L, L Plus and LX Options

[Twistiva]

All -

I'm starting to restore/upgrade my Festy. It's an 88L and was as sparse as it gets. Can anyone tell me the basic upgrades between an L, L Plus and LX?

I've added a passenger side mirror, will add the small cubby below the ashtray, upgrade to a manual 5-speed transmission, and add A/C. Wouldn't this be closer to an L-Plus than an LX?

In addition to what I'm definitely going to do above, other possibilities might be adding rear window defrost, rear window wiper and rear seat shoulder seatbelts. So if I also do these last options would I be closest to an LX?

Not really trying to trick it out with every single option possible, just curious with what I'd end up with.

Thx.

[wybnrml]

There is a Sticky at the top of this forum (General Discusion) and it has all the options for the L, L-Plus LX, GL.

[doylerl]

FWIW with it being just an L from '88, you probably don't have the required wiring for the rear defrost or wiper. I know my '89L didn't have any, so I have a complete hatch that I can't use.

http://web.archive.org/web/20010203131900/www.fordfestiva.com/AboutFordFestiva/options.html

[devon527]

^^^ my 88L has rear defrost on it, just sayin

[Twistiva]

There is a Sticky at the top of this forum (General Discusion) and it has all the options for the L, L-Plus LX, GL.

CRAP!, don't know why I didn't see that. Thx!

[Twistiva]

^^^ my 88L has rear defrost on it, just sayin

You're saying it came that way or was it just wired for it?

[wybnrml]

^^^ my 88L has rear defrost on it, just sayin

According to the list, it was an option you could add to the L.

[Twistiva]

OK, so I looked at the options list. So the L Plus model wasn't available in 1988? I must have been remembering incorrectly....

[Twistiva]

FWIW with it being just an L from '88, you probably don't have the required wiring for the rear defrost or wiper. I know my '89L didn't have any, so I have a complete hatch that I can't use.

http://web.archive.org/web/200102031...a/options.html

Can't you fish the wiring through the body somewhere?

[devon527]

When i bought mine it already had rear defrost on it, I love it. Now I have a passenger mirror and I'm about to get a split rear seat

[Twistiva]

When i bought mine it already had rear defrost on it, I love it. Now I have a passenger mirror and I'm about to get a split rear seat

Lucky dog! I looked at the list and apparently the only option mine was upgraded to (I bought it used in Feb 1989...yes, 1989, baby!) was the radio. Standard "L" was an AM radio and mine AM/FM. I'm in the big time, now!

Thx for all the info, guys. An 88' LX it will be!

[doylerl]

I could probably wire it in but I never bothered with it. I was hoping it would be plug n play.

[villageidiot]

i think i have a nice set of rear shoulder belts if you need a set, i took all my rear "furnishings" out so its like a mini mini van

[Twistiva]

i think i have a nice set of rear shoulder belts if you need a set, i took all my rear "furnishings" out so its like a mini mini van

What color are they? I need brown.

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

To be an LX, you also need split rear seat, tilt steering wheel (useless as it may be), higher-quality front seats with removable headrests (allowing the seat backs to fold down completely flat against the flattened rear seat, electrically-adjustable side mirrors, intermittent wipers, and maybe some other stuff.