Voting for July FOTM

[Damkid]

We got a total of 4 entries this month, 3 from Freshtiva and 1 from MONSOON

Here are there entries again

Freshtivas "Redford"

Redford:

Redford gets its name from being red and a ford. Thats a no brainer huh ? I bought this car for $200 in October of 2006. For a full view of the car you can visit its car domain site at http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2492432. I saw the car while working in the North Kansas City area. We drove by it some days going to lunch. It was sitting a ways off the road but my highly trained festiva vision spotted it. After seeing that it wasn’t moving day after day I decided to inquire about it. Went to the house it was near and knocked. An older gentleman on oxygen answered the door as I was about to give up and leave. He said that the car belonged to his son. I left my number and waited. A month passed and I never heard anything. I went back and inquired again. The older man gave me his sons number. I tried the number several times but never got anyone. One day while the wife was having some out patient surgery at a near by hospital I drove by Redford again. (I have priorities, they're just all wrong) This time there was a new truck parked at the house. I pull in and the son/owner of the festiva was there. I introduced myself and mentioned I been asking about the festiva and would he be interested in selling it. He says “what will you give me for it“. I said “$200“. He said “Ok“. His response was so quick I knew Id offered too much but I was still pleased. I think he just wanted it out of the circular drive We got to talking and he said the car hadn’t been moved in three years. The last time it ran was when he loaned in to his 16 year old son who had ruined the clutch. I went home got my trailer and went back to get it. I put a battery and a gal of gas in the car and it fired up and I drove it on the trialer. Got it home and nothing worked on the car. Come to find out someone had robbed all the fuses from it. I installed fused and everything worked. I bought a new clutch set for it and come to find out it wasn’t the clutch but a input shaft bearing that was bad. Split the tranny cases and repaired. The car has been a daily driver since then. I keep cleaning it and upgrading it. The car was filthy when I got it. The older man had a white haired dog that rode in the car. It had white dog hair everywhere in it. It took months and several shampooing and vacuuming to get it in the shape its in now. Here is a list of other things I’ve done to it.

1. Good cleaning top to bottom several times the car was a mess. Waxed it half a dozen times. It had been sitting in the sun for years. Degreased motor and replaced valve cover gasket.
2. Replaced a broken grill
3.Added a manual passenger mirror
4. Removed manual passenger mirror and replace with power mirrors.
5. Removed power mirror and replaced with red NOS Mazda protégé swoopy mirrors
6. Did a seat swap from a 1989 festiva . Not a direct swap and harder than youd think
7 Replace missing dome light
8. Removed dome light and added the dome light upgrade with map lights.
9. Replaced steering rack boots
10. Replace tie rod ends.
11. Installed new clutch Id bought while repairing tranny
12. Added factory alloy wheels. Still have the trim rings and center caps that came with the car. They are in perfect condition.
13.Replace a smashed front fender from a dear run in. Prior to me owning it.
14.Added a rear cargo light and latch switch
15. Added a factory hatch spoiler NOS from FMS
16. Added red bumper stripes
17.Added fog lights
18. Added factory swoosh stripes and matching festiva decal
19.Added factory tach cluster
20. Replace timing belt and water pump and front crankshaft seal
21. Added mud flaps
22. Install factory sound system.
23. Installed cargo cover and cargo cover hardware.
24. Installed full console
25. Installed new brake pads and shoes
26. Newer exhaust
27 Newer battery
28. Installed hood struts
29. Lubed window track and regulators
30. Added chrome window and door handle trim
31. Other misc. things to numerous to mention. If it need something it gets it.


It the past month I have also fixed an idle problem. VAF spring was sticking. Replace rear wheel bearing. Tuned up with new plugs, wires, rotor, and dist. Cap. Timed. Flushed and replaced brake fluid. The car now has about 123,000 on it. I have complete records for the car. Future plans include adding A/C to the car. I have a working a/c unit in another festiva that will go in Redford. I also have a dash clock to install.

The day I bought Redford and brought it home to the ranch



Since:













Redford appears in this picture with siblings which is on the 2008 FFC calendar for the month of Sept.



Redford is the third festiva in this video

http://www.vidiac.com/video/ec846d0e...3a000d559a.htm

[Damkid]

Freshtiva's 2nd entry

White

Festdiva:

Here is my write up on Festdiva from last November FOTM Entry:

I bought “Festdiva” March 2006 shortly after I joined this forum. Festdiva quickly earned her name. It was my fourth festiva. The minimal needs of the previous three festiva which required little did not prepared me for the high maintenance requirements of Festdiva the Drama Queen. I’ve probably sunk over $3500 in this car. But I’m a true festiva nut so I never gave up and now I’m glad I didn’t. I’ve just now put 5,000 trouble free miles on it this summer so hopefully the pay off begins. It’s been a rocky road but I think diva now is performing like a true festiva. I bought Festdiva mainly because it was low mileage, a GL, and has an excellent body and interior. If it wasn’t for those things I would have never invested so much in it. I like to keep track of the things I do to my cars for myself and future owner( heaven forbid). Below is notes I made for record keeping purpose.

