Festiva Build-Off

[Levitan]

You've been asked to star on Festiva Build-Off on the Speed Channel.

Let's say you get $2500 to buy a car and build it to be race ready(for this story, roll bars not needed).

The idea is to build a wicked Festiva using parts from junkyards, classified ads, McAuto Parts Stores and eBay. In other words, places where the common Joe gets his stuff. No nitrous.

The shop and tools are supplied. A machine shop for immediate service is supplied. Your boss gives you 3 weeks paid vacation so the kids don't starve.

You have 3 weeks.

Paint and bodywork is not necessary, performance and handling is!

What would you build?

What motor out of what car?
What tranny?
What suspension?
Tires and wheels?
What performance upgrades would you build or buy?
Any other cool ideas that aren't listed here?

Feel free to let your imagination go!

(Try to keep this realistic. No, well my buddy has a 911 Carrera Turbo engine and tranny I can buy for $100 so I'd start there, b.s.)

Sounds fun to me!

[Safety Guy]

NOS="nitrous" or "new old stock?"

Karl

[Levitan]

nitrous.... I'll edit that

[Safety Guy]

Yep, I believe that "nitrous" is abbreviated simply "NO." I think it's one atom nitrogen and one oxygen. Lots of folks say "NOS" because there is a company with that name.

Here we go:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrous_oxide

I was wrong, it's "N2O." Two atoms of nitrogen.

Karl

[sasquatch]

enough about nitrous. id do a bp/g25mr swap with high compression pistons(11 to 1), p and p head with racing cams, 2.0L stroke/bore kit and to top it off ill let it breath with full race, straight through exhaust and cold air intake, for that to have any effect ill need to get a racing intake manifold and big bore throttle body and tuneable computer (i think about 250 hp, there is other small parts i did not mention). now for the rest. id do full coil over suspension and faster turning rack and pinion stearing then gut the entire intiour and stick a full cage in it, sparco racing seat and other good stuff. then id take racing slicks (if they make them that small lol) and put them on and find some cool 14 or 15 inch rims. i think that it, ill think of tons of stuff later, i know it. i know im way over budget but i like fast lol.

[muscle_Car1]

2.0L stroke/bore kit and to top it off ill let it breath with full race

HEHE you just went way over your budget if you are getting that from flying miata...

http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?deptid=1600&parentid=0&stocknumber=04-66350

What kind of racing would it be competing in? Drag? autox?

Source a BPT=about 180hp or get an escort gt motor & turbo it. Get the G25mr cable trans & half-shafts outta xr2, upgraded clutch of course. Find some 14" rims get the proxies T1R or T1S 195/45r14 on there. FMS springs & replace the struts.
That should leave you around $500 to find a car.



OR


Purchase a running XR2, EGT & festiva. Take the BP outta the EGT. Part the rest on FEOA.net. Take the trans & axles outta the capri. Part the motor & stuff on here or mazda323performance.com or clubprotege.com.

You probably can make most of your money back parting out those cars to purchase goodies like an auto aspire swap, FMS susp stuff, & a turbo. Maybe if your lucky someone will have a spoiler to sell, so you can place it on this beast of a machine.

[Safety Guy]

Okay, this may take me many posts over a few days (or more), but I'll essentially document my "Speedstiva" project. Items in bold I have already bought and paid for. Some prices are estimated to the best of my aging memory. :wink:

*'92 L Festiva, not running, in VGC body and interior-wise. 70K miles on it, with new gas tank installed:
$190 car
$130 gas tank w/ undercoating (I think that's about what it was)

*stainless steel braided brake lines, bought "as new" from a fellow member:
$80

*FMS Sport Springs: slightly used, bought off fellow member
$100

*FMS B6 header (this is for Luxstiva, but I could use it if I wanted to)
$240

*1994 323 B6 SOHC from 'yard
$75 (pulled it myself, currently in my garage!)

*RX7 steering wheel and horn button with innards
$40

Total $855 so far.

This gives a real world "start" to a possible project. Yes, I got a dang good price on my low mileage shell!!

Now for future plans:

ENGINE: EGT TB on hogged out air plenum; CAI; FMS comp cam; cleaned/balanced injectors; all new seals; moderate P&P head...
Est. $500 so far...

EXHAUST: FMS header; Magnaflow low-restriction cat; 2" stainless exhaust pipes; Magnaflow straight through muffler (the one I have on Luxstiva now)
Est. $300...

