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  • The Pink Panther

    So this is my wife's car:


    IMG_20110701_210907 by link5186, on Flickr


    IMG_20110701_210922 by link5186, on Flickr

    Sarah has had this 1997 Aspire 2 door since she started driving in high school. Her parents bought it brand new and then handed it down to her. Three speed auto, a/c, and pretty much all original down to the radio and wheel covers.

    The snag in the front bumper was my fault. Boy did I hear it after that. Backed into it with my old Tracker. Tow hook did it. Yowch. The paint issue is a side effect from local environmental conditions where she grew up. Dust and byproducts from a nearby aluminum recycler stripped clearcoat off of a lot of cars in the area. A lot of cars got repainted, this one didn't start getting too bad until it sat for a while.

    I recently bought an engine from a 95 aspire from 91mcnasty. I went ahead and used my manifolds since they were clean. Unfortunately the 97s just so happen to use a differently cast oil pump. The only difference was a place in the casting to mount a crank position sensor.

    Heres a comparison, 97 then 95:


    IMG_20110611_125431 by link5186, on Flickr


    IMG_20110611_125415 by link5186, on Flickr

    The 97 engine is clean. I rebuilt it about a year and a half ago but couldn't shell out the $200 for the oil pump and was in a rush to get it back on the road. I paid for it. So it sat for a bit. Anywho, here's what I needed to mount up on this baby:


    IMG_20110611_125408 by link5186, on Flickr

    The crank position sensor seems to be an OBD-II only thing. Regular magnetic pickup that gets lined up with a 4 toothed plate that sits right behind the crank pulley.So about my fix to it to make this work. I made a bracket out of one of the extra wire mounting brackets from the other engine. I used an existing hole in the thing as a mounting point and cut it down with metal shears. I then bolted it in place with an oil pan bolt and bent it up into position. I removed it and took it to the 97 for a bit of comparison, made a few adjustments and marked a spot for a new hole. I marked it with a punch to keep the drill from walking and drilled a hole. The existing bracket had a bolt hole punched through using protruded metal to center the hole. I drilled to accept this section snugly and ran a bolt through it. The new bracket is visible in the above pic. Here is the whole get-up mounted and ready to go:


    IMG_20110611_125759 by link5186, on Flickr

    It's been out on a few test runs, but isn't back on the road yet because we don't have current plates yet and it's idling a little rough when it warms up. I'm replacing the vacuum lines soon since all of them are a pretty loose fit.
    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'm glad to hear she's running good for you!!!!!
    1992 white L, Bp, American racing 13's, stock trans.
    1991 White L, BP/F5MR, protege header, full aspire swap with gr2's, seats, and sway bar, 15" konig's, short throw, escort console.
    1991 blue L, 5 speed.
    1988 red L-plus-all stock.

    Comment


    • #3
      Interesting story and solution!

      Hope she runs better when you get everything else finished.

      Karl
      '93GL "Prettystiva" ticking B3 and 5 speed, backup DD; full swaps in spring!
      '91L "AquaMutt" my '91L; B6 swap/5 speed & Aspire brakes, DD/work car
      '92L "Twinstiva" 5sp, salvage titled, waiting for repairs...
      '93GL "Luxstiva," '94 B6 engine & ATX; needs overhauled
      '89L "Muttstiva," now a storage bin, future trailer project

      Comment


      • #4
        You forgot to mention that while it does have A/C, we never run it because of the noise! Honestly though, it's an awesome car. Interior is in pretty good shape, but I need to stop blowing the speakers. Hopefully will be plated and insured soon so I can cruise hatchback style for awhile.

        Carby Car -- '89 Festiva, Escort carb/Rocketman adapter. FM8 Best Beater and Bad Luck award, FM9 Fan Favorite, July 2016 FOTM, and overall a crusty grumpy old man (Bucket List thread in Photo Gallery)
        Pearl -- '91 B6 Festiva
        '97 Aspire--yeah i'm about that Aspire life, no it's not a brake swap (yet)

        festyboy is THE PRETTIEST

        Comment


        • #5
          you need to look into a new compressor if it's that noisy.
          Trees aren't kind to me...

          currently: 2 88Ls (Scrappy and Jersey), 88LX, 90L(Pepe), 91L, 91GL (Skippy) 93 GL Sport (the Mighty Favakk), 94 (Bruce) & 95 Aspire SEs, 97 Aspire (The Joker),
          94 Justy 4WD, 87 Fiero GT, plus 2 parts cars. That's my fleet.