Up to April 2006:

Bought the 1993GL with 115,446 miles on it. Soon found out it had a cracked head or block. Since it had a newer head on it, I figured someone had already tried changing the head so I assumed the block was cracked. (Later found it was the head }When I bought it there was no thermostat in it, the cooling fan was unhooked and the temperature gauge didn’t work. I hooked up fan and bought both a fan switch and a temp sending unit this got the fan and the temperature gauge working. Bought a new thermostat and radiator cap also but if car was started with thermostat in it would blow coolant out of the radiator if cap was off and out the overflow bottle with cap on. Definitely engine compression in cooling system. Posted a want add for replacement engine at Ford Festiva dot Com and found one in Minnesota from member IdealSociety with 124,000 on it ( see prints out of that posting on engine). Got the engine changed out.

Did the following to the car and motor during engine swap:

1. Replaced the original instrument cluster with a cluster with a factory tachometer, The new cluster had 118,454 miles on it so true car mileage is 3008 miles less then what is indicated.. True engine mileage is 5,546 more then indicated.
2. Replace rear wheel bearings and grease seals, and a grease cap that was missing.
3. Put in a deluxe dome light combo with map lights.
4. Took out new thermostat, new radiator cap, new temperature sending unit, and new cooling fan switch from old engine and put on replacement engine.
5. Replaced oil pan gasket on replacement engine, replaced valve cover gasket on replacement engine. Also put new water pump and timing belt on replacement engine.
6. Drained trans-axle fluid and replaced
7. Flush out radiator, heater core, and entire cooling system, added new antifreeze.
8 degrease engine compartment which was oily from old motor.
9. Waxed car and factory aluminum wheels and shampooed carpet and interior.
10 bought a jack, jack handle and lug wrench and t- bolt which holds jack as these items were missing from car when purchased
11 replaced intake manifold gasket
12 changed oil and filter
13. Cleaned engine bay
14. Adjusted rear hatch latch to stop squeaking

I have driven the car about 100 miles since engine swap and everything works fine no leaks runs good.

Cost breakdown as follows ( see receipts)

Original purchase price $900.00
Replacement motor $100.00
Gas to pick up motor $168.00 ( 713 miles round trip in van )
(Fluids) oil, trans, coolant $17.00
Thermostat gasket $1.00
Wheel bearing and seals $57.00
Rad cap and thermostat $15.00
Coolant sensor $17.00
Temperature switch $35.00
Wax and polish ,degreaser $20.00
Manifold gasket and filter $11.00
Engine paint $6.00
Valve cover and oil pan
Gasket $33.00
Water pump and timing
Belt $55.00
Labor help with motor swap $100.00
Factory tach and dome lgt $75.00
Grease cap $3.00
Jack handle jack, lug wrench $25.00

Total $1638

The half shaft looked as if they had been replaced, boots still in good shape. Tie rod end ok, but control arms need to be replaced.




Upgrades and Improvements since April 2006
( not in order )

1.Discovered the rear torsion beam was bent Bought parts car for parts and replace rear torsion beam.
2. Replaced front and rear struts and boots
3. Repair frozen e-brake cable
4. New brakes front and back
5. Replaced control arms and outer tie rod ends
6. Put factory alloys on Redford and bought new white 12” hubcaps I like the white on white look better then the silver alloys.
7. Added NOS factory rear hatch spoiler.
8. Added factory cargo cover and complete cover hardware ( very nice cover)
9, Added factory cargo light and factory grounded hatch latch.
10. Added rare factory orange clock and bezel
11. Added equally rare orange factory fog light switch. ( no fog lamps yet )
12. Repaired factory A/C ( the holes in the block where the a/c bracket mounts on the replacement engine did not have any good thread so I had to retap them. A separate nightmare on its own. I finally prevailed and it now has cold air.
13. Replaced oil pan gasket
14. Successfully Replaced oil pan gasket
15. Added factory LX console, boot, retainer
16. Added NOS factory shifter knob
17. Replaced factory dual manual mirrors with 1990 LX power mirror and switch
18. Purchased factory rear window with defrost and switch
19 Added factory intermittent wiper module
20. Complete change over from white to orange instrumentation including Tach cluster, combination switch, radio, lighter, clock, defrost switch, rear wiper switch, fog light switch, interior dimmer switch, power mirror switch, heater a/c controls.
21. Removed after market radio/stereo and install factory unit ( like to find one with cassette.)
22. Replaced cracked left rear tail light lens
23 Replaced all four tires and got computer four wheel alignment
24. Replaced right rear spindle
25. Replaced both axle seals ( one was leaking )
26. Replaced exhaust from cat back last month
27. Added NOS factory hockey stick stripe kit
28. Removed door panels lubed window inners and replace weather stripping on driver side window
29. Replaced several minor misc interior parts when parts car yielded a better replacement
30. Bought new battery.
31. Upgraded to dome light with map lights
32. Added factory mud flaps
33. Bought new Ford floor mats.
34. Installed new fan motor
35. Added NOS festiva GL decal ( it had none )
36. Added 1.3 L decals
37. Added FordFestiva.Com decal
38. Bought on ebay original owners manual with the blue cover and full paper work on sound system, tires, etc.
39. Replace noisy blower motor
40. Finally resolved persistent high idle and surging problem
41. Many other minor things to numerous to mention
42. Added chrome window and door handle trim

Present: 6/6/08
In the past month I have done the following to Festdiva. Recharged A/C unit, flush out brake fluid and replaced. Put new tires on it. A belt shifted on the goodyears that were on it so I replaced all the tires. Festdiva will be getting one of the sets of 13 inch wheels Im working on currently.









