Junkyard Festy

[Oren09]

Hey all.
I'm looking to get back into Festivas. I have moved to the Dallas, TX area and the junkyards here always have some.

I went to a yard yesterday that had a little red one. It must have just gotten there because it was intact. All the parts were there, even the hubcaps, and it has little wear and no rust.
The only thing missing was the battery, so me and a friend sourced a battery from another vehicle in the yard. There are no keys so we took the column apart and turned the switch with a screw driver.
The car started, runs, and will idle after warming up. It does move forward and backward, but won't turn because of the steering wheel lock.

The problem is the engine sounds like something is seriously wrong in the top end. I'm thinking bad lifter/valve, but I have no idea.
The engine had 60,000 something miles. 5sp.

Videos:




The junkyard said $600-700 for the whole car. The body is great- just needs paint. Most Festys on CL around here are $1500+.
I'm thinking about this one, but don't know whats wrong with the engine.
The registration documentation is in the vehicle and its a Dallas address, so finding the owner/title probably won't be difficult.

Can anyone identify the sound? How hard would it be to rebuild the head? Or if it's worse, replace the engine?

Thanks

[walth]

holy crap dude...that's flipping awesome. haven't watched the videos cuz I gotta get ready for work. Our JY's here don't allow battery's or catalytic converters out in the yards (at least in town?) idk...

I wouldn't be able to identify that stuff anyway, learning but maybe I can learn from this one

[bravekozak]

Good price only if they throw in a cylinder head and steering rack from another Festiva in their yard.

[htchbck]

If you've already gotten the column apart you're just a hammer and a punch away from removing the ignition lock and with it, the steering lock. Might be worth it to be able to at least drive it a little.

[kartracer46]

Tell'em you'll give them 600 for it, just make sure they have a title or salvage title so you can register it again. The car could just use a head to replace some rockers and a cam that probably got damaged from running it low on oil or it may have a blown head gasket. either way it is definitley a good find if you are mechanically inclined and can perform the repairs yourself.

[sc72]

That sounds is a little more like a rod noise than a valve adjuster, did you notice a change in that noise when you let the clutch out and put a load on the engine, when you go back to that yard, do a dry compression test and wright donw the numbers and report back to us. Good luck and good find.

[FestYboy]

sounds like a dead lifter.... rod knock is more aggressive and hollow sounding.

BUY the CAR. pull the valve cover and find that collapsed lifter and then soak it in seafoam for a few days (or better yet, get a cheap sonic cleaner and throw it in there).

[Oren09]

Thanks for the replies!
I went to a different yard and found a 95 Aspire with a good running engine (auto trans, though). They wanted $300 for it (the engine).
But if the Festiva's problems are just in the head, it should be fairly simple.

[FFW]

Welcome to Dallas! I wonder if its that festy i was stalking last month that was sitting a good year in a small shopping center? Which junkyard did you find it at? Also silly question did you check if it had oil in it? :p

[Oren09]

I did not check for oil... Should've thought about that.
I figured the noise was why it was junked, though.

Its at Hwy 77 Auto Salvage just south of Waxahachie.

[FFW]

Did they had some other festies around? Looking for some good size 12 tires, usually find em in pick an pulls.

[Oren09]

No. Just the one. It still had wheels, but most of the vehicles in the yard are just sitting on the ground. All the ones around take off the wheels.

[Safety Guy]

Sounds to me like you should get it, especially if the 'yard throws in another head in case you need it.

If you don't do it soon, parts will start walking away, though!

Karl

[Oren09]

There aren't any other Festivas in that yard.
I would love to get it, but can't come up with the money

[Oren09]

Ok. I bought the Festiva today (thanks Dad and my truck's broken axle and driveshaft...)
I had to drive it 15 miles to get home. It did ok. Would die as soon as I let off the clutch and the shift points were all over the place. No power in second or 4th gear.
I've taken off the intake plastic and am waiting for the metal parts to cool right now. I have work at 5 though.

I no longer have my Haynes manual- it went when I sold my other Festiva.
How do I remove the throttle body/intake to take off the valve cover?

I will post pictures of the whole car sometime soon. Give me a week or so to get it running.
It is a 1993 Festiva L, red. Dealership plaque on back from Carrolton, TX, about an hour from where I am now. 58,000 miles.