My first engine swap build thread

[freshtiva]

If I get to bed soon, the motor goes in tomorrow. My friend Bob stopped by today. He drove a good bit to deliver an A/C pulley I was needing. Gave it to me, and I owe him one. Bob is a good guy and Im sure glad I bought his aspire swap cause otherwise I would have never met him. I think Im going to go with some mid 90s escort steelies like he has on his ( nice ) festiva for my aspire bolt pattern. They fit real well and look proportionate. Its the perfect wheel and tire combo for a festy IMHO. Thanks Bob !!!

[freshtiva]

Well I hit a minor (hopefully) stumpling block.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21014

[Damkid]

everything is looking good fresh!! can't wait to see it completed!!

[freshtiva]

Awesome job with the engine fresh, looks new except for that oil filter.

Ha, youd think after all the parts Ive bought I would have got a new oil filter wouldnt you ? ME >>>> fftheair:

[sasquatch]

that exhaust cover looks carzy new good job!!!!

[CHills]

Awesome job with the engine fresh, looks new except for that oil filter.

[KingFish]

that motor look great.

[freshtiva]

Guess you're right Karl. Thanks for the perspective. About ready to drop the motor in. Still got to splice the injector harness and add a bracket or two.

[geezerstiva]

^^amen! you said it better than me... :lol:

[Safety Guy]

Marcus!

So you're spending money for a nice, freshly rebuilt car with larger engine, better mpg and performance (due to the 5 speed swap), built the way you want it, DONE RIGHT, better handling, etc. and SURPRISE!!: you have to spend some money.

Where can you get this car new right now?

NOWHERE.

Where can you get one that matches its economical combination of performance, handling and mileage?

NOWHERE.

Something that comes close (Aveo, Fix, Yaris) would cost you at least $10,000 and would get maybe 40mpg tops.

The closest thing would be an older Echo for perhaps $3-5K. but you'd then still have to work on it and fix some minor stuff probably.

I paid $190 for my '92L with 69K miles. It didnt' run. By the time I spent money on a technician to troubleshoot the starting problem, a new windshield, a new gas tank and many fuel system lines, I was over $1100. Add my new 12" tires just before winter, and that comes to over $1200 (but these little tires are for future projects when I do the suspension swap, so they're more like "accessories").

I bought Luxstiva, my '93 GL auto (about 168K miles then), off a dealer for $600 back around '03. Now, after engine and suspension swaps and other stuff, I have over $3000 in her.

These two run pretty well, are very reliable and cost me a total of under $5000 including tires and some other things.

For many folks, that's barely a year of car payments! My average monthly upkeep probably works out to well under $100. Now figure I save lots of $$ on basic insurance (no collision) and worst case mpgs of 25 mpg (my auto with a heavy foot).

I can't believe people would spend over $500 per month for a car costing over $20K, but many do. And then they pay lotsa $$ for heavy insurance to cover the worth of the expen$ive car, plus horrible to so-so fuel economy.

Then they have to take it somewhere to get fixed when it goes bad!

I could go on...

Karl

[cubstiva1]

which vehical?

the LX that i just painted, i've got a light on, on my dash. i think its the sensor.

[FestYboy]

i need to change my wifes O2 sensor, but i'm not sure how to even get to it. theres not really enough room to get in the there with the engine in.

which vehical?

[geezerstiva]

hey, you've spent $1800 for a practically brand new car the way your building it! and its way cooler than any new car you could buy--with a few exceptions-- but none for anywhere near $1800. :lol:

[freshtiva]

Well I went and did it, I added it all up, now Im depressed. The price tag so far with out wheels and tires, rear strut boots, rear wheel bearings, and numerous misc. other things I cant think of off hand. I counted nothing for my labor. I rounded the receipt prices to the nearest dollar.

[cubstiva1]

i need to change my wifes O2 sensor, but i'm not sure how to even get to it. theres not really enough room to get in the there with the engine in.