuild

Man, that's disappointing. Oh well. So I ca mount the the 91 assemby straight to the 90 chassis? Do I pull the cables thru the engine side?

And Id do the output shaft fix but I'm not sure if I blew my tcase or viscious lsd so I'm just replacing both. Thank you very much for the help.

 

[KYNgsx]

I have actually done the swap; I have a 93 trans with the 23 spline transfer case in my 90. The only thing I had to do was switch the 90 cable brackets onto the 93 trans. I'm still using the 90 shifter and shifter cables (and also my original axles and drive shaft).

 

[e85_4g63]

I have actually done the swap; I have a 93 trans with the 23 spline transfer case in my 90. The only thing I had to do was switch the 90 cable brackets onto the 93 trans. I'm still using the 90 shifter and shifter cables (and also my original axles and drive shaft).

I have also done the swap (in 3 different 1g's) and every time I tried using the 90 shifter setup, the trans didn't last long, and was hard to get into 1st, 3rd, and 5th. Are you sure you car didn't already have the 91+ shifter in it? I know for a fact that the 1990 shifter cables are shorter then the 91+ cables. I have both sets.

Junkyardspecial: You can pull the cables out either way. Into the car, or out through the engine bay.

 

[90 TSI FWD]

I'm with redhot. You don't have to change the shifter and cables, but just the bracket that bolts onto the transmission. I put a 91 in my 90 Laser and it lasted 2 years before an engine catastrophy. Although it's not that hard to do, I don't understand why people went through the trouble changing the shifter and cables in the past.

 

[Junkyardspecial]

I'm with redhot. You don't have to change the shifter and cables, but just the bracket that bolts onto the transmission. I put a 91 in my 90 Laser and it lasted 2 years before an engine catastrophy. Although it's not that hard to do, I don't understand why people went through the trouble changing the shifter and cables in the past.

I'm grabbing the shift linkage from the other car just in case but I will try it with my 90 assembly. So all I have to do is change the brackets? Was your shifter sitting way off to the left?

 

[KB90TSIAWD]

same problem. i got. i already got a 91 shifter. and figured out that the 90 was dif then. i stole the selector lever off one of my spare trans' and put that on and still no luck. no first 3rd and 5th. rev. is a lil tough gettin in. and if i go to put it in second its in 4th no matter what. I guess im goin to go with the bracket next.... this was a big dissappointment when i got my car back together and wouldnt go in any gear but 4th and rev. when i took it a part it was stuck in second

 

[sciondan]

I swapped in a 91 trans into my 90 and all I had to do was swap the trans shifter ARM and cable bracket. Then adjust the shifter cables. This was in a fwd so I'm only referring to the shifter and cable assembly.. I had many people tell me I needed the shifter and cables out of the 91, but I did not. My car shifts perfectly into all gears so why this swap is different for some is beyond me. Also note the 90 shifter cables are shorter so adjusting them to compensate is a must.

 

[Junkyardspecial]

I swapped in a 91 trans into my 90 and all I had to do was swap the trans shifter ARM and cable bracket. Then adjust the shifter cables. This was in a fwd so I'm only referring to the shifter and cable assembly.. I had many people tell me I needed the shifter and cables out of the 91, but I did not. My car shifts perfectly into all gears so why this swap is different for some is beyond me. Also note the 90 shifter cables are shorter so adjusting them to compensate is a must.

After two months of driving with the different shifter cables, this DOES work, you just need to know what way to adjust it I guess, Its smooth as butter no grinds and I havent had any issues making it fit really. THanks guys.