Eggy (1997 Red Aspire)

[pwgus]

Ok, so this is my build thread for Eggy, my 1997 base Aspire. Got it from some people in litterally the part of town where I was worried about getting mugged, lol, for $600. I think it's pricey now, but oh well, I really like the car so I guess I'll live with it. It's got alot of big ups but alot of big downs to it. The ups:
- OBD-II
- Nearly completely rust free (one .5" x 2" section of quarter pannel beginning to rust)
- 108,000 Miles
- 5-Speed in really good condition
- Basically the exterior is the biggest plus, for less than $150 probably I could restore it to near factory condition

The Downs:
- Engine has some issues, Levitan and me highly suspect upper engine, gas is leaking into oil, and #1 cylinder is misfiring, we think perhaps time to have rings replaced, or else replace engine
- The mexican's I bought it from don't appear to have changed the oil in 20,000 miles
- The interior is crap, but I plan on completely redoing that anyways

Here are some pictures:


Notice the rust just above the rear wheel here, thats the only spot on the whole frikin car!!


I think someone must have popped a wheelie with it, look at the scrapes on the rear bumper




Plans:

• Speakers, it has one speaker in it right now???!?! (I didn't realize that till after I got the car, but lets just say the radio and speakers those Mexicans installed had some shoddy craftsmanship, lol) I will put all 6.5" MTX's in
• Have the engine repaired or replaced, if I replace the engine I'll probably buy some old 323 or something and drop in either a B8 SOHC or a B6 DOHC, and maybe the transmission too
• Tint windows
• Add a spoiler
• Install Escort dome light
• Replace interior with upgraded interior from an SE or something
• Install SE cluster
• Install some subs
• Install sway bar
• Install some alloy's
• Install a new radio
• Touch up the paint
• Install HID's
• Install intermittent wipers

[Festiva_Fred]

"Install sway bar".... Aspires already have swaybars installed on the front and rear, looks like a good car.

[Festiva_tunner]

Let me know - I have a complete 97 interior thats in real decent shape that I will not be using any more (Just base model grey)

[Nerd Racing]

looks good man, good base to start with. If you want better handling the 99 miata tein lowering springs work really well with GR2's.

[92festie]

anybody ever try to swap the above said tien lowering springs on a festy??

[pwgus]

"Install sway bar".... Aspires already have swaybars installed on the front and rear, looks like a good car.

They do???? I haven't noticed one in the engine compartment.

[pwgus]

Let me know - I have a complete 97 interior thats in real decent shape that I will not be using any more (Just base model grey)

Pics maybe? Could be worth driving to get. Whats the price, or free is good if you just want it off your hands . Yea my seats are kind of nasty (spots). My front drivers seat is completely torn up. And the nob to adjust my mirror on the inside of my left mirror is jacked up. Also, if you have the interior, do you have any speakers and maybe the stock stereo, mine has one, lol. I'd give you a nice CD player, I want stock.

[pwgus]

Oh and I popped the dent out of the drivers side door today too. The A/C is icy cold, awesome!!!

Also, I've been reading about the Kia Avella (wikipedia):
"All Avellas came standard with 13 inch wheels, 160/70R13 tires, a four-speaker stereo, heated rear glass, ABS, driver's side airbag, and door impact beams. [7] [8] Optional equipment included air conditioning, power locks, power mirrors, power windows, folding rear seats, dimming interior mirror, a tachometer, and aluminum wheels."

Hmmm, folding rear seats, power locks and mirrors, dimming interior mirror. Can anyone say, korean ebay?

[Levitan]

Can anyone say, korean ebay?

Can anyone say, Get the flippin' engine fixed before you blow it up like you did the last one and sent it and another one to the scrapyard?

[91blufestiva]

^ I was going to say the same thing Dan.

Get that motor finished before anything.

And for the sway bar you actually have to go under the car and look for it.. can't see it from up top..

[anomoly40]

They do???? I haven't noticed one in the engine compartment.

You're thinking of a strut tower brace(AKA strut bar/brace). The one that connects the tops of the towers together under the hood.

[pwgus]

Yea I reevaluated that one while in the shower this morning and was about to say actually I can't take it ANYWERE or buy much of anything for it untill I fix the engine, tempting as may be. Although I am going to change the oil, oilfilter, and maybe airfilter. The airfilter looks newish, but lol, it looks super cheap, I think its just made of cardboard lol. Total crappieness.

And yes anomoly, thjats exactly it. In the words of Beavis and Butthead: "He he he, that would be cool." Anyways, Dan, I've already got $150 saved towards the new motor. Hey thats a good idea, I should start a fordfestiva.com pledge drive to raise money to fix the aspire , jk.

[pwgus]

Ok, really good news. I took it into a mechanic I know today (Automotive Engineering in Clive, geat folks!), and we had some pretty good results. Heres what I found out:

-The ticking is most likely a valve, as suspected
-The cause of the misfire is either low compression or low fuel injector pressure or a combination
-Fuel injector is getting proper power delivered
-Drop test on #1 fuel injector says that its only dropping by about 12 (unknown unit), and it should be dropping alot more
-Cylinder #1 pressure is WAY low, only 25ish psi

I'm definately gonna replace the fuel injector.

The mechanics said its more than likely a valve issue, and that it is far less likely a cylinder problem. Hopefully his 30+ years of work will pay off!! Possibilities of problem and the step needed to repair it, in order of least bad to worst lol:
-Carbon build up on a valve causing the cylinder not to deliver enough pressure
-Bent valve, maybe from timing belt comming off at some point, meaning the valve will need to be replaced, also check the timing belt to ensure its correctly aligned
-Burnt valve, same possible causes and resolutions as above

This is good!! Although dan and me smelled gas in the oil, they said its most likely been caused by the engine being flooded at some point. So hopefully a good oil change will fix that.

As far as replacing valves go, I'm gonna do some research in my manuals. Can valve and other upper engine parts like that be interchanged between any year Aspire and Festiva is what I need to find out.

Oh yea, also my valve cover seal needs changing, but thats of course no biggie. I'm hoping to do it all myself and for less than $200, so tips and advice are appreciated

[anomoly40]

Are B3's interference engines? I think a valve is a valve but i know aspires came with different cams. Look up mattdickmeyer and his B3 build thread for that info. I would for you but im on my phone.

[wybnrml]

Are B3's interference engines?

Nope, non-interference.