Finally Back on the Road

[Arnie]

I'll post final pics later, but I just had to share my excitement of finally getting my Festiva back on the road. Just got it smogged and registered this morning. Even got two thumbs up and a couple of folks pointing admiringly. :lol:

Its been sitting in the driveway for a year after I blew yet another hub bearing. After a year of it sitting, I then decided to say F-it and do the Aspire swap as well. Also attempting to install an AC system but I'm missing the AC crank pulley, so I'll have to put up a [WTB] ad for that. Also installed the TEIN coilovers that have been sitting around for a year as well. Have been surprised with how plush they are. Was expecting a much more jarring ride but its pretty good. Also mounted some Miata daisy wheels as well.

Final piece was adding a Whiteline front strut tower bar from a 323. Had to modify it a bit but it fits!

Guess i have a couple sets of mazda wheels to sell that are Festiva fitment too! In addition to some FMS lowering springs.

Here's a few pics of the Aspire swap/TEIN install. Final pics later.









Need to get an AC crank pulley that matches these pulleys:

[V8Festiva]

Nice looking yellow car!!!

Dean
Raleigh, NC

[25Horseplay]

Car is loking great! I'd be interested in those FMS springs your talking about.

[Arnie]

Thanks you guys!

Car is loking great! I'd be interested in those FMS springs your talking about.

I'll take pics of the springs tomorrow and note that you have "dibs".

[Arnie]

Quick pic before the sun went down:





the tires came with the wheelset. a bit too large at 195/60-14. I'll probably go down to 185/60-14 when they wear out. Sure the 195/45-14 T1-R's would be awesome but I don't feel like spending that much on meats for this car.

[Tim]

Nice car! I used to have a yellow Festy myself and it was a real head turner.

The wheels look really sharp, and the Aspire swap makes the car handle like a dream.


It appears that your a/c crank pulley is the common variety found on pre-93 Festivas, so it shouldn't be hard to find one. Unless yours was built after mid-92, when they changed the size of the crank.


-Tim

[Arnie]

Thanks for the input Tim. Yeah, car is a 1991. So despite it being an aftermarket AC system you sent me, the crank pulley is garden variety? I only ask because I saw a post by someone referring to different types of pulley shapes.

yeah, i like the miata daisy's, its the poor man's panasports. I'd prefer the real deal but....

Sooo final plans in no particular order:

- Finish AC install
- new head unit
- new tires
- get stud kit for hubs
- hella 500 fog lights
- new steering wheel with more dish
- adjustable steering column
- motor swap (probably just a B8 )
- Sparco pedals
- get spare tire that fits aspire swap
- rear spoiler

[Tim]

Thanks for the input Tim. Yeah, car is a 1991. So despite it being an aftermarket AC system you sent me, the crank pulley is garden variety? I only ask because I saw a post by someone referring to different types of pulley shapes.

Find an old Festiva drivebelt and see if it fits well on the compressor. If it does (it should) then the regular 88-92.5 A/C pulley will work.

I believe the donor car, an '89, had the regular pulley.


-Tim

[Festiva GTX]

Just out the curious, what kind the refrigerant you will charge to your AC system?

If you going to use R-134a, the old compressor may have short life than using the OEM R-12. But OEM R-12 are no longer made anymore and I decided to use with R-12a Duracool it works good and feel like almost freezing coming out the main vent. R-12a have lower pressure at high side (Which it will make your AC compressor last life longer) and colder than R-134a or OEM R-12.

[goodwolf]

Lookin' good!!! Could you give a more detailed impression of the Teins for a daily driver? I'm looking at some type of coil over setup and they seem to be the best setup from a performance/price stand point.

[Arnie]

The TEINs are surprisingly good for a daily driver. No bobble head, the damper is actually fairly well matched to the spring. They feel like they could handle maybe a 1k increase but that's about it. Compression is quite good on big dips and is not jarring on sharp impacts. Low speed rebound is not all that aggressive and is a bit wanting but I wasn't expecting motorsports levels of control here. Transitions are bit sloppy compared to what I'm accustomed to but compared to stock or the FMS/GR2 setup, its much better. Its not a huge increase in spring rate so you're not going to get the go-cart feel of a firmer setup. I'm considering picking up an Auto Aspire front swaybar for more roll resistance. I consider them to be a nicely matched damper and spring that happens to be ride height adjustable. Calling them a performance setup is kinda pushing it. :lol:

Paired with these really tall meats, turn in is a bit slow and there is quite a bit of squidge. But they are comfy on the crap roads out here and handle potholes quite well.

Current alignment up front is -1 deg camber, and 1/16 toe out.

I can't get any more neg camber than that with one set of bolts. I'd have to run double bolts. I remember I was getting about -2.5 deg camber with these bolts and the FMS/GR2 setup. the lower clevis holes seem to be offset differently than a Festiva strut.

[Arnie]

Just out the curious, what kind the refrigerant you will charge to your AC system?

If you going to use R-134a, the old compressor may have short life than using the OEM R-12. But OEM R-12 are no longer made anymore and I decided to use with R-12a Duracool it works good and feel like almost freezing coming out the main vent. R-12a have lower pressure at high side (Which it will make your AC compressor last life longer) and colder than R-134a or OEM R-12.

I think Tim mentioned at the time that it was R134a that was used in this system when he pulled it out of his buddy's car. So that's what i'll be using.

[Festiva GTX]

I think Tim mentioned at the time that it was R134a that was used in this system when he pulled it out of his buddy's car. So that's what i'll be using.

If the compressor labeled for R-134a then you can use it R-134a safe but it seem always have poor cooling when outside are very hot.

[Arnie]

I'll double check. Salamat!

But at this point, i'll just have to accept the limitations of what this system can do. Its probably better than rolling down the windows on a hot day. Its not an OEM Ac system though. It was an aftemarket AC system.

[Damkid]

Looks good!! :thumbright: