1993 Festiva, Project Mr. Peppy

[Safety Guy]

Love that pink VC!

As for your steering wheel issue, when you convert to an older intermitant wiper unit you'll be okay. The '88 and '89 models had a flatter steering wheel offset that changed in 1990 and later models. So if you get a wiper/signal switch module from an older Tracer or 323 (pre-'90) it will match the older version steering wheel offset and your fingers will be happy.

Karl

[dcoultis]

Ordered the muffler this morning through Auto Value for $53.00 and $3.00 for the gasket.

[leapin]

I just double checked, I got the muffler from a BC parts chain called Lordco. Napa has a almost identical muffler called a soundmaster. I think its a few bucks more. If you can find a auto parts chain that carries the Walker brand you're golden. I know the online parts store Rock Auto carries them but shipping doesn't make it worth it.

[dcoultis]

Thanks Leapin! Ill check that out tomorrow!

[leapin]

Walker SoundFX muffler. Got mine from the local mcparts(napa i think) store for about 35 bucks.

[dcoultis]

I cant post in the marketplace yet, I am a new member. Maybe someone will see this thread and can help me out. I am looking for a cheap factory replacement muffler for my car in the Calgary AB area. Mine blew out last week and sounds like crap lol.

[dcoultis]

Ordered some parts off rock auto. I have a new o2 sensor, coolant temp sensor, dist. cap, rotor, and alternator belt coming. Paid $ 47.00 Canadian with shipping for all of that! Went to the junkyard this past weekend looking for parts. Found a new rear ashtray and that's it this time. Tried test fitting a mazda protégé 3 spoke steering wheel but the offset was wrong and your hands are too close to the turn single stalk. Here's some pictures of my engine bay and new to me wheels. I am a newb when it comes to attaching pictures and I deleted all the previous pics I had on the thread by accident.

[dcoultis]

Made some more progress on the car, pink valve cover is installed. Ordered a new dual stage thermostat from mazda last week picked it up on monday but still need to install. Removed the front seats and a few other interior pieces last night so i can take the carpet out and pressure wash and dry it. The car hasnt been running very nice and seems to be getting very poor fuel economy! When i start it when its cold sometimes the check engine comes on and the car runs ok then the light goes away and the car seems to be sluggish and misses. Other times the car runs perfectly fine and iam not sure whats going on. I cant figure the check engine light cause the light never statys on long enough to pull the code out! Iam kind of baffled and i know my description of whats happening probably doesnt help anyone diagnose the problem either.

[dcoultis]

I do have some pics, but theyre at home right now. Ill post them tonight or tomorrow. The valve cover is crinkle pink with bare aluminum ribs. Ive been detailing and painting lil pieces for the westiva show! I hope people like all my hardwork, iam really proud of my festiva and ive only owned it for 2 weeks!

[sketchman]

Pics? Sounds great.

[dcoultis]

Finished off my valve cover this morning, i found out the hard way that my clear coat was not compatible with the base coat paint i used but it ended up turning into a beautiful crinkle finish almost factory appearing! Picked up my wix airfilter last night and will begin assembling all the engine parts so i can take it for a cruise possibly this weekend!

[dcoultis]

Iam going to use the proper gasket made for the throttle body, there is also a coolant passage that needs to seal on the bottom of the throttle body between the intake manifold, iam going to be looping the coolant lines cause this car will not be driven in the winter and iam not worried about the throttle plate freezing. Ordered my tires yesterday, getting the westlake SP06's that leapin recommended. Painted the valve cover "watermelon" pink last night and iam waiting for it to cure so i can sand off the top of the ribs so theyre bare aluminum then clear coat the whole thing. I never realized how hard parts are to come by for these, Napa & Auto Value dont even stock replacement airfilters for these cars, has to come in from the warehouse. I guess iam used to owning common vehicles that have demand for parts.

[TominMO]

I'm no expert and I could be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure you will have hydrocarbons in that area from blow-by. Silicone may last a while but I think
it would probably get destroyed before too long.

It would have to be a silocon formulation that is resistant to gas/oil, for sure.

[1990new]

Since there is no gasoline going thru the TB, you could just silicon it or copper-coat it as the seal.

I'm no expert and I could be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure you will have hydrocarbons in that area from blow-by. Silicone may last a while but I think
it would probably get destroyed before too long.

[dcoultis]

Thanks fastivaca! I sent you a pm! I chopped the bottom off the airbox this morning and painted the shroud for the injector resistor box. Cleaned the intake tubes and plugged off the oil breather hole on the intake tube, iam going to run a catch can or a length of hose behind the block Went to pick and pull yesterday, grabbed a spare coil and a couple of turn signal lenses for the front bumper.