Aspire scavenging

[Bert]

I just purchased a clean, intact and running 4 door 97 auto Aspire solely for the purpose of scavenging the rear frame, rims and tires, front hubs, shocks and springs, and front sway bar. The B3 engine runs great but has 150,000 miles on it and I've decided it is going to remain with the car on the way to the wrecking yard (seeing as I got a similar Aspire deal + motor last year with only 80,000 miles on it). Is there anything else in there that might be worthy of keeping? The front seats are in good shape but don't match (colour nor pattern) even remotely with anything in a Festy.

Gas tank, fuel pump, ignition wires? Suggestions? Thanks folks.

[iceracerdude]

Take a look at both the timing belt covers and keep the best one. Same thing for the passenger side motor mount. There's guys on here and aspire. looking for those parking brake cables, distrib. alternator, and ecu's all the time.

[navdoc101]

Yes. Keep the seats. Back & botton cushion can be swaped with the Festy bottom frame for a nicer ride. I just did that on my Festy. Seat covers cover the color diff. You can sell them if you don't want to do the swap yourself. Searce, there are at least 2 threads on the swap. Masrer cylinder can also be swaped for a upgrade on a Festy, keep it.

[JPT]

4 door Aspire gas tanks won't fit. Only the 2 door works.

[zoom zoom]

Does it have a defroster switch in the dash? Those are definately worth keeping, a guy on fa.com wants one now. The gear part of the speedometer that goes into the transmission is worth keeping, does it have a tachometer? I'd pay you for that..so would other people, I'd also be interested in the upper timing belt cover if they're in good shape (no bending out rubbing on the pulley) depending on what you would charge I might be interested in the ecu just to have one laying around to play with.

[FestYboy]

pics of the seats, i may be interested in the material...

[Bert]

I'll photo and post before and after pics; I've offered to have the Ottawa fire department practice emergency rescue procedures on the car (ie chew off the doors and then chainsaw the entire car in half) just so I will have an easier time moving the remains after the suspension stuff comes off. I posted various desirable (I thought) parts from the previous 97 Aspire that I bought and ultimately wound up putting out 3 full garbage cans with lights, trim and mirrors and things that no one wanted, except maybe for free.

Thanks for the gas tank compatibility tip. I've already proven the seat switch-over trick works but these ones are butt-ugly patterned. It has a rear defrost and if the switch readily removes I'll grab it. There is no tach. The speedo transmission gear unit is longer and likely incompatible with a Festy unit (I had figured on swapping the nylon gear from one at one time). And yes I will grab the timing belt cover and then one day show everyone on this site my 'ready fix' for preventing/curing deformed and pulley rubbed covers. The master cylinder will stay; too hard to get at through the ABS stuff and power steering add-ons. If the ECU is as user-friendly to access as a Festy unit it will also stay behind unless advance cash is forthcoming.

The 1/3-worn snow tires that were offered to me at the time of sale were a weird size; Kumho brand 155/70-13. They were same diameter (21 inch) as 12 inch Festy! I passed on that offer.

[Bert]

By the way; Aspire /Festy swappers all recommend using Aspire emergency brake cables and when I did my first one (the Aspire-derived cable unfortunately was shot) I didn't have any problem hooking up the existing Festy cable to the new Aspire brakes. I did wind up loosening the adjustment nut on the hand brake considerably (1/2 inch) but not so much that it becomes unsafe. That particular Festy E-brake may have been an anomaly since it also features stainless steel cable and I've never seen that on any other car either.

[Bert]

Rear defroster switch? Is this the desirable item I am hearing about? Offers?

[FestYboy]

are the seats the multy colored block patern? if so, i want the covers (fabric)

[zoom zoom]

I'll pm the guy on fa.com that was wanting the switch.

[Bert]

FestYboy; they're a sort of black and beige plaid pattern (or maybe block as you call it) but who is going to spend a few hours to volunteer to disassemble the seats and carefully strip the seat covers off? Just for you though I'll post a picture tomorrow or next day.

[FestYboy]

all i'm interested is the inserts, if it;s the same patern i think it is, i'll be all over it!

[juryrigger007]

You did not mention it, but I'd keep the cylinder head...
I'd also yank the dash light dimmer control...it makes a good rheostat.

[Bert]

Sorry guys I'm beat from pretending to "quick" change a power steering pump on an 04 Ford Expedition. Didn't have to remove the seats or pull the motor but that job has otherwise been downright stupid from the get-go. Do not buy one of these cars.
Attached pictures are of the recent 'baby' to which I refuse to get attached and that the Ottawa Fire Dept is going to practice on after the trailing arm, sway bar and hubs come off.