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"Silver Bullet" Restore/Update/Repair/Upgrade thread

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  • "Silver Bullet" Restore/Update/Repair/Upgrade thread

    Meet the Silver Bullet:

    I'm going to start with a little back story on this thing. My father-in-law bought him used with maybe 30k miles in 1996. It was his daily driver and used as a workhorse carrying gardening supplies and tools. He named it. My wife tells me after he took a long drive (and probably a few beers) he came in and with a crap-eating grin declared it the Silver Bullet. A legacy was born.
    He kept it for 9 years before selling it to my brother-in-law (his step-son). He drove the hell out of it. It began taking on water in the rain and eventually it quit running. Not being one to fix things up and lacking mechanical knowledge, he eventually handed it down to me in 2010. It was certainly convenient, considering that I had bought my mother-in-law's red Festiva after a front end wreck a few months earlier.
    When I first traced it down to being a fuel pump issue I was not exactly thrilled at having to drop a gas tank. 2010 was the year of fuel pumps for me. I dropped 6 gas tanks, 1 of them twice. Since the car was kind of nasty and filled with trash, I started cleaning it out. I flipped up the seat so I could pull out the rear carpet to hang it out to dry. That's when I spotted a bump in the carpet. Could it be?... You know it already. Floor plate for the fuel pump. I fell in love.
    I swapped in the fuel pump from the junk car. Started up right away. I took my first drive and found out I had a locked up brake caliper. And so the repairs began. One new caliper, front pads, rear shoes, spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel filter, oil change. New brake master cylinder a few months later. Fresh set of rear wheel bearings next. Almost lost a wheel when one of the cheap-o bearings seized to the spindle. Had to swap one from the junk car. That brings us to today. I have just recently rolled over 200k miles.
    I started this afternoon on a gas tank swap from the junk car. I'm tired of leaking fuel whenever I have more than half a tank. I figured that since I had the carpet halfway out already I'd go ahead and pull it to get a good look at my floorboard holes. I've been in enough trouble for soaking my wife's pants splashing through puddles as it is. Lots of rain recently. This is what I found:

    I got one too.

    I've also got some rust along the driver side edge due to a massive rust hole in front of the rear tire.


    The right side started in on it too.


    Looks like I've got some body work to do.
    91 L 5sp "The Silver Bullet" B6, Brake/Susp Swapped Build Thread
    92 L 5sp "Red" RIP
    95 Grand Prix SE DD
    Wife's Stuff:
    89 L 5sp "Carby Car"
    97 Aspire auto "Pink Panther"
    Build Thread

    Spring 2013 IndyStiva:
    http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...eet-April-20th

  • #2
    I had a 89 L
    the "silver dragon"
    Proud owner of Casper

    Comment


    • #3
      Quick update: Got the gas tank back in this earlier this week after doing a little bit of rust repair. Thankfully it wasn't too bad back there. Coated the body tank section with 2 layers of 3M Pro grade undercoating. I love how that stuff goes on. I'm impressed.
      The rear right side framing is showing its age. Thankfully it's just a small section. I may have to do a little welding later on. Slapped the driver seat and belt in so I could drive it back and forth to work. MAN is the bullet loud without any carpeting.
      I cleaned up the area around the hole in the passenger floorboard. I'll be patching it this weekend... finally. I'm still debating what to do about the bottom section on the driver side. I'll post pics tomorrow. Thinking about treating the rust and then either layering over with fiberglass or filling it in with body filler.
      Last edited by link5186; 03-25-2011, 09:32 PM.
      91 L 5sp "The Silver Bullet" B6, Brake/Susp Swapped Build Thread
      92 L 5sp "Red" RIP
      95 Grand Prix SE DD
      Wife's Stuff:
      89 L 5sp "Carby Car"
      97 Aspire auto "Pink Panther"
      Build Thread

      Spring 2013 IndyStiva:
      http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...eet-April-20th

      Comment


      • #4
        I have your twin....an 89 l plus that is silver with the red stripe
        Ford Fester

        Comment


        • #5
          ^^ Sweet. I like the stripe. I want to have it done in paint when I get to the point that I actually can get it repainted. Thinking about painting the wheels to match. I wish I had two more of the trim rings. I think it'd look pretty sweet like that.

