4WD festiva idea........

[FestivaZoomZoom]

my idea after i read a bunch on everyone's thoughts about a 4wd festiva. well here is my idea. maybe this will work but i need more specs to make sure......but some of them math the festiva.

Subaru Justy

Production 1987–1994
Body style: 3-door and 5-door hatchback
Layout: Front engine FWD / 4WD
Platform: J and K
Engine: 1.0L/1.2L Subaru EF engine
Transmission: 5-speed manual or CVT
Wheelbase: 90 in
Length: 145.5 in
Width: 60.4 in
Height: 53.7 in
Curb weight: 1,950 lb

Ford/Mazda Festiva/121
Production: 1986–1993
Platform: Mazda DA platform
Engine: 1.3L I4
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
4-speed manual
5-speed manual
Wheelbase: 1986-87: 90.4 in
1988-1993: 90.2 in
Length: 1986-87: 136.8 in
1988-1993: 140.5 in
Width: 63.2 in
Height: 55.3 in
Curb weight: 1598 lb
Fuel capacity: 10.0 US gal

[TominMO]

I had a 4WD Justy. Loved it. Only sold it because I had too many cars and was moving from Oregon to Virginia! It was basically a 4WD Festy in many ways.

[FestivaZoomZoom]

do you think the set up will work on the festiva?

[TominMO]

You haven't actually said what you plan to do! Do you mean a Justy powertrain in a Festy? Of course it could be done, but it would be simpler to just buy a Justy and be happy with it; or stick a Festy motor in a 5-speed Justy. The Justy motors had a bad design issue with the chain-driven oil pump, buried deep in the motor. When the chain stretched, one of the crank bearings didn't get sufficient oil. And the auto trans, the ECVT, was a disaster. No one can repair them. So a Festy motor in a 5-speed Justy is what I would do. It will probably fit; replacing a 1.2 3-cylinder with a 1.3 4-cylinder. Of course you would need an adaptor plate between the Festy motor and Justy 5-speed.

Here is a link for a USA/Canada Justy forum: http://subarujusty.proboards.com/index.cgi

[FestivaZoomZoom]

yep i am going to think if i can do this with out having to cut and weld. but it would be going to a 1.6 B6-ME. so that will be a heck of a swap lol. well too late but i already have a festiva bought i sold my justy a year ago. so ya i will have to do it to the festiva.

[chrisofna]

Apparently the Suzuki motors bolt to the Justy bellhousing, if you get a Justy I suggest trying to find a Swift GT motor?

[FestivaZoomZoom]

ya i thought about that....the bad part is i would need to move an engine mount or make one. which i do not have any ways to do that i would have to pay out of pocket. most of the things i want to do will be out of pocket. but build the engine will be me and who every wants to help.

[htchbck]

It is sometimes possible to build engine mouts that bolt up rather than weld. I did that for a BP in a Festiva once. Just a thought to save money, but of course make sure you build it stouter than it will need to be

Edit: Just reread your first post and realized that if you either don't, won't, or can't weld then why are you even thinking about how to mount a motor? Best to just buy a 4wd Justy then... or maybe a 323 GTX... rather than try to make a Festiva 4wd. If you aren't going to be doing your own welding, then a motor mount is the least of your costs/worries.

[TominMO]

What about bolting a Festy body to a Suzuki Samurai chassis? They are a lot more available than the Justys.

[Kraig]

I found an article online where the guy put a Mini body on the Justy platfform and swapped in a turbocharged Swift motor. So it is doable!

[FestYboy]

the 1.2L justy engine is shorter than the festy engine... the engine bay isn't wide enough to slip one in and keep the trans where it needs to be. plus the trans is glass... the ECVTs are actually stronger than the 5 spds and then there are 4 different manual trans for them (2 FWD and 2 4WD). it'd be a real PITA to get a strong drivetrain in a justy, not to mention that they rust out worse than Metros.

if you want a 4WD festy, swap in a Rav4 drivetrain or late model CR-V with the K series engine.

[FestivaZoomZoom]

ya but i am only going to use the 4wd set up form the justy to festiva if it will bolt up. ya that would work if the transmission wouldn't be so big. reason for the 4wd set up is to do the rally racing. so i am now looking into to see if a 4wd set up is possible. if it isn't then i will keep it FWD.

[big_ty2003]

I dont think it will "bolt up" as you put it. But with enough time, money, and knowledge you can make it work. I believe rocketman on the capri forums has build an awd capri.

[graywolf_14]

As for the crv I have seen some of the civics with that. It would be sweet to have a awd crx...

[FestYboy]

like i said, the justy trans is glass (very fragile) and has no common mounting points with the festy. you're better off with the toyota or honda trans as they'll hold more power and will fit with a few mods. plus they're moore common than justy and GTX trans put together.