M32 Trans Teardown

[mja]

Have you considered the F40?

It's a good suggestion. I believe it may bolt up to the 1.4, but has anyone done it? Everything I'm seeing on the net is hearsay.

A few problems with the F40 - its seems the 2006 variants had issues with the 5th gear &/or synchros. The trans was redesigned in 06/07 with a new gearset. The details of those changes aren't well documented, at least from what I could find. It's a low volume trans compared to the M32 so used ones are scarce. And within those variants, different engine families were used so the case/bellhousings may be different. I'm curious which Cruze's had the F40 trans, all I found online was 1.8 has MZ0, but some 1.8 Cruze's came with F40?

The average price that I've found is around 500-600$ for 10 year old used gearboxes. If power was the main goal, I'd go with an F40 swap. Axles, trans bracket, and pairing flywheel/clutch - those can be made to fit but too much headache for my needs.

MPG is 1st goal for me so the M32 is better. 3.35 final gear ratio can be fitted, with a number of different gearsets, parts, & used ones are dirt cheap. Cryo & shot-peening shafts/gearsets should be enough for a bit more strength. I've read the most common M32's fail point upon rebuild is from setting incorrect bearing preload, that and not changing gear oil regularly.

 

[carsNskis]

Roger that. I've found some good deals on 50k used F40s looking for Buick Verano and Buick Regal, they use the 2.0 but I'm unsure if the 1.4 and 2.0 share the bolt pattern. I figure if I'm going that far I'll drop the 2.0 in, ftw!

Sounds like you're on the right track for mpg. Curious of the outcome because I'd love better cruising mpg in my RS

 

[mja]

Roger that. I've found some good deals on 50k used F40s looking for Buick Verano and Buick Regal, they use the 2.0 but I'm unsure if the 1.4 and 2.0 share the bolt pattern. I figure if I'm going that far I'll drop the 2.0 in, ftw!

Sounds like you're on the right track for mpg. Curious of the outcome because I'd love better cruising mpg in my RS

2.0LNF swap into the sonic sounds like $$$. The Verano is a perfect car to start a build... I'd just trade my sonic for one of those if I wanted to go fast for cheap, big time sleeper.

Yes, the RS 4.18 final gear + the long spread is probs a PITA in everyday driving. The MZ0 is a closer ratio spread and seems like it'd be better for racing around.

By no means is a final gear ratio swap an easy task, from the looks of it the upper and lower pinion shafts need to be refitted with the gear set/bearings/synchros, the works. I have other plans with these internals than just the gear swap so I'll be starting with fresh parts. There's guys running much more power on the M32 than I'll be, so I'm not worried about its strength. It just sucks to shift sometimes.

Solutions:
LIBERTYS MANUAL TRANSMISSION SERVICES

From some Honda chat place:
Liberty Face Plating/ RacerStev Heat treatment/ Gear treatments in general chat - Honda-Tech

 

[mja]

1st real life example I found of a 2.0T + M32 swap. The fiat should have stock mounting brackets for the M32 transplant. Enjoy:
Fiat 500 with 2.0 Turbo engine. - MTech Short Shifters

^^ those m32 gears are juicy. definitely not stock.

 

[$ub$onic]

To my knowledge a stock Cruze has never used a F40.

The 1.8's I've seen paired to them have a adapter plate

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

 

[mja]

To my knowledge a stock Cruze has never used a F40.

The 1.8's I've seen paired to them have a adapter plate

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

Hmm... I've read a few places had F40 trans in some rare Cruzes. I was thinking it was the diesel Cruze but no dice. Some aftermarket places even sell F40 parts for the Cruze... maybe mislabelled?

 

[$ub$onic]

Hmm... I've read a few places had F40 trans in some rare Cruzes. I was thinking it was the diesel Cruze but no dice. Some aftermarket places even sell F40 parts for the Cruze... maybe mislabelled?

Ok, let me rephrase that, in the USA*


Now I have to look at the rest of the world

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

 

[mja]

Ok, let me rephrase that, in the USA*


Now I have to look at the rest of the world

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

Global platforms

 

[walkncontradxn]

Just wanted to bump this thread and let whoever cares know that I'm currently using this guide and may add some more info if useful afterwards.
Replacing the clutch with the GM performance kit and replacing the dif with wavetrac!
Any advice and warning appreciated.

 

[walkncontradxn]

Ended up having to replace the transmission all together, had one of the carrier bearings on one of the gear sets eat itself. Went with a MF3 from the Ecos.