White Gnat logs 2nd 800+ mile, 65+ mpg tank

[mpg_numbers_guy]

True. In that case rather than spend the $$ on a whole new drivetrain, you might get an inexpensive first gen Insight - better MPG and maybe more of a "wife-approved" car than the Metro.

The Honda lean burn engines would be great in the Metro - more power and better fuel economy, but seems doubtful that such cross pollination would be possible without some serious modification and time dedication. I'm having a hard time thinking of a more fuel efficient GM produced drivetrain than what came stock with the Metro/Swift.

[MetroMPG]

What happened to the Swift's transmission anyway?

I know the 2nd gear synchros wear out. But that wouldn't necessarily sideline the car.

[Gasoline Fumes]

Are you only looking for Swift transmissions? A Geo/Chevy Metro 4-cyl transmission might be cheaper and more available. Of course they're identical transmissions, but the price might not be!

[wmjinman]

Yes, a 1st generation Insight would be ideal! That's the king of the mpg isn't it? If I could get one of those, I'd be willing to forget all about the Swift. (well, almost)

I like the looks of the 2nd generation Insight, too - way better than the Prius - but it wasn't supposed to be quite as awesome on MPG, was it?

Yeah, I think the Chevy/Geo/Suzukis are all interchangeable, aren't they? The guy at Aamco said they were the same 5-speed transmission on ALL Suzukis - Swifts, Trackers - all models, all years. ...and that they were all inferior - the "weak link" in the car, with bearings about the size of a sewing machine's bearings...

Oh, and when it failed, it was making a lot of noise, then eventually it slipped out of 5th gear and the gears just grinded. The only way I could make it move at all was in 4th. Everything else grinded. My guess is that the counter-shaft bearings went out and the shaft dropped down to where the gears wouldn't sufficiently mesh anymore. - except 4th.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Depending on how far you're willing to drive..

1991 Geo Metro, says 4 speed manual? Thought they were 5 speeds even back then. $1200 in Reno.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...4807567886896/

2001 Suzuki Swift in North Highlands, CA (a bit of a drive from CC) with new transmission and clutch for $1800.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...2215182311450/

Could use the tranny and have a spare parts car. Not sure about compatibility on the first one though. Cheaper than $3000 for a rebuilt trans though.

Found a couple Insights within a 3 hour drive from CC. Both were ~$5000 located in CA. The others were either automatics or parts cars.

[wmjinman]

Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy

Depending on how far you're willing to drive..

1991 Geo Metro, says 4 speed manual? Thought they were 5 speeds even back then. $1200 in Reno.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...4807567886896/

2001 Suzuki Swift in North Highlands, CA (a bit of a drive from CC) with new transmission and clutch for $1800.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...2215182311450/

Could use the tranny and have a spare parts car. Not sure about compatibility on the first one though. Cheaper than $3000 for a rebuilt trans though.

Found a couple Insights within a 3 hour drive from CC. Both were ~$5000 located in CA. The others were either automatics or parts cars.

Wow, thanks! Yeah, I don't think I'd want to swap to a 4 speed. I'm assuming they were also available, but don't really know. The ad for the other one says "new transmission and CLUTCH", but then there's also a place where it says it's an automatic, so I PM'd him for clarification. Dunno if I'm at a point where I wanna (or even could) plunk down $1800 just for the PART to get the Gnat running again. The car looks pretty nice in the photos - maybe just start driving it INSTEAD of the Gnat. But it also says 240xxxx miles (I know-too many x's, but that's what he says...

Anyway, thanks again!

[Gasoline Fumes]

They're all 5-speeds. Any 1989-2001 Metro/Swift trans will bolt up, but there are different final drive ratios. You currently have the second tallest final drive, the tallest one is pretty rare now. And there are some shift linkage differences between the 3 & 4 cyl. Any 1995-2001 Metro/Swift 4-cyl trans should be a direct replacement.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Originally Posted by wmjinman

Wow, thanks! Yeah, I don't think I'd want to swap to a 4 speed. I'm assuming they were also available, but don't really know. The ad for the other one says "new transmission and CLUTCH", but then there's also a place where it says it's an automatic, so I PM'd him for clarification. Dunno if I'm at a point where I wanna (or even could) plunk down $1800 just for the PART to get the Gnat running again. The car looks pretty nice in the photos - maybe just start driving it INSTEAD of the Gnat. But it also says 240xxxx miles (I know-too many x's, but that's what he says...

Anyway, thanks again!

No problem! Looks like Gasoline Fumes cleaned up the confusion about the supposed 4 speed. My thought was that 4 speed manuals stopped production in like the 70s lol. Or maybe that was 3 speed gearboxes.

$1800 would net you an entire new parts car for anything else that would break now or later on down the road; you never know lol.

I still say get an Insight but the pickings seem to be slim at the moment. Some months I see a lot of G1 Insights for sale nationwide, and at other times there just aren't a whole lot at all.

Interesting that he said that the Tracker transmission would work. Those seem to be somewhat more common around here at least, although neither are particularly plentiful.

[Gasoline Fumes]

There were some 4-speeds in the early 90s. Some of the cheapest Tercels, Civics and maybe Sentras had 4-speeds.

The Tracker transmission will not work in a Metro/Swift! Not even close! Definitely an "interesting" thing for a transmission "expert" to say!

[wmjinman]

Originally Posted by Gasoline Fumes

There were some 4-speeds in the early 90s. Some of the cheapest Tercels, Civics and maybe Sentras had 4-speeds.

The Tracker transmission will not work in a Metro/Swift! Not even close! Definitely an "interesting" thing for a transmission "expert" to say!

Probably my bad. I don't remember exactly what he said, but I thought he said all the Suzukis. Maybe he just meant the Swift/Metro and whatever else might have used the same drivetrain.