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  • New to Festivas - Need Advice

    New member although been lurking for a couple of weeks, reading as much as possible. Not a new member to old cars having owned several....My current 'toy' is an 86 Buick Grand National (built 10 sec 1/4). My kid turned 16 this year and so we made a deal if he gets his grades up, I'd buy him a project car. Trying to impart the love of wrench turning onto him and teach him some responsibility (can you say lazy teen)? There was a recent article in the N&O raleigh paper about the festiva group and after doing some research and finding this forum, I decided that'd be a great 1st vehicle for him to both drive and improve upon.

    Sooo....the search began. I've found a few locally (I have a large area to work with as I travel between two homes), but I'm drawn to one. It's a 90, 5-speed, original owner, no rust. It has 275K on it tho. No A/C.

    Would around $600 be a fair price for this? Immediate plans would probably do an Aspire brake swap and fix any suspension issues...want it safe. Longer term would probably be a B8 swap. B6Ts sound interesting but having suffered with the finickiness of a turbo buick, I think that may be beyond his ability and my sanity. I'm great at electronics and wrenching, but not so great at fabrication so the B8 seems more within our means. Oh, and is it possible to add A/C to a non A/C car? Looking at the interior dash it appears to have the controls for A/C.

    Anyway, I hope to purchase this car this weekend if it is all that's been represented. Afterwards, I'll encourage the son (he doesn't know yet) to come on here and start to learn. Hopefully we'll meet some locals. The Buick crowd has been great and I expect the festiva group to be even better

  • #2
    $600 and no rust, many of us up north would consider that a bargain!

    275Km is a lot of miles, but if it had proper care it could have many more left in it. If not, it could need a replacement/repair or a swap pretty soon.

    AC can be retrofitted.
    Only difference in the interior dash is an AC button where a blank off plate currently exists.
    There are a few AC installs documented here.

    Wish you had known about the Festiva Madness IV meet in Raleigh this last weekend could have got you up and running info wise very quickly.
    Hope to see you and your son at FMV in Oct 2011.

    Oh, and well come to the sight and thanks for adding your location.
    There are a number of NC members and some VA member that should be close to you if you need a hand.
    '93 Blue 5spd 230K(down for clutch and overall maintanence)
    '93 White B6 swap thanks to Skeeters Keeper
    '92 Aqua parts Car
    '93 Turquoise 5spd 137K
    '90 White LX Thanks to FB71

    "Your God of repentance will not save you.
    Your holy ghost will not save you.
    Your God plutonium will not save you.
    In fact...
    ...You will not be saved!"

    Prince of Darkness -1987

    Comment


    • #3
      Welcome to the forum, you will find a lot of useful information and great bunch of people. I know what your talking about when you say "lazy teen", I have three of them. Only one has a car and all he's concerned with is waking up and going. I have tried to get him out and learn, but if isn't a video game or a girl, he isn't interested. He doesn't seem to care until something goes wrong, and then he wants me to stop what I am doing and go look at his car. So, I have resorted to teach him the hard way by letting him try to figure stuff out on his own. After he sits out there for a few hours or days then I will get out there and try to trouble shoot and fix it.

      Anyways, enough rambling about my issues. You and your son will find alot of useful information on here, good luck with the future festy.

      '89 Ford Festiva LX :fred:
      '12 Ford Focus

      Comment


      • #4
        1990 means EFI, 5-speed is good (many of us don't like the autos--too slow and poor MPG), and the deal maker is rust-free. If the motor will run for awhile and yer gonna do a swap anyway, I'd say go for it. But use the 275K to talk the price down if possible.

        Te easiest motor swap is the B6; basically the same block as the B3. You get 19 more HP and keep most of the MPG.
        Last edited by TominMO; 10-07-2010, 07:00 AM.
        90 Festy (Larry)--B6M (Matt D. modified B6 head), header, 5-speed, Capri XR2 front brakes, many other little mods
        09 Kia Rondo--a Festy on steroids!

        You can avoid reality, but you can't avoid the consequences of avoiding reality--Ayn Rand

        Disaster preparedness

        Tragedy and Hope.....Infowars.com.....The Drudge Report.....Founding Fathers.info

        Think for yourself.....question all authority.....re-evaluate everything you think you know. Red-pill yourself!

        Comment


        • #5
          Thanks everyone for the welcome....

          Isn't the B8ME a basic swap in too, with the exception of redrilling the passenger side mount? I get a little confused between all the various swaps.

          Is there a basic summary of the various swaps available and whether they are for the beginner or expert?

          Let's see...

          B6 - drop in?
          B8ME - drop in, modify one motor mount, TPS/injector harness rewiring
          B6T - lot's o work
          BP - firewall mods?

          Assume straight 5-speed, EFI....no auto or carb switchovers.

          Comment


          • #6
            Welcome to the forum. Always glad to have another NC person around.

            I know that on the BP swap there is also some rewiring to be done, but there is a good writeup on the forum that we used.
            1992 Green GL - "It's not easy being green" - Kermit - RIP killed by a tree
            1992 Aqua Funtop - Belle
            Wife of V8Festiva.

            Madness Committee Member
            website www.festivamadness.com

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Smedley View Post
              Welcome to the forum. Always glad to have another NC person around.

              I know that on the BP swap there is also some rewiring to be done, but there is a good writeup on the forum that we used.
              Also, there's some redneck down in FL who might have a little experience with this. Eurosomething I think.
              90 Festy (Larry)--B6M (Matt D. modified B6 head), header, 5-speed, Capri XR2 front brakes, many other little mods
              09 Kia Rondo--a Festy on steroids!

