better fuel milage/ auto to 5 speed conversion, help!

[j0nathan67]

i'm getting about 35 mpg i hear about everybody else getting 40 plus, what can i do to get this milage, i was thinking about taking the automatic out and converting to a 5 speed what kind of swap is this and will it make a big difference?

[darkdan]

It might help, but it doesn't sound like a fun thing to do.

How many miles on your festiva?

[j0nathan67]

120k on the odomenter, i was trying to find out what kind of job is it cause i got a killer deal on a parts car thats complete so i'd have everything to make the swap, and i think it help with me pulling my little trailer

[brownspank]

Isn't an auto tranny supposed to be better for mileage, since it maximizes your revs?

[darkdan]

Not really.

More drivetrain loss since you have to pump the fluid around.

I personally wouldn't go through all the hassle.

You'd only save $57 or so every 10,000 miles with a 4 mpg difference at $2.10 a gallon.

Do two treatments of www.auto-rx.com

Switch to synthetic fluids.

Do a tune up.

Enjoy life.

[rotinaj13]

LMAO I swear I am going to order that here soon. My festy is parked atm. when I go to get it going i will get some!

[The Rage]

I thought Festiva 4-speeds and 5-speeds got OVER 40 mpg. Like 43 to almost 50 for the old carb models. At 3 bux a gallon plus, even 4 mpg adds up though.


I'm considering the same swap. Have a dyno-mite donar car without a title. The tranny shifts great in it though..The Autocar with title shifts hard and needs an engine anyway. IF I had a B-6 to transplant, I might say "Auto Okay" but seeing as I've got TWO B-3 engines I want/need to get the '91 Recipient car going asap. I figured I might as well just pull the engine and tranny together out of the '92 donar and install them together as well..How hard is it to change out the auto brake pedal and install the brake pedals. The linkage for the shifter?. The clutch cables and slave cylinder?.

I'd say you couldn't do it all in 4 hours but certainly over a couple or three days....Today, it'd be worth it.

[darkdan]

For 10,000 miles:
$857 - 35 mpg
$750 - 40 mpg

At $3 a gallon 5 mpg difference would save $100 every 10,000 miles. Now it's beginning to get more economical.

[Tim]

I thought Festiva 4-speeds and 5-speeds got OVER 40 mpg. Like 43 to almost 50 for the old carb models.

Wish I could that kind of mileage on my carb'd 4 speed...

My best has been 36 mpg highway, about 32 in town (providing I drive sanely).

The car was probably capable of that at one time but it's been driven hard in its lifetime...


Regards,

Tim

[jeffdjeffd]

It's pretty easy to swap auto to manual/vice-versa. My SUGGESTION is to have a donor car so you can see exactly where the parts are/go. It can be done with just the parts, but it's difficult.

I really wish I had the time to try and fit a 4-speed ATX into a Festiva. That would be the best of both worlds, IMHO.

good luck,
jeff

[yvanlavoie20]

replacement

i swap an auto to a 5 speed in an aspire, take 9 h for removing from donor car and installing in the other.

pretty easy and better on fuel

just connect the two wires (neutral start) on tranny switch to the clutch switch...this is the worst thing in that swap.

good luck