Starting to plan an autocross build

[philip1]

I'm looking at building a festiva for competition in ST. My plan is pretty simple (festiva motorsport will make money on me). I will be upgrading bushings struts and springs. I will be adding a 1" water pipe sway bar to the rear torsion bar. Power will remain stock for the first season since I am on a tight budget. I do have a few "cheats" planned like a tightly bolted in stressed rear seat back (X brace that looks like a seat) there will be others but I'm keeping them to myself.

[blkfordsedan]

Nothing against FMS, they were the "pioneers" of Festy performance, but there's a ton of people on here with current knowledge and experience. They can probably point you toward better stuff that's cheaper and easier to get. As a group, we've come a long way in terms of modding the Festy since FMS started. I guarantee if you just post what you're trying to do, someone will have a proven solution. Good Luck with the build!

[91mcnasty]

And they will be happy to help to. If your going to be autoxing quite a
Bit i would look into coilovers, or at least coilover sleeves.

[mikeycar500]

i took frist place in my class last year and the onlu thing i did was aspire brake swap and coil oves from a civic. they work good on the track nice and stiff but a not to good for the street vary rough lol good luck.

[Aaronbrook37]

I'm looking at building a festiva for competition in ST. My plan is pretty simple (festiva motorsport will make money on me). I will be upgrading bushings struts and springs. I will be adding a 1" water pipe sway bar to the rear torsion bar. Power will remain stock for the first season since I am on a tight budget. I do have a few "cheats" planned like a tightly bolted in stressed rear seat back (X brace that looks like a seat) there will be others but I'm keeping them to myself.

For those of us unaware with the limitations of ST, can you fill us in? Because if you're permitted to go above and beyond Festiva GR-2's and FMS springs, you'll perform a heck of a lot better on the autocross track. We have information on polyurethane bushings for every piece of the front end as well as multiple upgrade options for struts and springs.

i took frist place in my class last year and the onlu thing i did was aspire brake swap and coil oves from a civic. they work good on the track nice and stiff but a not to good for the street vary rough lol good luck.

I'm glad you posted in here, Mikey... I was going to name-drop you to him!

[philip1]

I guarantee if you just post what you're trying to do, someone will have a proven solution. Good Luck with the build!

I'm trying to build a class winning ST car. I'm currently my local SCCA solo tech chief so I'm pretty familiar with the classing rules. My plan is to keep things simple and as inexpensive as I can while building a class winner.

ST is allowed free reign on shocks, springs and bushings as long as the mounting points remain unchanged. Engine can't be touched from throttle body to exhaust ports but bolt-ons are allowed. Interior must remain but front seats may be changed to grippier/lighter units within a weight limit.

I am not a novice builder of festys I have an SM 16v sohc 1.6 and an EM 8v 1.6 under my belt. Each had vastly different suspension setups. One was simple with just shocks, FMS springs and a 1.5" waterpipe swaybar. The other had coil overs on heavily modified stock shocks, large one off sway bars and lots of bracing. Both were built for clients and both were quite successful on a local level. I'm thinking about using a little from each setup for my own car while adding one or two clever touches.

[philip1]

I just reread my post and I apologize if I came off as arrogant it was not my intention. I wanted to express that I do have a clue what I'm doing. I am open to newer ideas since it has nearly been a decade since my last festiva build.

[91mcnasty]

You were just informing us, not being rude.'were a loving Community here

[Aaronbrook37]

I'm trying to build a class winning ST car. I'm currently my local SCCA solo tech chief so I'm pretty familiar with the classing rules. My plan is to keep things simple and as inexpensive as I can while building a class winner.

ST is allowed free reign on shocks, springs and bushings as long as the mounting points remain unchanged. Engine can't be touched from throttle body to exhaust ports but bolt-ons are allowed. Interior must remain but front seats may be changed to grippier/lighter units within a weight limit.

Free reign as in anything that fits original mounting points or anything that fits the car specifically? Because if you're permitted to do the former, then you can do a heck of a lot better than FMS. No offense to them, but soft lowering springs and weak GR-2's are far inferior to a lot of the options that have sprung up in the past decade since your last build.

Since you can't change mounting points, the VW compatibility is null and void up front. Some firmer/better options than Festiva/Aspire GR2's: Mazda 323 and Kia Rio. Both are well-researched and well-evaluated around here. For the rear suspension, you have a couple more options: Mirage, Camry, VW, etc. Lots of threads available on these options as well.