              You can avoid reality, but you can't avoid the consequences of avoiding reality--Ayn Rand

              Disaster preparedness

              Tragedy and Hope.....Infowars.com.....The Drudge Report.....Founding Fathers.info

              Think for yourself.....question all authority.....re-evaluate everything you think you know. Red-pill yourself!

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by TominMO View Post
                Also, there's some redneck down in FL who might have a little experience with this. Eurosomething I think.
                Euro(mycariswayfasterthanyoursandhasachaha)tiva

                Welcome to the site
                -Greg
                Euro-bprt...WORLDS FASTEST FESTIVA !!! 11.78@115.9
                BP, G trans, Megasquirt/ 550cc inj. t3/t3 (tbird) Garrett, REAR TURBO!!!! AND AC!!!!
                Redneck Engineer
                FOTY - '09
                5x Festiva Madness Attendee...FM 3,4,5,6,8
                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpCZ7...9Pwqw-oe8s2OYQ
                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU_eX...9Pwqw-oe8s2OYQ

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by eurotiva View Post
                  Euro(mycariswayfasterthanyoursandhasachaha)tiva

                  Welcome to the site
                  lmao...
                  LIVE FAST!!!!!!!DIE HARD!!!!!!!!:evil5::evil5::evil5::evil5:

                  Dustin Hayek

                  91.festy 1.8 BP DOHC AUTO.The turbo awaits!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by robertmee View Post
                    Thanks everyone for the welcome....

                    Isn't the B8ME a basic swap in too, with the exception of redrilling the passenger side mount? I get a little confused between all the various swaps.

                    Is there a basic summary of the various swaps available and whether they are for the beginner or expert?

                    Let's see...

                    B6 - drop in?
                    B8ME - drop in, modify one motor mount, TPS/injector harness rewiring
                    B6T - lot's o work
                    BP - firewall mods?

                    Assume straight 5-speed, EFI....no auto or carb switchovers.
                    Welcome!


                    Ive added dealer and factory a/c to a carbed and efi car it is no problem. The B8 swap is extremely simple for the amount of power you get(100whp)! and ac bolts right on !!

                    Also the wiring doesnt involve any cutting or spliceing wires it just moves them just to be clear

                    Theres a B8 on ebay down here in fl for 199$ buy it now with 100k on the motor comes complete!
                    Last edited by skimsucka; 10-07-2010, 01:29 PM.
                    93 L B6T DD http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=37751
                    RIP_90 LuX http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=32249
                    RIP 88 LX / B8-MEhttp://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=26398

                    RJ

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by eurotiva View Post
                      Euro(mycariswayfasterthanyoursandhasachaha)tiva

                      Welcome to the site
                      Also known as the redneck with a sawzall and some auto parts

                      Welcome to the site! Good to have another NC member for sure! You and your son should be able to find plenty of local support...

                      I might also mention, this makes the write up in the local paper even cooler...
                      Contact me for information about Festiva Madness!
                      Remember, FestYboy is inflatable , and Scitzz means crazy, YO!
                      "Like I'm going to suggest we do the job right." ~Fecomatter May 28 2016.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Thanks....I look forward to meeting some of the locals...even you, tho you live in tarhole *ahem, I mean tarheel nation ('89 NCSU grad).

                        Yes, the N&O article surely opened my eyes to the possibility of festivas. I would have probably gone the CRX route (having owned one in my own youth), but I'm not a fan of ricers, and I know my kid would put a fart can on it first thing ....Which brings me to ask...Is the festiva since it is mazda manuf by kia in korea considered 'ricer' Am I crossing the dark side!!
                        Last edited by robertmee; 10-08-2010, 09:35 AM.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by robertmee View Post
                          Thanks....I look forward to meeting some of the locals...even you, tho you live in tarhole *ahem, I mean tarheel nation ('89 NCSU grad).

                          Yes, the N&O article surely opened my eyes to the possibility of festivas. I would have probably gone the CRX route (having owned one in my own youth), but I'm not a fan of ricers, and I know my kid would put a fart can on it first thing ....Which brings me to ask...Is the festiva since it is mazda manuf by kia in korea considered 'ricer' Am I crossing the dark side!!
                          No, its too uncool to be considered a ricer. Plus it hides under the Ford logo.
                          90 Festy (Larry)--B6M (Matt D. modified B6 head), header, 5-speed, Capri XR2 front brakes, many other little mods
                          09 Kia Rondo--a Festy on steroids!

                          You can avoid reality, but you can't avoid the consequences of avoiding reality--Ayn Rand

                          Disaster preparedness

                          Tragedy and Hope.....Infowars.com.....The Drudge Report.....Founding Fathers.info

                          Think for yourself.....question all authority.....re-evaluate everything you think you know. Red-pill yourself!

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by TominMO View Post
                            No, its too uncool to be considered a ricer. Plus it hides under the Ford logo.
                            whew....that's a relief....My Buick bretheren won't shun me

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by robertmee View Post
                              whew....that's a relief....My Buick bretheren won't shun me
                              Much!
                              90 Festy (Larry)--B6M (Matt D. modified B6 head), header, 5-speed, Capri XR2 front brakes, many other little mods
                              09 Kia Rondo--a Festy on steroids!

                              You can avoid reality, but you can't avoid the consequences of avoiding reality--Ayn Rand

                              Disaster preparedness

                              Tragedy and Hope.....Infowars.com.....The Drudge Report.....Founding Fathers.info

                              Think for yourself.....question all authority.....re-evaluate everything you think you know. Red-pill yourself!

                              Comment

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