Festdiva appears in this picture with siblings which in on the FFC 2008 Calendar for the month of Sept.



Festdiva is the first festiva in the following video

http://www.vidiac.com/video/ec846d0e...3a000d559a.htm

[Damkid]

Freshtiva's last entry

And Blu

Just got Linda Blu this year. Its my latest festiva and the lowest mileage. Bought it from the original owner. You can visit Blu's brand new Cardomain site at the link below.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3102208

Many of the upgrades I make so far can be found in this thread.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13997

They include:

1. Rear window wiper/washer installation
2. Cargo light and latch switch installation
3. Window and door handle chrome trim added
4. Dual power mirrors added
5. Mudflaps added
6. Dome light upgrade
7.variable speed intermittent wipers added
8. Swapped out factory Stereo w/o cassette for Stereo with cassette
9. Added Festiva L Plus decal as the car had none, also added the FordFestiva.Com donation decal.
10. Have a dash clock yet to install. (next day off maybe)
11. This car will be getting a silver swoosh strip once the fender is repaired.
12. Have bought a cargo cover with hardware for this car. If if gets here by month end I add a pic.
13. I have a hatch spoiler that will go on this car when I get it painted to match.

Linda had some problem mechanical when I bought it and they have been repaired.

Right rear spindle nut was stripped. (I think someone didnt know about the left handed threads.) Don’t know how I kept from losing the wheel. Replaced front wheel bearings. Replace an inner tie rod end. Bled brakes. It had little braking power as first. The fluid had been changed but the system was not bled apparently. Blu needs a left front fender. The moderator of this fine forum has one for me. Thanks Kid !!! Blu will be getting the 2nd set of 13 inch wheels that I am now in the process of painting.

Some Blu pictures






^Ok, Im dreaming.^









That’s all for now but I will be updating this entry as the month goes on. Its a lot of stuff to write up in one day. I will have it complete by voting time.


Thanks for your consideration as July FOTM !!! Im a real festiva nut as you can see and these cars are my hobby. I usually cant wait to be off work so I can work on the cars. I have many future plans for these and my other festivas. Hopefully I should have enough to keep me busy tinkering with them for some time to come. Id hate to think it ends, it too much fun.

Marcus ( AKA Freshtiva)

[Damkid]

MONSOON's entry

Well I cant let it be a one owner 3 horse race. So here we go.
Here is my 1993 GL

I found her sitting forlorn and lonely behind a fence at a mom and pop used car dealership. I stopped and inquired about her and was told she was not for sale.

Not for sale! How do you have a car at a used car place and it not be for sale?! I thought to myself.
Undeterred I went back a few days later and asked the owner of the lot about it. He stated that a couple had brought it in and that while they didnt normally do repair work, it needed a fuel pump which they had replaced. But they were trying to get in touch with the couple and didnt know what they wanted to do. But to keep checking back on it. Bolstered by that conversation I got back in my car and told my wife. ITS MINE! I told her the whole story as I knew it and told her when it goes up for sale somehow someway its mine. Well over the next couple weeks Id make a point of driving by and checking on her. My sons would also make a point of driving by and giving me updates as to whether it was still behind the fence. I knew what issues it had. Missing aluminum rim, dented drivers fender and broken parking light.

Nothing that would deter me. These were minor problems that could be overcome!
Well the day finally came that they decided to pull it from behind the fence and put a sign on it. TODAYS SPECIAL! $950 cash!
I stopped and looked it over. Really already knowing where I was going with it. Wow its got the original cover in back. Id only ever seen pictures.

Opened the passenger door to get a look at the interior. Whoa almost perfect!
Opened the drivers door to get a look from that side and almost fell over when I spotted the odometer reading.

I got out of the car looked at the salesman and said. Ill be back for this!
Now because of some recent health issues, Ive been a little tight for cash. So at 43 I had to do something I havent had to do in a long time. I had to hit the "1st National Bank of Dad" for a loan. Thats how determined I was to get this car in my driveway!

My future plans for her are simple. Find an aluminum rim. Replace the dented fender. Fix the spot on the rear wheel well where a tire shredded and rubbed the paint.As far as anything custom. Other than going to all clears lights in the front and putting an aftermarket stereo in her. She will remain unmolested.

Thank you for your consideration for FOTM!

[festymick]

I voted Freshtiva's blue! Good luck to all!!!

[Sparky]

I gotta go with "Blu"...such a great color. Oh, yeah, and both of my old Festys were the same color!

[Hodag'stiva]

Gotta go Blue. Not that there's anything wrong with the others, but I'm partial to blue.

B

(Does this FOTM remind anyone else of the election in Moon Over Parador?