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Do Festivas make good first project cars?

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  • Do Festivas make good first project cars?

    Hello,

    I'm new around here, so lemme give ya some background. I've been driving for about, oh, 6 months now, and I really want a cheap project car. I have a 1987 Toyota MR2 5spd as of now, but it was a north car so it has rust on it (not life threatening, just would get annoying working on it). As I have figured out, Toyotas (especially MR2s, since they are rare) can get quite expensive to start modifying. I favor small cars, and for some reason I like the Festiva (people think I'm crazy). So my question to you is this: Do Ford Festivas make good, cheap project cars? How much can you usually find the engine swaps for? etc? Sorry, I didn't know where else to post this other than "General Discussion". Gonna have to work with the newbie here. :lol:
    Current cars:

    1993 Ford Festiva 5-Speed - Festiclese III - Cousin of the Banhammer - "The Jalopnik Car"
    1984 Toyota Cressida - 2JZGE Swap, Turbocharged.
    2013 Mazda Mazda2 - Exhaust and Wheels (the daily)
    2002 Toyota Tundra - V6/Auto/2WD - The Tow Vehicle.

  • #2
    Welcome, to answer your question....YES! Festy's make great first second third and fourth project cars. There is a butt load of info here for you to absorb and learn from not to mention a lot of great people that do not get tired of helping. You can have a decent running little car for not much money and little bit of work. It's all here.
    "FLTG4LIFE" @FINALLEVEL , "PBH"
    89L Silver EFI auto
    91GL Green Auto DD
    There ain't no rest for the wicked
    until we close our eyes for good.
    I will sleep when I die!
    I'm a little hunk of tin, nobody knows what shape I'm in. I've got four wheels and a running board, I'm not a Chevy, I'M A FORD!

    Comment


    • #3
      Yeah, also, I like the odd. Everyone around here has project Hondas, Toyotas, Integras, etc. I want something different. I'm tired of seeing the same thing over and over and over again, it gets boring.

      Plus, I know the Festiva will take our hondas anyday, if done right. :wink:
      Current cars:

      1993 Ford Festiva 5-Speed - Festiclese III - Cousin of the Banhammer - "The Jalopnik Car"
      1984 Toyota Cressida - 2JZGE Swap, Turbocharged.
      2013 Mazda Mazda2 - Exhaust and Wheels (the daily)
      2002 Toyota Tundra - V6/Auto/2WD - The Tow Vehicle.

      Comment


      • #4
        I had a turbo 91 mr2 red with t-tops which was my dream car but I sold it to build my turbo festiva.

        Comment


        • #5
          Chris, you're in the right place.

          If you don't have a lot of mechanic's experience, Festivas are easy to learn on since their parts are generally smaller and easier to handle. For example, one average guy can lift an entire rear axle assembly, with brakes, with no problem.

          In the past four years, I've done two suspension swaps and an engine swap. Before that, the most I did was changing shocks on a Chevette and radiators on K-cars.

          I found Festivas to be unintimidating. Now I'm a budding Festiva mechanic, and learning more all the time.

          Parts are generally available in your local junkyard and if not, you can usually pick them up here in our "for sale" section. Ebay is another source.

          Lots of our "performance" parts are off Aspires and Mazdas. There is a lot of interchangeability. New performance parts are a bit limited compared with Hondas, etc., but prices are not too out of line considering the small demand.

          One of the problems we may be facing in the next few years is tire availability. Twelve inch and thirteen inch tires are not getting more common! Even when certain 13" sizes are listed, they are often discontinued. I tried to get Nokians in 165/70-13 but I was told they weren't being made any more. I had to settle for 175/70s.

          We still have a few years left, however. Enjoy while you can!

          Karl
          '93GL "Prettystiva" ticking B3 and 5 speed, backup DD; full swaps in spring!
          '91L "AquaMutt" my '91L; B6 swap/5 speed & Aspire brakes, DD/work car
          '92L "Twinstiva" 5sp, salvage titled, waiting for repairs...
          '93GL "Luxstiva," '94 B6 engine & ATX; needs overhauled
          '89L "Muttstiva," now a storage bin, future trailer project

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Do Festivas make good first project cars?

            for some reason I like the Festiva (people think I'm crazy).
            every person ive talked to, when i say i want a festiva they say what is that, then i show them one and they say, why would you want that. its gettin old. i want to meet someone to say i love those cars that would make my day


            Mike, AKA the sasquatch
            1990 LX, bp+T/g25mr, 9psi dynoed at 194HP, turbonetics t3/to4e 57trim, haltech E6X standalone, 550cc injectors, turbosmart wastegate, synapse BOV, walbro 255 fuel pump, aeromotive FPR, AEM wideband, 3 inch exhaust, huge FMIC, 9LB flywheel, 6 puck clutch and way more parts that im forgetting i installed lol...

