Is it worth fixin?

[Crankworm]

First I'd like to say hey to everyone here, I found this place through Skimsucka via a different message board. I picked up a 92 festiva last week it is a stick shift with 125,000 on the odemeter. That being said it is in pretty rough shape it has a little rust on it but the floors seem to be sound. The problem is I went to do brakes on it and didn't know what I was getting into, It looks like I need to replace pads, rotors, wheel bearings, control arms, and tie rod ends. The engine starts up and runs good but I can't tell how it sounds because the exhaust is trashed. It looks like most of the oil is leaking out of the valve cover. Sorry to be so long winded on a first post I was just wondering if this bad boy is worth the effort or I should just ditch now?

[91mcnasty]

well depending how much money you have in it,with gas prices like they are it'll be worth every penny!!!!!
not too mention that bad boy's still got a couple hundred thousand in her!!!!!!

[Safety Guy]

Welcome!

It might seem unnerving at first, but after a while you'll be proud of your improvements, the car will drive and probably look better, and you will have had lots of mechanic's practice!

I bought my '91L for $500 last spring, which may have been a tad too much considering all the work I put into her:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31934

Now, however, I'm reaping my rewards with B6 acceleration smiles and the joy of driving an artistic rolling canvas I have created to share with the world! :p

Karl

[Crankworm]

oops forgot to put this in the first post I paid $200 for the car. I'm getting transferred at work and starting on the 28th I will be driving 75 miles each way

[Safety Guy]

If I were you I'd get to work! And check all your hard lines for corrosion.

Replacing a lot of the front end parts is often SOP for Festivas. You can either put in good, safe parts and know it was done right, or you can cross your fingers and wonder what will fall off first...

Karl

[thered56]

Welcome and congrats on your buy! If it's just from the valve cover, that's not bad. And as for the rest, perhaps some Aspire parts would do your car good! http://www.clubprotege.com/wil/howto/aspirebrakes.htm

Swapping out the Festiva parts will considerably improve you ride, and imo if you need to replace them you may as well one up the factory setup!

Keep it and you won't be disappointed!

[navdoc101]

Tech Articals

Welcome and congrats on your buy! If it's just from the valve cover, that's not bad. And as for the rest, perhaps some Aspire parts would do your car good! http://www.clubprotege.com/wil/howto/aspirebrakes.htm

Swapping out the Festiva parts will considerably improve you ride, and imo if you need to replace them you may as well one up the factory setup!

Keep it and you won't be disappointed!

Great set of articals fron Club Protege!! Thanks, I copied all.:happy1:

[villageidiot]

keep it!

[thered56]

^ np It's a link found in the Festiva/Aspire custom info sticky in the custom suspension... section. There's more useful articles to be had there: http://www.clubprotege.com/wil/howto/index.htm

[Crankworm]

thanks for the speedy replies. Safety Guy mine doesn't have as much rust as yours did when you started its mostly just a poor neglected car. With the Aspire swap do you need the whole rear axle or just the trailing arms? I do have a set of Miata daisy wheels with good tires already sitting in my garage from my V8 swap thats been collecting dust (the wheels and the V8 miata)

[thered56]

You'll want the whole thing: "-Aspire Trailing arm with Drums/Hub assembly attached and metal and rubber brakelines in place"

That's great you've got the perfect wheels for this swap already! Quite a few members here have done this Aspire swap, though I haven't yet.

[htchbck]

tI do have a set of Miata daisy wheels with good tires already sitting in my garage from my V8 swap thats been collecting dust (the wheels and the V8 miata)

First off, I'll second the advice on doing the aspire swap and throwing on the Miata daisy's, can even use the stock 185/60 tires on them . Also, what else you got sitting in your garage from the V8 swap? (I ask because I have a poor little Miata I'm slowing nursing back to health :lol

[200KGPGTP]

My festiva paid for itself within a month. Every repair I do to it makes it better, and typically pays for itself within weeks. The more I do to raise MPG, the faster everything pays off. This car owes me nothing. I LOVE IT!!!!!!

[eurotiva]

Welcome to the site. We have a Florida meet coming up next month. You should try to make it and meet local members and we will help you with your car.

[Crankworm]

First off, I'll second the advice on doing the aspire swap and throwing on the Miata daisy's, can even use the stock 185/60 tires on them . Also, what else you got sitting in your garage from the V8 swap? (I ask because I have a poor little Miata I'm slowing nursing back to health :lol

I don't want to turn this into a for sale thread but what are you lookin for? I wouldn't mind getting rid of stuff. Engine and trans are gone but I've believe i still have all the brake stuff everything from the rearend(subframe, diff, axle shafts, etc.) and some other various odds and ends everythings out of a 91