Aspire trans in festiva

[stefan]

Is the aspire trans better or worse than stock? It bolts up 100% correct? Are the different gear ratios better?

[Damkid]

the tranny will bolt up no problem, i do beleive the aspire tranny has a different gear ratio to compensate for the heavier car, but i'm not sure what it is

[av8ter]

It would feel like more of todays car, short gears, srorty. You would shift more, but I think the gear ratios would help in daily/fun driving.


Kev

[nonamekid]

The front mount is also different. I have not done the swap, but that is what everybody has said that has done it. If I remember correctly, the main difference between the festiva and the aspire tranny was fifth gear. They changed fifth gear in the aspire tranny to help with fuel economy. Bigger car, less rpms in fifth, same fuel economy.

[stefan]

I wonder if it would be better for mileage in a festiva?
If it dosent bolt up though i wont bother. I was just considering it because i need a new trans and it would be easier to find a low mileage aspire trans.

[Gomez]

If fifth allows for lower rpm, then since the Festiva is lighter and uses the same engine I would assume the mileage would be even better than before. Hmmmmmmmm makes me think!

[nonamekid]

from what i understand it bolts right in. They just modified the front mount slightly. I just can't remember what exactly had to be done. I know it was simple though. I would volunteer to go up there and help you do this swap, but I am getting married in 2.5 weeks, and am fairly busy right now.

[codex]

I read here that the gear ratios are the same, just the final drive ratio is different. On my aspire I have higher rpms in 5th gear. In the festy I cruise at 3k rpm around 70 mph. In the aspire, 3k rpm is only 65 mph.

[skeeters_keeper]

A guy at work put a festiva trans in his aspire, and he had to fab up a mount. Also, two of the holes on the bell housing don't lign up with either the block or the flywheel cover, i don't remember which two. I think its OK to just leave them off though, they weren't critical.


since i haven't done it myself all i know is there was some modding/welding done for that one mount, but perhaps it could be done some other way.

[festivaWES]

Maybe swap the whole crossmember over and mount from the aspire to avoid this....i don't know never toyed with this trans swap idea.

[FestYboy]

gear ratios ARE the same, EXCEPT for the final gear (diff). swapping out the festy trans for an aspire will net higher trap speeds at the strip or better lap times for you scca events.

[Damkid]

wouldn't the tranny mounts between the aspire and festiva tranny be interchangable?

[getnpsi]

ive seen it go both ways here. guess ill find out when i try to put my 97 aspire trans into my 4 speed festiva.

[Safety Guy]

My understanding is that the Aspire has a lower final drive ratio (higher numerically). Also, the mounts are different. You're supposed to just be able to swap mounts.

This is all "what I've heard."

I do plan on putting an Aspire ATX in my ATX Festiva, for better low end acceleration and hopefully, the Aspire lockup torque convertor will make up for the difference on the freeway.

Roger at FMS has remarked to me that Aspire MTXs were cheaper made than the Festiva counterparts. I think he said the bearings weren't as good. That didn't apply to ATXs.

Karl

[iceracerdude]

Ok here's the facts, Trans gears 1-5 are the same in both transmissions. It's the final drives that are different, thats not the same as say....a different 5th gear. They achieve this final drive by making the diff gear in the aspire trans a 69 tooth and the sun gear a 17 tooth. So 69 divided by 17 makes a 4.05 to 1 ratio. With the festiva trans they put a 68 tooth diff. gear with a 18 tooth sun gear to get a 3.77 to 1 ratio. So in theory, a festiva trans placed in a aspire would make for a slower "take off" rate and a higher top end. Conversely an aspire trans placed in a festiva would make it launch faster but top out sooner. Also, the one mount is different, but when you get the trans from your source, get that front mount as well, I'm sure they'll throw it in the deal......if they still have one.