Would like to have a 5 speed instead of a 4

[brauchma]

I am new here and this is my first post! I have an 89 Festiva with 135k miles on it. Great car. It gets awesome gas mileage in the city but is terrible on the open road. The RPMs run really high at the listed speed limit.

I would really like to make it a 5 speed. I think the engine would calm down a bit at higher speeds. Thoughts?

Where could I get a 5 speed for it? I do not even know where to start. I am glad I found this forum though.

It would be really awesome to put another motor in it as well.

Thanks in advance!

[91blufestiva]

Well, the 5spd tranny would bolt right up to your motor. It would give better gas mileage too. Welcome to the site too, this is the very right place to ask people about these sweet little cars! These people are awesome on this site!

[Sparky]

It would make a big difference......and Festivas are among the easiest cars in the world to do those kind of things.....Use the search function and I'm sure there are a couple of threads about it. Also, put your location in your profile...there may be others nearby who could assist in the swap.

Try this:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11540

[Pu241]

Welcome brauchma! (a phase I don't say everyday!)
This might help:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11144&highlight=transmission

Sparky,
Mind giving him instructions on how to add his location to his profile?
It isn't always easy for nubies to navigate this site.

[Sparky]

Sure! Brauchma, look at the top of this page....you will find a blue tool bar.....in that tool bar, click on the "User CP"....that will be the User Control Panel. On the left side of that page, find the words "edit location"....click on that and it will take you another page....go to the bottom of that page in the big box that says "additional information". That's where you can add where you live. Welcome, sir, and happy motoring!

[brauchma]

Glad to be here. I should have put my location in right away. <slap my hand>

I will check out those links.

[91blufestiva]

Welcome again, you say that you live in MN, where in MN are you? I live about 30miles west of St.Cloud.

[brauchma]

91blu - sent you a PM

How much would a 5 speed cost me? I am pumped to get better gas millage at higher speeds. She has a little oil leak as well. It is a slow one though.

I breezed over the suggested links in the forum. Is the swap tough for a rookie tinkerer? My dad is pretty savy. Just curious.

[nonamekid]

if you have an 89 festiva with the original trans you would not get a lower gear with a five speed trans. Most of the four speed transmissions had the same final gearing as the five speeds, they just had one extra gear. Early 88 festivas had an odd 4-speed that had lower gearing but you probably don't have one of those trannies.

[trapspeed]

how would you tell if your trans is the lower gearing 1?

[MONSOON]

if you have an 89 festiva with the original trans you would not get a lower gear with a five speed trans. Most of the four speed transmissions had the same final gearing as the five speeds, they just had one extra gear.

I dont think this is right according to your post here.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showpost.php?p=137402&postcount=9

[brauchma]

if you have an 89 festiva with the original trans you would not get a lower gear with a five speed trans. Most of the four speed transmissions had the same final gearing as the five speeds, they just had one extra gear. Early 88 festivas had an odd 4-speed that had lower gearing but you probably don't have one of those trannies.

Here is the funny thing. I have always known that my festy is an 89. I go into a Napa to get a new air filer and they give me a square air filter for an 89. I have to tell them I have a round filter. They say something about an 88 that has a round one. Thoughts?

I am curious if I have always been wrong about it. Can I tell from the VIN #?

[Pu241]

'88-'89 manuals were carbed = truncated cylinder element
'89 Autos are EFI = square filter element