          Today's update:
          No pics today, sorry. Started working on it after helping a co-worker get a chevy van running. No body work. fftheair:

          Got more parts this week. Tore down the left side front hub. Changing out the CV. New bearings on both sides. I was considering going ahead and doing inner and outer tie rod ends, but as it turns out they aren't as bad as I thought. That and I still need rack boots. No point ruining brand new parts. By the way, the Napa cheap line ($12) tie rod ends have grease fittings! :thumbleft: Found the real issue with my tire wear, however... LCAs. Had to order them. Getting new pads and rotors too. BIG pits on the back side, ouch. Got about halfway through and called it an early day. I'll finish up tomorrow. I have to as I can't leave it strewn all over the shop at work. ohsnap
          91 L 5sp "The Silver Bullet" B6, Brake/Susp Swapped Build Thread
          92 L 5sp "Red" RIP
          95 Grand Prix SE DD
          Wife's Stuff:
          89 L 5sp "Carby Car"
          97 Aspire auto "Pink Panther"
          Build Thread

          Spring 2013 IndyStiva:
          http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...eet-April-20th

          Comment


          • #6
            i own an 89L white with the red hockey stripe too lol. i found my brother

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by 89newb View Post
              i own an 89L white with the red hockey stripe too lol. i found my brother
              Mine is a 88 thats white with the red hockey stripe


              88 Festy L (The White Thunder)
              91 L came and gone, owned only 2 days

              Comment


              • #8
                You are truly a saint sir for lovingly repairing that festiva. In other hands it could have easily ended up on top of a scrap heap.

                1993 Festiva L, aspire swapped, selling parts for a BP+T build.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Thanks! I plan on keeping him for a long time. Good legacy, good engine, and cheap parts make this bad boy a keeper. I've got plans, and plans can be dangerous things!
                  91 L 5sp "The Silver Bullet" B6, Brake/Susp Swapped Build Thread
                  92 L 5sp "Red" RIP
                  95 Grand Prix SE DD
                  Wife's Stuff:
                  89 L 5sp "Carby Car"
                  97 Aspire auto "Pink Panther"
                  Build Thread

                  Spring 2013 IndyStiva:
                  http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...eet-April-20th

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Finally another update. I've got some before and after pics for the headlight and the mirror I put in not too long ago:








                    It's nice when you can see at night.

                    I got the big hole in the passenger floorboard patched up finally. I've been dragging my feet doing the body work, though. I've been putting a lot of suspension work into the wife's car lately. Finally got it back on the road. Unfortunately the rear leaf spring cracked my phone. Life goes on.
                    I'm going to start on replacing the clutch tomorrow after work. I hope it goes well. I'm going to pull the engine to do it. I like having the room. Also going to replace the timing belt. I have no idea how long it's been on there.
                    91 L 5sp "The Silver Bullet" B6, Brake/Susp Swapped Build Thread
                    92 L 5sp "Red" RIP
                    95 Grand Prix SE DD
                    Wife's Stuff:
                    89 L 5sp "Carby Car"
                    97 Aspire auto "Pink Panther"
                    Build Thread

                    Spring 2013 IndyStiva:
                    http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...eet-April-20th

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Deer whistles, lol.

                      Do the front main and rear main seals while you're in there. A couple bucks now is better than lots of headaches later.
                      Last edited by crazyrog17; 04-11-2011, 05:39 PM.
                      -Zack
                      Blue '93 GL Auto: White 13" 5 Point Wheels, Full LED Conversion, and an 8" Sub

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Done and done. Posting on the road. Pics tomorrow. Haven't been able to take any since I broke my phone with a leaf spring from a w-body. Cracked the screen pretty hardcore. Finally got it fixed :thumbright:

                        Anyway, I got the new clutch in about three weekends ago. It rocks. The old boy has a bit of pep left in him. I did the oil pan gasket, too. Had an extra laying around. Unfortunately the keyway for the crank timing gear had been shifting at some point. Looks like it may have happened a while ago. It was lined up near perfect when it came off. Got it lined up myself with a screwdriver in the plug hole. Got the engine all back together. Had a hell of time getting the tranny lined up. I need to get a load leveler if I keep this up. I got it back in running order that Sunday night and took it to get gas. I was quite pleased.