          Comment


          • #6
            Yeah, the bearings are shot. It's low on the list of things to do right now.

            Sent from the bathroom via crapatalk
            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


            • #7
              Run a set of bass blockers in your 6.5 speakers, and use a subwoofer to handle the low end. There are several options for that. I myself have a SoundStorm Labs low profile powered 8" sub under the driver's seat. Neanderpaul can vouch for the sound quality. Cost me $100 plus install kit.
              Last edited by DriverOne; 07-02-2011, 09:12 AM. Reason: price
              In love with a MadScientist!:thumbright:
              There's a fine line between breathtaking ingenuity and "That's the stupidest thing I've ever seen!"

              Comment


              • #8
                So I finally got around to working on it this evening. After reading a few threads I had a bit of an epiphany. So I cleaned out the MAF sensor. No dice. Since it was only an issue when it warms up and I saw somebody else on the forum with a similar problem I figured I'd swap in the spare dizzy I had. Runs like a champ now. Next up, plates and insurance. FM5 here we come!
                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


                • #9
                  So I installed a lightly used pioneer deh-1300mp I got off the Bay today. What an easy install!


                  IMG_20110921_194805.jpg by link5186, on Flickr

                  Paid about $40 after shipping! Now the wife can have decent tunes for the trip. Speakers were replaced all around several years ago when the old ones blew. Can't remember what they are and I'm not about to tear panels out to find out. Suffice to say they are better than stock.

                  Sent from the bathroom via crapatalk
                  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
                    Nice! She will need those tunes to pass by the 11 hours of driving ahead of us!
                    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Nancy- 1.8L BP, aspire swap, g-trans
                    The Adventures of Nancy! Build Thread
                    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                    My Musica! Click me!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Definitely a streak of bad luck for this car. Tire blew out on the way home from FMV. Then we discovered that the gas tank is leaking. Then it was broken into Sunday night. No fun, but thankfully no damage.

                      Carby Car -- '89 Festiva, Escort carb/Rocketman adapter. FM8 Best Beater and Bad Luck award, FM9 Fan Favorite, July 2016 FOTM, and overall a crusty grumpy old man (Bucket List thread in Photo Gallery)
                      Pearl -- '91 B6 Festiva
                      '97 Aspire--yeah i'm about that Aspire life, no it's not a brake swap (yet)

                      festyboy is THE PRETTIEST

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        a festy EFI tank will fit right in there for a replacement.
                        Trees aren't kind to me...

                        currently: 2 88Ls (Scrappy and Jersey), 88LX, 90L(Pepe), 91L, 91GL (Skippy) 93 GL Sport (the Mighty Favakk), 94 (Bruce) & 95 Aspire SEs, 97 Aspire (The Joker),
                        94 Justy 4WD, 87 Fiero GT, plus 2 parts cars. That's my fleet.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Speedo cable still broken.

                          Carby Car -- '89 Festiva, Escort carb/Rocketman adapter. FM8 Best Beater and Bad Luck award, FM9 Fan Favorite, July 2016 FOTM, and overall a crusty grumpy old man (Bucket List thread in Photo Gallery)
                          Pearl -- '91 B6 Festiva
                          '97 Aspire--yeah i'm about that Aspire life, no it's not a brake swap (yet)

                          festyboy is THE PRETTIEST

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Fixed about a month and a half ago :thumbright:

                            Sent from the bathroom via crapatalk.
                            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
                              Figured I'd revive this build thread. I fixed the a/c just in time for the heat wave. Picked a compressor from the yard in Ft. Wayne for about $30. Popped the lines off and poof! Nice job environmental crew. It sat in the shed for about a month.

                              I evacuated the system. I then cracked open the lines at the evaporator and compressor and blew air through the lines to check for and remove debris. I swapped compressors, sealed the lines and pulled a vacuum on the system. I use a cheap harbor freight air-vacuum pump and a set of harbor freight gauges. I added no oil since some stays in the accumulator and I stored the compressor to keep the oil in it from running out. I then recharged it with fresh r134a from a 30lb can. Sam's Club has these for $116. Talk about a deal!

                              I unfortunately have an intermittent short to power on the ground side of the compressor relay. I haven't bothered tracking it down yet, since everytime I take a notion to do so it starts working again. Go figure. Either way, when it works: BRRRR!

                              Sent from the bathroom via crapatalk.
                              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

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