1993 Festiva, Project Mr. Peppy

[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]

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

[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]

Thanks safety guy, thats good to know. I didnt purchase the steering wheel yet though, i used the junkyard as my testing grounds before i bought it. I think iam gonna stick with the stock steering wheel or find a hub adapter for an older aftermarket steering wheel i have kicking around.

[dcoultis]

Bolted on my new muffler tonight! Took 20 mins and the old crusty and rusty muffler is gone now!

[1990new]

Good job... I'm doing this in and the pipe when mine arrive in a few days. (Need to update your camera date/time.)

[dcoultis]

Last night I ran into a major problem, I snapped the head off the bolt that holds the strut to the rear axle beam :cry_smile: Its so rusty and corroded I am afraid I wont be able to drill it out and use and easy out. Does anybody know if the nut on the inside is welded to the axle beam? If its not I am hoping I can try and pound the remaining bolt right through to the inside of the axle beam. Any help is appreciated! I need to fix this ASAP.

[Flyin4stroke]

Yes it welded in there but they often come loose when trying to remove that bolt. Cut the back off the beam and use a chisel and hammer to remove the welded nut. Hopefully you can wiggle it out from there.

[dcoultis]

Thanks Flyin4stroke! Ill give that a try, iam hoping i can get it out without causing any damage to the strut, i dont have the funds to replace them right now.

[Flyin4stroke]

If you can get the strut off you may need to hold the bolt and loosen the nut because it may be too long to remove from the back of the beam. Ought-a be fun regardless.

[fastivaca]

You have a challenge on your hands. Most often the problem is that the bolt rusts itself into the bushing in the bottom of the rear shocks making them extremely difficult to remove. That's the worst case scenario. Hopefully flyin's suggestion works for you.

Sent from somewhere west of here via Tapatalk!

[dcoultis]

I think the issue is that the bolt is rusted into the bushing! I think iam gonna leave it as is for now so i can drive the car to westiva, the remainder of the bolt is still in there and i highly doubt its gonna go anywhere. Iam thinking it may be easier to drop the whole rear beam to fix the problem and i dont have the time for that right now. :thumbs_down:

[Flyin4stroke]

I've seen that before too. I watched it go another 15,000 miles broke too.

[91blufestiva]

That happened to me when I switched to aspire struts. The head snapped off. Luckily I was doing it on a hoist so I had much more room. What I ended up doing was grinding the strut away until I could get to the bolt, then I used lots of PB blaster, and a vise grip slowly turning the bolt out. I was lucky tho and the nuts never broke tho!

[dcoultis]

Ya thats what happened to me, just the head snapped off. Iam working on a garage floor so its a lil awkward laying under the car. Atleast its a step up from working on a parking pad outside lol. One day ill have a garage with a hoist. Iam a lil sad this happened. Now i cant lower the rear of my car before westiva!