[slirt]

sweet KIA, even sweeter girlfriend :thumbup: I've always had a soft spot for those; a neighbor had one when new, and i dated someone with one, so fond memories. i've always thought "for a penalty-box, it's kinda cute!" Congrats :beer:

 

[freddd]

Yup, she's pretty awesome. The fact that she's not disgusted by my love for this Korean econobox is a miracle...

Edit: there is another guy in Ontario that has a kldze or whatever the engine code is in a Festiva. Too much work for me, plus I'm not looking to make it stupid fast.


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Here's a fun story. I was probably the first guy in Ontario to swap a B6T into a Festiva way back in 2003, and definitely the first guy to swap the mating (G-series) transmission in, ever. Blowing through Festiva transmissions while only running 14s got boring. It had 23-way adjustable coil overs, bigger brakes, fiberglass hood, 323GT gauge cluster, 323GTX seats, and lots of other cool stuff.

My then girlfriend (now wife) loved the little thing too.

Behold:

The novelty wore off after I ran low 13s with a stock B6T, so I sold the car to another dude in Ontario on the Festiva forum. I want to say that was around 2006. He in turn sold it to a guy named Chris, who was the guy who swapped in the KLZE you're referring to. Imagine my surprise when I arrived at work in Woodstock Ontario one day last year to see the very same Festiva I owned and poured so much blood and sweat into... and it had a V6 stuffed in it's nose!

I've always felt like I had unfinished business with that car. When I sold it, I had just finished installing a standalone engine management system and was in the midst of mounting up a T28 turbo.

So here's the deal, I live in Waterloo, and I'm sure I can help you find a B6T. I probably remember every little detail about swapping those suckers in. So if you're up for it, I'll help you build the fastest Festiva anyone has ever seen.

 

[MagicBus]

^ I don't have a picture, but a friend printed that picture out and had it under the wiper blades when I first saw it.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Zman86]

That car looks fantastic!

I'm down Simcoe way. I'm not looking to make it the fastest Festiva around, I'd like to just make it more enjoyable to drive. My biggest hang up is the transmission, as I can't seem to find a definitive guide on what has to be done to run a stronger trans.

Also, my experience with actually swapping engines is pretty minimal. Sure, I've pulled engines dozens of times, but never actually swapped a different engine into a car other than the one it came with.


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[freddd]

The best way to enjoy the drive in these cars is with 200whp, trust me. Blowing the tires off through second gear is fun.

Swapping in a stronger engine without the corresponding transmission is a waste of time. You need a cable clutch transmission from a Mazda 323 GT. The Escort GT has a different bell-housing and angles the engine forward, so it can't be used very easily. To install another engine with the original Festiva transmission, you only need a passenger side engine mount bracket. But to install the better/stronger transmission, you need to fab up a front and rear transmission mount bracket, and modify the factory Festiva shift rod. Mount design is critical because there isn't much room under that hood. You want to run the 323GT axles, the passengers side is two piece and last I checked, they were getting hard to find.

There is no definitive guide because I never put one up. I never shared the design of the mounts I made because I was planning on selling them to help put myself through school.

PM me if you have any other questions.

 

[Zman86]

Picked up some new shoes. 13x6 Exim meshes. Little rough around the edges but eventually I'll have them refinished. They are 4x100, where as the stock bolt pattern is 4x114.3, which now commits me to the Aspire brake swap.

And a look beside the car. Amazing how big 175/70 13 tires look next to this car.

Also, there's a spoiler in the mail. Will be painted and installed in the spring.

Now to find the Aspire front knuckles and rear axle beam. There's currently 6 Aspires on kijiji for sale in all of Canada...




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[Crispyfritter]

That's awesome! So glad you're going with the Aspire set up. It will stop nice and look great.

Chris

 

[RollingInDubs]

That car is unbelievably clean.

F***ing DEAD.

:laugh::beer:

 

[The Kilted Yaksman]

Picked up some new shoes. 13x6 Exim meshes. Little rough around the edges but eventually I'll have them refinished. They are 4x100, where as the stock bolt pattern is 4x114.3, which now commits me to the Aspire brake swap.
And a look beside the car. Amazing how big 175/70 13 tires look next to this car.

Ever since Sumitomo dropped most of the low profile HTR200 sizes, finding small 13" tires has been tough.
You're in luck. Nankang is offering a 175/50 in the US now.
http://www.amazon.com/Nankang-AS-1-Summer-Radial-Tire/dp/B008GOFEYE
Or, for quite a bit more money, you can run Yokohamas.
http://www.minimania.com/part/TYRE18/175-50-13-Yokohama-A539-Tire-For-Mini--Cooper-S

 

[Zman86]

The guys on the Festiva forums all hate the Nankangs, and the one guy that's running 175/50's says they are a bit too rough for his liking, so I'm probably going to go with 55's or 60's


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[Zman86]

Spoiler arrived in the mail today! Purchased from a member of the Festiva forums. Another forum member 3d prints the screw caps, as originals are unobtanium.

Also cleaned up the Exim mesh's. It was obvious the PO never did. They are in need of refinishing, but that will be next winters project

Finding the Ford Aspire knuckles and rear axle beam are proving rather difficult...


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[BRealistic]

Finding the Ford Aspire knuckles and rear axle beam are proving rather difficult...


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Craigslist here has a few in the area that "need work" for 600-800 "obo".
Maybe buy something like that- take what you need and scrap the rest?

 

[ManualMirrors]

That mother is insane for turning this down. I would love to give my kids a Festiva for their first car.

 

[alfafan]

My first new car was a graphite Festiva. I was a crazy courier and I swear I drove that thing at 8/10ths all over LA and the OC. I would lean over and grab the passenger arm rest on hard right turns.

 

[deadernie]

I always liked these and 1st gen Fiestas. I would love to find a Fiesta.

 

[A.Wilder]

FV-QR

i love the low belt lines and big greenhouses of the 80s and 90s

 

[Zman86]

Craigslist here has a few in the area that "need work" for 600-800 "obo".
Maybe buy something like that- take what you need and scrap the rest?

There are currently 6 Ford Aspires for sale in Canada, none of which are in Ontario. My girlfriend deals with many scrapyards though so I have her putting some feelers out for Aspire parts.


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[BRealistic]

There are currently 6 Ford Aspires for sale in Canada, none of which are in Ontario. My girlfriend deals with many scrapyards though so I have her putting some feelers out for Aspire parts.


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Yeah... Rustanada.
Makes old unloved cars like this hard to find.
Will us scrap yards ship parts to Canada?

 

[tiexgrr]

That's awesome! You've got a keeper and I'm not talking about the car.

 

[Zman86]

Made the ten hour round trip to Michigan today to pick up a Ford Aspire swap. The swap includes brakes all around, front knuckles and the rear axle beam. The benefits of the swap are a 1/4" wider track width ( I think all around, but may just be the rear), bigger brakes all around, a better brake design ( no more rotors bolting behind the hub ), and a 4x100 bolt pattern so I can run my Exims.

Stripping everything down this week, then it's all off for blasting and powder coating.


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