Pedro the Festiva's build thread.

[bhazard]

Same here the only time mine ever had decent heat is when it was a b6t. Even when I went BP turbo the heat started sucking again. Probably because I went to the bigger radiator.

[Advancedynamix]

As far a heaters goes, has anyone tried installing an Aspire heater in a Festiva? You should get much better heat, plus the center dash ducts could be made to send out heat too.

Interesting. I'll have to look at an aspire heat box the next time I'm at the yard. Having center heat would be nice. Tweaks heat works pretty good, I think the b6t warms up better than the b3. All my B3 Festivas have had weak heaters when you actually need a heater. Just one more reason that Ford should have sold them with the b6t. haha

[TominMO]

As far a heaters goes, has anyone tried installing an Aspire heater in a Festiva? You should get much better heat, plus the center dash ducts could be made to send out heat too.

[Advancedynamix]

It's amazing how quick you can strip these cars out after you've had a few goes at it.

Very true. I really only worked on this for about 4 hours today. These cars are so easy to work on. I'd also like to thank SiliconSoul for his great tutorial on dash removal.

Course now with the blower box exposed you could experiment with heat exchangers and oversize hoses but then again I have to remember you do live in Arizona where heaters were probably optional to begin with. Nice to see the absence of rust and to get to view the otherwise hidden corrugated panels and folded steel that goes into making a Festy so strong and yet so light.
USA Festys had electric-operated seatbelts (?) whereas this baby looks to have conventional belts; did you do this or is it a Canada/Mexico import car?

The U.S. spec cars received those annoying automatic seat belts in 1990. Earlier cars have manual belts. I do use the heat from time to time and have always been annoyed that it doesn't come out of the center vents. I don't know if I'll go to all the trouble to remedy this, but it is a thought. I'd like to replace my defrost vents and 1 of the flex tubes while I'm in there. AZ heat just disintegrates that thin plastic. If anyone has any solid vent ducting parts then please PM me with a price shipped to 85040.

[william]

Here 88 and 89 had pull downs 90 threw 93 has auto.

[Bert]

Course now with the blower box exposed you could experiment with heat exchangers and oversize hoses but then again I have to remember you do live in Arizona where heaters were probably optional to begin with. Nice to see the absence of rust and to get to view the otherwise hidden corrugated panels and folded steel that goes into making a Festy so strong and yet so light.
USA Festys had electric-operated seatbelts (?) whereas this baby looks to have conventional belts; did you do this or is it a Canada/Mexico import car?

[moz]

It's amazing how quick you can strip these cars out after you've had a few goes at it.

[Advancedynamix]

Today I made a little more progress on Pedro. This car is rock solid and the body and most of the mechanicals are excellent, however the seats didn't fare the years so well.


Since it's easier to complete this swap correctly with all the interior bits removed I stripped everything but the door cards and the headliner/pillar trims. I will take this opportunity to do an interior color change, and wire up a nice stereo system.

I also pulled the rear beam, the fuel tank and the exhaust today, but it was to dark to take pictures when I was done.

[Damkid]

Oh I know I was just messing around, I'm not in the market for a new festy yet

[1990new]

Pedro is a nice one..but

From Eastern Canada you don't have to travel that far to find a clean rust free Festiva.
Here's one on CL in Augusta GA that you could drive home.

http://augusta.craigslist.org/cto/4807166282.html

[Damkid]

Arizona. Perhaps we should team up and bring a couple up to Ontario

Fixed it for ya ;-)

[fastivaca]

damn where are all these clean shells coming from!!!?!?!??!?!

Arizona. Perhaps we should team up and bring a couple up to Alberta

[festyfreak39]

damn where are all these clean shells coming from!!!?!?!??!?!

[Advancedynamix]

There is definitely something to be said about rust free and clean. I am working on my wife to allow a trip out to pick up at least 2 of them there clean Festies. I have a truck and a trailer just need permission. lol

Are you keeping that front tranny mount? I have been looking for another OEM one with rubber still in nice shape so I can make a spare. Maybe you have an extra. An auto one if they are different.

I'm going to use these until they go out. I have never seen good condition original mounts, they are usually trashed out here. The dry air and heat play hell with the rubber, especially if they have been soaked in oil from leaks. The leaks on this car appear to have been fairly recent because the grime is very light.

[Gomez]

There is definitely something to be said about rust free and clean. I am working on my wife to allow a trip out to pick up at least 2 of them there clean Festies. I have a truck and a trailer just need permission. lol

Are you keeping that front tranny mount? I have been looking for another OEM one with rubber still in nice shape so I can make a spare. Maybe you have an extra. An auto one if they are different.