1993 Festiva, Project Mr. Peppy

[dcoultis]

Hello, iam a new member from Calgary Alberta Canada. I just picked up this 1993 festiva with 117,000km's last tuesday for $200.00. This will be my long term project car with the intention of doing a motor swap eventually. The car has some rust and has been neglected for years. So far ive baked the headlights and pulled the lenses off to paint the housings body color. I painted the grille black and rubbed down the front bumper with mothers back to black so it doesnt look so crusty! I sprayed the bumper signal lenses with orange transparent tamiya model paint to make them nice and glossy again. I removed the drivers side strut assembly yesterday and repainted the whole wheel well and took apart the strut assembly to cut the spring and clean and paint. I found a 13" set of 90's vintage enkei 5 spoke wheels that will be put on the car when i find tires. Thanks for looking at my build thread and i will post pics as i make progress. Darcy C.

[dcoultis]

more pics

[Team Lightning]

Welcome! I like the wheels. It's unbeliveable what can be done to these cars. Sounds like you are getting a good start on it. Any motor swap plans?

[Prafeston]

Hey congrats on snagging a cute girl! Some people think you can't manage that driving a Festiva! I actually just looked at the pictures and now I see that maybe the girl is you! haha!

Good work on the car too.

[1990new]

Welcome to the group Darcy. Looks like you're off to a great start.
I know you will find the experience very rewarding. Lots of people here
to count on for great advice. And maybe some in person help from some
of the Festiva folks in the Calgary area. Best of luck with you Festiva restoration.

[sc72]

Darcy welcome to the group, looks like you got a great buy for $200 you will enjoy the simplicity of the Festiva. Looks like your on the right track, the Misses is out in the garage with you.

[Movin]

That is awesome!! what color of blue ? what next?

[Festevil3]

I like the wheels, and I am confused is the owner of this car female hmmmmmm

[kumalaba]

welcome & nice find!

[dcoultis]

Thanks guys! Its a dark blue, not sure what the color code or actual name of it is though. Thats my fiance and our baby girl thats cookin in the oven! Ive had many cars, 89 colt gt turbo with a 4g63t 6 bolt swap, 05 srt4, lots of ef and eg honda civics with b20's b18's etc. I currently drive an old man 95 camry and a 08 f150. Ive always been fond of the festivas and i came upon this one and couldnt pass it up. It will keep me busy to have something to tinker with again for cheap! With the baby on the way money is tight. Iam not sure what motor to go with, i want something cheap and super reliable that i can drive hard. Id like a BPT but ive had nothing but bad luck with turbo cars! Ive owned 30+ cars in the last 11 years but never had a true project car like this so all my ideas in my head and parts and odds and ends ive been saving will be put to use.

[TominMO]

Welcome, and nice to see a grrl who is handy with cars and tools! Clean engine bay. Did you clean it or was it that way?

Recommend upgrading to KYB struts all around. Lug studs/nuts instead of bolts. Depending on the tire diameter/width in back, you might need spacers, so consider longer studs in the rear. Otherwise you will be stuck with rear Aspire Monroe shocks or have to go to more-expensive coilovers.

Edit: Sorry Rafe, she's taken!

[dcoultis]

Today i cleaned and painted the battery hold down and rad hold down brackets and started cutting some stainless allen head bolts ive been saving to spruce up all the engine bay hardware like fender bolts etc. My next goal is to find a set of tires for my new wheels and pair of front seats to swap in, iam thinking of trying to find ef honda civic si seats at pick and pull if i can find them!

[TominMO]

Today i cleaned and painted the battery hold down and rad hold down brackets and started cutting some stainless allen head bolts ive been saving to spruce up all the engine bay hardware like fender bolts etc. My next goal is to find a set of tires for my new wheels and pair of front seats to swap in, iam thinking of trying to find ef honda civic si seats at pick and pull if i can find them!

An easy swap would be from an Aspire, or various early-90s Mazdas. Just look for the same seat-recliner handle to see if the JY seat is in the same "family" as the Festy seats. Do a search on "seat swap" to edumacate yerself on this.

[dcoultis]

I have done some research on the seat swaps, i honestly dont like the look or style of the aspire - mazda seat swap. It shouldnt be too bad to fab up a set of rails to make some other seats work with the car i hope! I have access to a welder so that helps!

[TominMO]

A girl who can weld...awesomeness. I am predicting good things for this car.