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My 'over-the-winter' Aspire/Festiva undercarriage swap included the front sway bar and so far in the course of 3000km (2000mi) has been entirely positive. The car is much more stable on the highway, the brakes are way better and the car (all of the parts are still stock) sticks to corners like glue, and I (owner/operator) have suddenly been 'liberated' from having to buy and use single-source 'wheelbarrow tires'. I threw on a set of used (1992, the seller claimed) alloy VW wheels (with ballseat wheelnuts, 175/70-13s) right off the bat. Turning radius has changed considerably (can't explain that since the tires don't rub) to the negative but in every other regard this experiment has been grand and well worth the effort.
On one highway run with the car pre-swap it achieved 5.3 litres/100. Right now with the larger tires the speedo reads 12% low (meaning I can run right at the speed limit according to the instrument) and engine revs are obviously going to be lower overall. Power is still there and I don't have any complaints. Anyone out there contemplating a BP engine hybrid should definitely figure on finding a homely Aspire parts car in anticipation of enjoying all that extra power. Stock Festiva brakes and springs already suck an egg and another 20-50hp is only going to exaggerate that fact.
I will get back to the Forum when the shocks and springs business is resolved. Roger at FMS (I think) is winding down his operation and not particularly interested in stocking parts nor encouraging new business. Which is too bad since Mopar has recently decided to market the Fiat equivalent of an already 20 year old car Ford/Mazda/Kia that weighed '3 passengers less' right out of the box.
On one highway run with the car pre-swap it achieved 5.3 litres/100. Right now with the larger tires the speedo reads 12% low (meaning I can run right at the speed limit according to the instrument) and engine revs are obviously going to be lower overall. Power is still there and I don't have any complaints. Anyone out there contemplating a BP engine hybrid should definitely figure on finding a homely Aspire parts car in anticipation of enjoying all that extra power. Stock Festiva brakes and springs already suck an egg and another 20-50hp is only going to exaggerate that fact.
I will get back to the Forum when the shocks and springs business is resolved. Roger at FMS (I think) is winding down his operation and not particularly interested in stocking parts nor encouraging new business. Which is too bad since Mopar has recently decided to market the Fiat equivalent of an already 20 year old car Ford/Mazda/Kia that weighed '3 passengers less' right out of the box.
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