For springs, look into our threads on DIY Coilovers and it goes without saying that Ground Control would be an option too. Again, not trying to hate too much on FMS, but I just can't reconcile using springs designed primarily for cost effective lowering and aesthetics with world-class performance.

ST is allowed free reign on shocks, springs and bushings as long as the mounting points remain unchanged. Engine can't be touched from throttle body to exhaust ports but bolt-ons are allowed. Interior must remain but front seats may be changed to grippier/lighter units within a weight limit.

Gotcha. I suspect 1.6L is permitted because of the original wiring/mounting points, yeah?

Each had vastly different suspension setups. One was simple with just shocks, FMS springs and a 1.5" waterpipe swaybar. The other had coil overs on heavily modified stock shocks, large one off sway bars and lots of bracing. Both were built for clients and both were quite successful on a local level. I'm thinking about using a little from each setup for my own car while adding one or two clever touches.

Sounds awesome! Were either of these cars Aspire-swapped? Doesn't make much sense not to unless it somehow violates the ST rules... have any pictures you can share from these racers? A water-piped Aspire beam with some firm vertical parts and better bushings would be ridiculously rigid!

[philip1]

I will be able to update to the Aspire brakes in ST but I cannot swap to a 1.6 if I did I'd be in a modified class. The coil over 323/mirage combo looks promising with either a 1" or a 1.5" water pipe mod to the rear. I may also upgrade the front bar to aspire too. I plan to wholesale upgrade the front bushings to the letter of the rules.


Unfortunately I don't have photos of the cars I built the files seem to have disappeared.

[Aaronbrook37]

I will be able to update to the Aspire brakes in ST but I cannot swap to a 1.6 if I did I'd be in a modified class. The coil over 323/mirage combo looks promising with either a 1" or a 1.5" water pipe mod to the rear. I may also upgrade the front bar to aspire too. I plan to wholesale upgrade the front bushings to the letter of the rules.

Perfect - awesome. I'm going to do as much as I can to help you because I love seeing members finish awesome projects. If you're going to take Street Touring by storm with this car, I definitely want to pitch in. Let's get to it!

Swaybar-Control Arm:
Swaybar Bushings MOOG #K9737 (Same size for Festiva, AspireAT, and AspireMT)

http://www.amazon.com/Moog-K9737-Sway-Bar-Bushing/dp/B000C5629Q

Swaybar-Chassis:
Universal are available for Festiva, AspireMT, and AspireAT: 22/24/26mm respectively. Use Energy Suspension ones, modified like so with the original Festiva brackets: http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ghlight=energy

Inner Control Arm:
Must be currently sourced from Australia imported by Tein from SuperPRO. Part number: SPF1318K.

http://www.tein.com/products/superpro_price_05.html

Rear Torsion Beam Bushings:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35592&highlight=control+arm+bushing

This is a pilot project that a member has undertaken.

Other Useful Threads:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21430

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26958

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=184

[mikeycar500]

thanks for the name drop. i am alway glad to help when i can. after coilovers i picked up a set of 195\45\r14 toyo proxies t1r just somthing wider then stock and they stick better to they made a big diff it my times. but this year i am hoping to get some 13x8 ill keep u posted an how they work. just to show u what coilover and tires can do heres a pic.

[Aaronbrook37]

thanks for the name drop. i am alway glad to help when i can. after coilovers i picked up a set of 195\45\r14 toyo proxies t1r just somthing wider then stock and they stick better to they made a big diff it my times. but this year i am hoping to get some 13x8 ill keep u posted an how they work. just to show u what coilover and tires can do heres a pic.

Ohhh yeaaaaa! What are you doing shock and brace-wise these days, Mikey? Your car looks so nicely planted - 13x8 will be legendary stuff. I'll only post the link to minimize threadjackification, but this is one of my absolute favourite Festiva pictures from Silverbullet's autocross days: http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...J/CIMG0488.jpg

[mikeycar500]

wow i those stick out there and i dont have strut braces on there yet. it does as good as a old rottin car can do the rear strut towers are looking bad. i want to weld the strut towers on the other festiva it should stiffin up the car and then u dont need braces and it saves weight to

[Aaronbrook37]

Before I forget, here's another new trick for you, Philip. Sorry for spamming your thread so much, but I figure you'll appreciate all of the cool new things we're up to these days. Did someone say camber plates?

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35269&highlight=camber+plates