My first engine swap build thread

[Damkid]

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

[freshtiva]

Well I hit a minor (hopefully) stumpling block.

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

[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]

Dropped the motor in this morning...by myself..another pair of hands sure would have been nice. The new tranny mount I bought had different treads than the nut the holds the mount to the cross member. I retreaded it yesterday to fit the stock nut. When I got the motor in today I couldnt get the two bolts that go through the tranny to start in the weld nuts on the new tranny mount. Then it dawned on me that those threads were probably different too. Had to pull that mount back out and retap the treads on the two weld nuts as well to fit the stock bolts. It was a pita and set me back an hour but its back in now. Got to get ready for work now, tomorrow Im going to start hooking stuff up. Its getting closer. Still have to put the aspire rear torsion beam in. Oh yeah yesterday I cleaned up all the treads in the block for the factory A/C compresser bracket and the idler pulley bracket. They were kind of rusty from non use. That was time consuming as I had to use a tap on some vise grips to do it because of lack of clearance. The devil is in the details.:evil2:

[freshtiva]

I think Im going to need a 323 down pipe. The bolt pattern on the festiva is just a hair different.

[lanemeyer14]

Looking awesome Fresh! Love that clean engine and bay!

[KingFish]

Dang thats sexy!

[sasquatch]

oooo...aaahhhhhhh..... looks nice i hope mine will look as nice

[91blufestiva]

Nice and clean!!

[festivaWES]

Rev it up MARCUS!!!!! Yeah!

[Slyder]

that looks fantastic Marcus!

[freshtiva]

Thanks guys !! I found another complication. You can see it in the picture below. Wished I noticed it before I put the motor in. Look where the radiator hose connects with the block, (there is duct tape covering the inlet). I went to mount the a/c compressor on the bracket just below it and it hits the inlet. Tomorrow Im going to see if I can swap the inlet tube from the festiva. It has a custom bend that misses the compressor

r.

[Safety Guy]

Yep, you have to use the Festiva coolant pipe for clearance. It's a good idea to pull one if you ever get the chance in a 'yard to get to one that has been "exposed" by someone pulling other parts. Make sure you get the kit to put in a new o ring inside the part that swivels. Might have to smooth out the inside first with emory cloth, too.

Marcus, did you get your wiring issues sorted out?

If I recall right, the IAC plug splice may be "common sense." I think one wire is thicker than the other. If so, just match thicknesses.

As for the TPS, go with a matching TB or TPS from a 5 speed Protege from around '91 like I did and it should work. You just have to hog out the air plenum inlet and get the proper gasket to fit the larger TB if you go that route.

Looking really fine!

Karl

[Damkid]

looking good fresh!! any idea when you may hear her fire up?

[freshtiva]

Yep, you have to use the Festiva coolant pipe for clearance. It's a good idea to pull one if you ever get the chance in a 'yard to get to one that has been "exposed" by someone pulling other parts. Make sure you get the kit to put in a new o ring inside the part that swivels. Might have to smooth out the inside first with emory cloth, too.

Marcus, did you get your wiring issues sorted out?

If I recall right, the IAC plug splice may be "common sense." I think one wire is thicker than the other. If so, just match thicknesses.

As for the TPS, go with a matching TB or TPS from a 5 speed Protege from around '91 like I did and it should work. You just have to hog out the air plenum inlet and get the proper gasket to fit the larger TB if you go that route.

Looking really fine!

Karl

Karl I think we got mixed up on our PMs but anyway I think I do have the wiring figured out. You are correct about the IAC plug, once I removed the wrapping I did notice one of the wire is a heavier gauge than the other. That makes that easy. As far the TPS goes the TPS plug on the donor festiva injector harness will plug directly into the TPS on the B6 so I dont think Ill have to do any swapping there. I just unraveled the donor harness enough so I could pull the TPS plug out far enough to reach the TPS on the B6. Both the plug on the donor harness and the TPS on the b6 are three pin. Thanks for your help !! Ive got your number is case I cant get it to go. Oh yeah Karl I think I can use the coolant pipe from the old motor I removed. Its sitting in the garage. I was meaning to pull it and see if it matchs up to the old water pump I took off the b6 for comparison sake.

looking good fresh!! any idea when you may hear her fire up?

I was thinking in a week or so but Ive come down with a cold so I may just rest this weekend. I want to drain the gas tank and put in some fresh fuel and I also would like to get the exhaust hooked up first. Its the little obstacles that take so much time. Trying to figure out what to do and where to get the parts to do it. Hopefully soon though, Im at the point where I want to get this finished. Still have to do the rear axle and bleed the brakes. and put the interior back in and get some wheels. Oh yeah and I have to remove the shifter linkage from the parts car and install it. Might need to do some bushing repair on it. Etc, etc.