            Comment


            • #7
              Your in the best place to learn about festiva mods... tho these guys will tell you the festiva is a great project car.... i do wana ad that it can be alittle tuff finding any kinda body mods for the car even tho they are out there. but there are manya engine mods. good luck

              Comment


              • #8
                I am mechanically inclined. Right now I'm actually going to school to become a technician.

                I love the engine interchangeability of the Festiva. So many engines, and most can be found for cheap.

                I was looking at 89-90s model ones, alot came with 4 speeds though. Will that tranny hold up?
                Current cars:

                1993 Ford Festiva 5-Speed - Festiclese III - Cousin of the Banhammer - "The Jalopnik Car"
                1984 Toyota Cressida - 2JZGE Swap, Turbocharged.
                2013 Mazda Mazda2 - Exhaust and Wheels (the daily)
                2002 Toyota Tundra - V6/Auto/2WD - The Tow Vehicle.

                Comment


                • #9
                  The five speed just has an extra gear inside it that lowers your revs. The only advantage I can think of for a four speed is it may be a pound or two lighter. The five speed is a direct swap into a four speed car, and gives you much better highway mileage, besides a little quieter freeway ride.

                  The four speed should hold up fine for a B3 or a B6 with up to around 100 to 120 hp.

                  If you want a BP or B6T and like to do lots of big tire burnouts, you'll need either a transaxle upgrade or a lot of spare Festiva MTXs.

                  Stock ATXs are supposed to handle quite a bit of power well, but they're only 3 speeds and your gas mileage will suffer.

                  Karl
                  '93GL "Prettystiva" ticking B3 and 5 speed, backup DD; full swaps in spring!
                  '91L "AquaMutt" my '91L; B6 swap/5 speed & Aspire brakes, DD/work car
                  '92L "Twinstiva" 5sp, salvage titled, waiting for repairs...
                  '93GL "Luxstiva," '94 B6 engine & ATX; needs overhauled
                  '89L "Muttstiva," now a storage bin, future trailer project

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    do the autos hold more power than the manual trans?


                    Mike, AKA the sasquatch
                    1990 LX, bp+T/g25mr, 9psi dynoed at 194HP, turbonetics t3/to4e 57trim, haltech E6X standalone, 550cc injectors, turbosmart wastegate, synapse BOV, walbro 255 fuel pump, aeromotive FPR, AEM wideband, 3 inch exhaust, huge FMIC, 9LB flywheel, 6 puck clutch and way more parts that im forgetting i installed lol...

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by chrisofna
                      Do Ford Festivas make good, cheap project cars?
                      BINGO!

                      Originally posted by GenevaDirt
                      Welcome, to answer your question....YES! Festy's make great first second third and fourth project cars.
                      BINGO! BINGO! BINGO! BINGO

                      Welcome to the site...just do it and no one will get hurt...I'm addicted to the repair forum...I need my fixes
                      Joe Lutz

                      The SKATE ..... 1992L 5spd
                      The Greatest Purchase I Ever Made

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by chrisofna
                        Yeah, also, I like the odd. Everyone around here has project Hondas, Toyotas, Integras, etc. I want something different. I'm tired of seeing the same thing over and over and over again, it gets boring.

                        Plus, I know the Festiva will take our hondas anyday, if done right. :wink:
                        I want something different too. I never done mechanic before my festiva swap and check the result. If you have more question just ask to us.

                        BPT, G5M-R, BP26 Exintake swap + Fidanza cam gear, NSRT4 FMIC + 2.5" piping, HKS SSQV BOV, Exedy clutch, 3" downpipe + 2" all the way back, Aspire brake swap, KYB GR-2 & FMS coil spring , FMS EURO body kit + Carbon fiber hood, Falcon RTX 15X6½ + Toyo proxes T1R 195/45R15

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Be careful to not do as I do now because this is no longer a passion for me, it became a disease to invest in my car

                          BPT, G5M-R, BP26 Exintake swap + Fidanza cam gear, NSRT4 FMIC + 2.5" piping, HKS SSQV BOV, Exedy clutch, 3" downpipe + 2" all the way back, Aspire brake swap, KYB GR-2 & FMS coil spring , FMS EURO body kit + Carbon fiber hood, Falcon RTX 15X6½ + Toyo proxes T1R 195/45R15

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            ^^^ Festivitis?
                            Jim DeAngelis

                            kittens give Morbo gas!!



                            Bright Blue 93 GL (1.6 8v, 5spd) (Hula-Baloo)
                            Performance Red 94 Aspire SE (Stimpson)

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              ^^Yes...it can be diagnosed...but it is not curable by simply brushing your teeth!
                              "FLTG4LIFE" @FINALLEVEL , "PBH"
                              89L Silver EFI auto
                              91GL Green Auto DD
                              There ain't no rest for the wicked
                              until we close our eyes for good.
                              I will sleep when I die!
                              I'm a little hunk of tin, nobody knows what shape I'm in. I've got four wheels and a running board, I'm not a Chevy, I'M A FORD!

                              Comment

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