The first thing you guys did to your Festiva???

[Damkid]

Stereo, rims, tint, exhaust, moved into brake swaps, engine swaps and suspension and haven't looked back.... Although I'm getting the itch for a set of subwoofers again...

[bravekozak]

Drain all fluids. Replace stock oil drain plug with a magnetic drain plug. Bleed all brake lines with brand new brake fluid. Reverse flush rad, engine block and heater core with water and then refill. Drain gas tank, remove fuel level sender, replace fuel pickup sock, replace fuel filter, fill with non ethanol gas.

[rmoltis]

the first thing you should do, i agree with everyone is do a complete preventative maintenance overhaul.
replace/ repair all old/ failing components back to stock at least.

but on a side note, the drop in air k&n air filter 33-222 would be a great first modification to start with.
cheap and easy.

[bobstad]

Drain all fluids. Replace stock oil drain plug with a magnetic drain plug. Bleed all brake lines with brand new brake fluid. Reverse flush rad, engine block and heater core with water and then refill. Drain gas tank, remove fuel level sender, replace fuel pickup sock, replace fuel filter, fill with non ethanol gas.

Oh yeah; did all the above, without hardly thinking...except messing with the gas tank stuff, even got a magnetic drain plug. The brakes gave me fits awhile; even a serious malfunction, caused by lack of lubrication on one of the pins the front calipers are supposed to "float" on-to be able to locate on the disc while cornering.

What turned out to be another early conundrum, was probably due to a plastic shield type deflector gone missing from the front end's lower bodywork; allowing water into the air filter then engine, bending a connecting rod-driving during a storm in Tillamook, OR with a poorly marked detour, a bunch of other vehicles were successfully ignoring.

[bobstad]

the drop in air k&n air filter 33-222 would be a great first modification to start with.
cheap and easy.

Got one of those too, fairly early on...

[bhearts]

built this intake manifold

[Icedawg]

Well, it was my third one, but this is the first thing I did to it.
uew1.jpg

[ThisVelologist]

Brake bleed, replaced bulbs, full wash.

[ckiesman]

drove it for over a year without having to put a dime into it. than it was rear wheel bearing time. than rear wheel bearing time again. than front end parts time. than rear wheel bearing time again. than spindle time. than no more rear wheel bearings. a bent spindle will fry the bearings. Lest i forget the weekly oil top off. it wasnt named puddles for no reason. than axle mount repair. than i sold it. but, its back, and under the knife. gotta get it rust free by all means necessary! lol