Old Geezer 1993 Festiva Makeover

[Old Geezer]

Starting a new thread on this project. As reported earlier I have pulled the engine. Still have the passenger side cv axle sticking out cause it just won't let go. I am going to try to find someone local to try to remove it without destroying the case. I document what locked it up even if it means rating myself out for damage I did to it. Lots of grease so many seals will have to be replaced. Here are some pictures.

[Old Geezer]

Finally, finally, and finally! Used the OTC tool behind the cv cup to help spread the load. Two wedges (cold chisels) on either side of the cup and hammer, hammer and hammer. I am amazed that the end of the cv axle where the clip fits is actually spread as it took that much force. Only half of the clip came out with the axle. I am going to try and fish any metal out of the case with a magnet. I'll try to get a few pictures tomorrow morning. I really hope I can finish this project. I watched oil go to $106 a barrel. When that catches up with us it relates to about $4.75 a gallon. Lets see how the public likes that when it happens. I got to stop bitchin.

[Movin]

Glad you got past that hurdle!! That stuck shaft has been dogging you for awhile. The rocker area looks pretty clean. Are you just resealing the engine ?

[Old Geezer]

No. Going to take it to a machine shop and have everything checked out. If I can get the cash together I'm going to talk with Mr. Dickmeyer about exhaust and cam to get the 50 MPG I know is in there with the right
combinations. It leaks oil everywhere so new seals everywhere. I just hope I can remember where everything goes. I have 1992 shop manual so got my fingers crossed. Need a new rack also the boots where gone some time ago before I got the car.

[TominMO]

If I can get the cash together I'm going to talk with Mr. Dickmeyer about exhaust and cam to get the 50 MPG I know is in there with the right combinations.

I got 52 MPG @ 60 MPH with my B3 5-speed. With balanced injectors, the header and an MPG cam, you should be able to hit close to 60 MPG @ 60 MPH. (As well as all the obvious things like making sure brakes and bearings aren't dragging, and a good tuneup.)

[Old Geezer]

This is how I did it. Some pictures and then some comments.

Can't seem to get pictures to upload. Will try late

But anyway, if anybody is doing axles I recommend following the advise of others have suggested here.
1. Try to pull it out straight with in and out jerks. if that fails.
2. Try tapping on the cup with a hammer while keeping pull pressure and a slight rotation on the shaft to try to get the keeper to move inside the grove.
if that fails,
3. Try the OTC tool with a slide hammer to jerk it out. If that fails,
4. use the OTC tool as a base to spread the load on the case and using two chisels force the cup out.

I did all of these but made the mistake of using only one chisel which as the picture will show cocked the axle and seems to have spread the
grove in the axle. Once two chisels were used it evened the shaft up and it seem to cuts the retainer and it came out with just a few well placed
bangs with a small sledge. I don't think a lot of force was required but the sledge provided inertia enough to sheer the retainer.

I'll try the pictures later.

[JPT]

...I did all of these but made the mistake of using only one chisel which as the picture will show cocked the axle and seems to have spread the
grove in the axle. Once two chisels were used it evened the shaft up and it seem to cuts the retainer and it came out with just a few well placed
bangs with a small sledge.

I always use two pry bars (chisels, wedges, etc.) now. The first time I did axles on my Festy, I tried for a whole day with a 5 lb sledge and one pry bar. Got nowhere. My cousin came over and using two pry bars, got both axles out in 5 minutes.

[Old Geezer]

Here are the pictures

[Bert]

You are a patient and persistent character! I would love to hear about any and all mileage improvements you can come up with. Thinner oil reduces friction and I tried running 0W20 synthetic one winter when the car was hard to start at -10F but the B3 did not like that stuff and clattered whenever the temperature went up. That experiment lasted all of a week until I siphoned off a quart and desperately added 20W50 as a thickener.

[Old Geezer]

You need an engine designed with extremely tight tolerances to run 0w20 water in it. If you have the cash try Mobil 1 10-30 with an additive such as prolong or zmax.
I have had excellent luck with that combo not only in a Festiva but the 64 ChevyII race car with a 131/2 to 1 compression 600 horse 350 chevy. The Festiva was getting about 42 MPH and was a 89 4 speed. The race car uses about 6 gallons of 115 octane race fuel on 3 quarter mile runs. Every time I have pulled the engine apart for a refresh is still looks new on the inside. Mobil 1 is amazing stuff. no offense but if it was -10 I would move somewhere else. Just sayin.

[bravekozak]

geezer, just give me a large screwdriver (same as the picture in the Ford shop manual) and a small hammer and I could have gently tapped that axle out for you. The circkip would have no damage and could be reused.

[Old Geezer]

close it out. Gave up. Sorry no one wanted it.