BRAKES: Since it seems Muttstiva won't be "resurrected," I'll strip her and convert her back end into a trailer. I'll probably use her rear Aspire axle beam and parts (free), while I'll get better/newer front parts, possibly from a Rio. EBC Green pads; high quality rear shoes; all new hardware and rear cylinders (the best I can get); rebuilt calipers, new rotors (ATE grooved?); possibly a M/C upgrade; check hard brake lines...
Est. $300...

SUSPENSION: Aspire rear beam off the Mutt; KYB Festiva struts front and KYB Aspire shocks rear (for extra tire clearance); FMS sport springs; FMS firmer bushings all around; check LCAs for safety...
Est. $350...

TIRES/WHEELS: Mazda Miata 14 X 6" alloys (less than 12# each); Potenza 195/45-14s; Aspire temp spare, wheel stud conversion kit; wheel locks...
Est. $700...

INTERIOR: Lightweight racing seats in front; remove rear seat and most other interior stuff; remove rear seat stanchions (saw & file & repaint); construct rear divider/compartments for storage and sound control...
Est. $300...

EXTERIOR: Front air dam with rubber bottom; grille modded for engine compartment air flow control ("interior aerodynamics"); flush-mount turn signals; FMS fiberglass hood; remove stock aerial; add "bee sting" VW looking aerial on rear mid roof...
Est. $350...

LIGHTENING: Primarily my program to lighten (and lower CG of) the front end by cutting, grinding, removing, repositioning, etc. parts large and small...
Est. $30 or less...

OTHER: Front strut bar; rear strut bar (probably homemade and tied into roll bar or cage)...
Est. $100...

Now lemme add all this up:

Est. $3785!!!! so far. I guess I need to do some replanning! For the purposes of this "challenge," I can take a lot of stuff off, I guess, like one of the racing seats. Later.

Plus, I do want a roll bar or cage, so I won't include that in the cost.


Karl

[Levitan]

"What kind of racing would it be competing in? Drag? autox?"

I guess I was thinking more like street/strip. I don't mean illegal street racing, the movie, but a car that would kick some arse if the driver next to you raised his pompous nose at you. A sleeper hot rod.

[25Horseplay]

You just about described Mattswabbs BPT car!

[festivaWES]

nitrous is N2o you goobers, two nitrogen molicules one oxygen.

[Damkid]

i would drop in a BPT w/ G25MR, Aspire Swap, and FMS lowering springs and KYB

[smokeshow]

Nē0 or ⁿ2° is probably closer to it...

[quaddawg]

FMS springs suck for racing.. SUCK SUCK SUCK SUCK SUCK.. no where NEAR stiff enough if you have real traction.


I am guessing I would go BP and try for a junkyard tubo set-up, cause you aren't going to find a BPT in an American JY.

Aspire swap it,

JY alloys off whatever I could find.

Suspension would eat up a lot of money... unless you could find something applicable at the JY, and I am guessing you could with some searching.. cheap.

THEN, the rest/bulk of the money would be a Phantom Grip, and some GREAT tires.

The FMS springs and KYB gr2's just aren't good enough, and would eat up way too much of the budget, IMO. I would rather find something in the JY, maybe 323 stuff, and somebodies cheapo coilovers off a rabbit or honda...

Then some extreme lightening... I mean go nuts.



OR...

What I have really been aching to do..

Bimmerstiva:

Find a wrecked BMW 3 series and swap in an entire 4 cylinder/5 speed, independant rear suspension rear axle set up..

It wouldn't be easy, but it would be cool as hell, and CHEAP!! Hell, I would donate my E21 318i for what I have in it... $150... The rear axle setup just rules... 4 wheel disc would be easy, and the track width would be fine. That would leave plenty of money for a turbo set up (JY) and struts, springs, tires.

[neanderpaul]

I have an 88 festiva, BP/g25mr in an escort, and an aspire together. I have about $600 in everything and the custom installation is included in that price. :twisted: I'll need axles and a turbo setup. I have one from a 2nd gen 300zx lined up for $100. I think I'm WAY under budget.

[Damkid]

I'll need axles and a turbo setup. I have one from a 2nd gen 300zx lined up for $100.

what a co-insedense, i wanna get a turbo set-up for my 300zx :lol: if you ever wanna sell that to me, i'll be more than willing to buy