Hello from Kentucky..

[KyMoonshine]

I just found this forum and wanted to say Hi... I just bought a 88 Festiva from my buddy for $300.00 and I love it..my brother had one and drove it till a Jeep smashed it beyond repair..so I know what incredible machines they are...My friend just recently installed new axles..brakes and tires..I installed new radiator..manual choke and completely new exhaust..so the car is really solid...I have a very questions and concerns...I searched around abit and found out alot of info..but I was wondering:
1:What is the redline for my car? 1988 Festiva..think its a L model?
2: It runs over 3000 rpms at around 70 mph..do allot of you take your cars on long road trips?(its a four speed)
3:I'm a truck driver and really cant stand not having a passenger side mirror...what do you guys use?

Thanks for any info..I love my little car..will post some pics soon..

[grey]

I just found this forum and wanted to say Hi... 3 cant stand not having a passenger side mirror...what do you guys use?

..

you will have to hit the junkyard for an matching one. (I am sure some cars came with both mirrors.) Or post in the wanted section here.

Or find one that does not match perfect, but is close. Escort or Mazda 323 maybe.

[drddan]

Escort and Protege mirrors will fit too. Some minor trim mod needed, but almost plug and play.
Welcome to the forum!

[drddan]

Oh....here's a list of parts that fit Festiva's. Its from the " interchangable parts list" found by using the search function. You'll find that this is a great forum with a lot of good people and lot of knowledge. Add your location to your profile as there are members on here from kentucky that may be close and will help you.

FESTIVA CROSS REFERENCE LIST


PARTS

91-96 escort center console with shift boot, shift knob, and cupholders

91-96 escort hatch and wagon rear cargo light and center dome light

90-94 protege 140MPH speedo (requires a little modding on the orange clusters, bolts right in on the white clusters, at least on the non-tach clusters... either way though you either need a custom faceplate for it or you can just pull out the festiva faceplate and bolt the protege one in its place but that will leave some gaps which can look a little tacky IMO)
-
91-96 escort power mirrors (required removing about 1/2" of material from the bottom of the mounting face, but the harness is plug and play if your festy is wired for power mirrors)

Escort/tracer door handles 80’s-90’s

Early 90's Toyota Camry Clear Turn Lens (close fit)

83-93 Mazda B2200 Turn Signals (direct fit)

98-01 ACURA INTEGRA SHORT SHIFTER

early 626, mpv power mirror switch

early 626 intermittent and variable intermittent wiper switch

early 323 intermittent wiper stalk

early 90's civic short shifter

Seats: Aspire, Mazda 323, Escort (91-96 I believe), Protege LX (not direct swap...need to swap Festy rails or make custom mounts)
Honda Prelude 93-95 (almost direct swap...elongate one rear mount hole and make 2 3x1 bar stock mounts)

Arm Rests: Honda Accord 86-89

Cup Holder: Mid 90's Taurus (also check center console below)

Shifter: 98-01 Acura Integra short throw, Early 90's Civic short thow

Steering Wheel: Mazda RX7, Mazda 323,626 (all direct swaps) and mx3 plus many others

Wiper Arms: 1st gen Nissian Sentras These rock! I have them on my festiva. stainless steel, slightly longer, and stronger grip on the windsheild.

Trunk & Gas Door Release Mechanism: Mazda 323, Mercury Tracer , 626

[David88]

Welcome. Regarding your rpm s at highway speeds. '88 models had the 4 speed as standard for the L. The LX model had a 5 speed. Also for the 90-93 festivas the 4 speed was dropped so all the standard trans cars got 5 speeds. If your up to doing a trans swap the 5 speed is a nice upgrade, especially for highway driving as you spoke of. Its like having overdrive. Get your rpms way down. You might find someone on here selling one for a good price. Salvage yard usually get from $100 - $250 for a trans. Enjoy the site.

[Sparky]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Festiva modding!

[batstiva]

Welcome Aboard, Shine!!

I have an 89L, 4 speed and I rolled 80+ mph from WV to NC for Madness last Oct. and yeah, the rubber band was wound pretty tightly, but she stood up to it well. Just got my first 5 speed Festiva, so kind of anxious to get this one out on the highway and see how different it is having that extra gear.

Anyway, welcome to FF.COM and be warned, your addiction has just begun, and there is no 12 step program to get away from it.

[murrillcg]

Welcome to the forum. Where at in Ky. are you located? I am at Ft. Knox. If you are anywhere close to Louisville, there is a PULL A PART there that had three Festiva's, not sure if they will have anything that you need, but might be worth the trip. Again welcome to the forum.

[brickdog2000]

Welcome to the world of festivas. Its nice to see someone else with an 88 festiva 4 spd.

[TominMO]

Welcome! As you can see from post #4 (drddan's), you better get busy!

[Zanzer]

[muscle_Car1]

1:What is the redline for my car? 1988 Festiva..think its a L model?
2: It runs over 3000 rpms at around 70 mph..do allot of you take your cars on long road trips?(its a four speed)
3:I'm a truck driver and really cant stand not having a passenger side mirror...what do you guys use?

Thanks for any info..I love my little car..will post some pics soon..

1: You really dont want to rev beyond 5500 as there is nothing there but more racket, but valve float doesn't start till like 6500 or so. I know of a few members here who have rev'ed there carby festy's beyond 7k(Brian).
2:Yeah I cruise around at 85 with my 4 speed. Its been to demoines iowa 2x last year been all around the state. Great on road trips just check those wheel bearings
3:The passnenger side mirror was an option for the car. You can find one from another festiva, some even had power mirrors. If not other car mirrors do fit such with little trimmings as 91-96 escort's, 90-94 protege, late 80's 323......


By the way welcome to the best festiva site EVER!

[KyMoonshine]

Thanks everyone for the quick info..I think Ill like it here...I noticed a noise from the front passenger side today..I thought it may be wheel bearings..are they bad to fail? once again..Thanks

[GenevaDirt]

Welcome to the site.....take a moment and add your location to your profile....will help with questions and someone may be close enough to lend a hand if needed.

You have a PM

[batstiva]

Thanks everyone for the quick info..I think Ill like it here...I noticed a noise from the front passenger side today..I thought it may be wheel bearings..are they bad to fail? once again..Thanks

Yeah, you'll like it here.

The noise from the front pass. side, kind of a cross between a buzz and a roar? Or more like a clicking on turns?

The first would likely be the bearings. They are a PITB to change, unless you have access to a press. Britstiva has a really good write up with pictures for doing the front wheel bearings. He was doing an aspire, not a festiva. The main difference being how you get the rotors off. Shops charge and arm and a leg for doing the front bearings, but I found if I pull the whole knuckle/rotor assembly and take it to them, it's usually around 50-60 bucks to get the bearings changed.

Clicking on turns is most likely the half shafts. But it sounds like you kind of already know the issue is bearings. Anyway, welcome again to ff.com, and here's a link to Britstiva's write up.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25646