                        I met up with a bunch of local members of the forum. I'll link to the thread later tonight. We had a mini meet and went junking. Saw my first in-person swaps. Picked up a few things. I got a tach cluster. Pics coming. I matched the mileage. Had to roll up about 3k. A detailed write-up is coming, promise. I also picked up an escort dome light, installed. Cargo lamp goes in after I fix the rust holes. I got a new radio bezel. It sucks having 2 broken ones.

                        I also got an idea while I was there. I was looking at the center console on a protégés. It has a push open storage area and aspire-esque cup holders above it. May be a clearance issue with the shifter. Anybody know anything about the protegé shifter? Just an idea. The park brake is located dead center in the console. May carry it over, too. That's an easy mod to make happen. The screws look to be in very similar places and it doesn't come up high enough to have to cut down. Looks like a close fit.
                        Sent from the bathroom via tapatalk
                        91 L 5sp "The Silver Bullet" B6, Brake/Susp Swapped Build Thread
                        92 L 5sp "Red" RIP
                        95 Grand Prix SE DD
                        Wife's Stuff:
                        89 L 5sp "Carby Car"
                        97 Aspire auto "Pink Panther"
                        Build Thread

                        Spring 2013 IndyStiva:
                        http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...eet-April-20th

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I hate all this freaking rain. Finally had a break and managed to get some stuff done. Gotta get the old boy ready for the trip to Ohiostiva! New rear wheel bearings again. Torqued 'em right this time. It's nice being able to hear myself think. No more roar. Also did the brake cylinders, drums and shoes. All new hardware. Next up is front end work. Good day today.
                          91 L 5sp "The Silver Bullet" B6, Brake/Susp Swapped Build Thread
                          92 L 5sp "Red" RIP
                          95 Grand Prix SE DD
                          Wife's Stuff:
                          89 L 5sp "Carby Car"
                          97 Aspire auto "Pink Panther"
                          Build Thread

                          Spring 2013 IndyStiva:
                          http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...eet-April-20th

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            New tires! 165/70r12 on 4.5" wide wheels. I found out the hard way that the parts car had 4 inchers. But I did finally get the wheels painted today and polished up the trim rings and center caps. Who said you can't polish a turd? :-P


                            IMG_20110525_212947.jpg by link5186, on Flickr


                            IMG_20110525_213034.jpg by link5186, on Flickr

                            Nevermind the mess on the porch, serious storms today. I finished painting and they had just enough time to dry before the rain. I sat out and watched the storms move in while going to town polishing the trim rings and center caps. A few scuffs, but I'm pretty satisfied with the results. Used turtle wax chrome polish. I also found out that you can't get Mac's chrome polish anymore. That was the best stuff, and dirt cheap to boot.
                            Last edited by link5186; 05-25-2011, 09:15 PM.
                            91 L 5sp "The Silver Bullet" B6, Brake/Susp Swapped Build Thread
                            92 L 5sp "Red" RIP
                            95 Grand Prix SE DD
                            Wife's Stuff:
                            89 L 5sp "Carby Car"
                            97 Aspire auto "Pink Panther"
                            Build Thread

                            Spring 2013 IndyStiva:
                            http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...eet-April-20th

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              I'm diggin the red rims with beauty bands: But I like rat rods too so I'm a little biased

                              I haven't seen Mac's in a long time. Try some Wenol sometime, it isn't as cheap but it works wonders.
                              If a hammer doesn't fix it you have an electrical problem




                              WWZD
                              Zulu Ministries

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