The Festiva Store

[nonamekid]

PM sent.

Sorry for the slow replies to people lately. Work has been keeping me busy lately. The store makes next to nothing, and is just a hobby to help fellow enthusiasts out. I still have way more invested in to the Store than i have sold in products. I have products that many people have expressed interest and no one has bought in the 18 months I have been running the store.

Sorry if there has been any confusion as to availability on these shocks. I can understand everybody's view points. It is exciting to me just to be able sell them all rather than them sitting on the shelf like so many other items. As to availability of the shocks, the 5 sets have all been spoken for, but I haven't taken payment on anything yet since I don't know shipping cost. Someone still may back out. There has been multiple people expressing interest. Charlie and I have discussed the possibility of another run of kits but it may not be for awhile and it will all be based on his availability and desire.

As for those saying these are something you can just buy all the parts and put these together: you can, but only if you have a complement of a full machine shop and zinc coating business and the knowledge to all the work. There is many hours of machining and custom work that has gone into these kits.

[nonamekid]

On a side note: prices will be adjust soon on most items. I also have some items I still need to post up including plastic 3D printed spoiler caps and the KPH equivalent to the 110mph cluster. I also have items listed on the facebook page that I don't have in the store. Many of these items are used and I have a very small supply: only 1 or 2.

As for bumpers: I won't be carrying new stock style bumpers. I am working on getting GTX bumpers reproduced. This might take awhile due to my current work schedule. I am also working on getting clear corners as there has been some demand for these.

[Greywolf]

COOL!

~I've been looking into how to make fiberglass and CF molds for one-offs lately, and there's no telling where I may go with it.

[ryanprins13]

Any reason other than lack of time for stuff being listed on facebook and not the website? Some people dont go on the facebook page...


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[TominMO]

Hey Ben, how about having Charlie do a writeup here explaining what he did (in general--no secrets) to these struts? Just to appreciate what they are, compared to what we can slap together without all the fine-tuning he is knowledgeable and capable of doing.

[Advancedynamix]

First, the front shocks are disassembled, and the lower mounting brackets are stripped in an acid bath to remove all zinc plating. This ensures that a good weld joint can be achieved.
The lower brackets are then set up in a mill and the lower mounting holes are cut completely out with a rotobroach tool. This is done on centerline with the Mazda BF mounting pattern.


After the brackets have been cut to accept the bushings (also custom made) the parts are chamfered for a proper weld joint. They are then bolted up to a festiva knuckle to ensure proper fit on a Festiva.


The bushings are then tig welded into the brackets. This process is done in accordance with AWS D17.1 class A specifications (MIL.STD-22-19).

The brackets are then set back up in my mill fixture so the bushings can be align bored to 12.5mm and the top mounting holes can be slotted 0.200" for maximum camber adjustability. This ensures that precise alignment can be done quickly, since all the parts are dimensionally consistent.

The brackets are then checked for fitment, deburred and re-zinc coated.


The shock shafts are then turned on a lathe to accept the kia rio strut mount bearings securely. This ensures a precision part that fits properly.


The front shocks are then re-assembled with 120lb front springs and the preload is preset to a position that I find works well for most applications. You should just be able to bolt them up, set the camber and adjust your toe and go.

The rear shocks lower mounts are precision cut to length with a wire EDM machine. A bushing is also supplied to space the shock out further from the wheel for maximum clearance.
The rear spring adjuster sleeves are drilled with drain holes and then glued to the shocks with 3M urethane adhesive.
The shocks are then assembled with either 105lb or the heavy duty 120lb springs (for heavy loads and trailer towing). The rear upper spring hat is a 2 piece rubber filled part that I designed to reduce road noise compared to the 1 piece design that I've shown on my build threads. I don't have pictures of these yet.

For the last 5 years I've had a lot of requests for suspension that is built to my standard. This is the way I build my parts for my cars. It's time consuming and not at all profitable, but it's solid and reliable. The first set I built now has over 100k miles of abuse and has been from coast to coast 6 times!
You can buy the components to build this set up for around 600 dollars if you shop around, but the machine work, coating and supplies like 3M glue would cost nearly 400 dollars more. Now factor in your time assembling and disassembling everything (an hour a shock after you have made all the special tools to do it right).
I'm at a loss on these shocks, and only made them as a contribution to the community. I want more people to feel the difference of a well set up festiva. I have given all the information on this setup freely and I encourage others to make these. If anyone thinks they can make a better setup, please do it and I'll buy them from you. I'll help with any information I have, as I have done for years.
I just hope the people who get these shocks enjoy them, and they drive the cars with as big of a smile as I get when I drive mine.

[Zman86]

This is why I waited for these instead of building my own, amazing workmanship and quality. I'm beyond excited to get my set! Thanks again for doing this Charlie.

[TominMO]

Thanks for the writeup Charlie! Do you have a pic or two of the finished product?

[nonamekid]

Any reason other than lack of time for stuff being listed on facebook and not the website? Some people dont go on the facebook page...


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Time is the biggest reason. It is really easy to post things on facebook. A little harder to post things in the store. I also have 4 kids, a pregnant wife, 10 acres to maintain, multiple car projects, a full-time job, and a few other time consuming obligations. I am surprised that I have been able to get all the orders fulfilled within the 48 hours required by square. The store just gets pushed to the back. Not that I don't care, I am just too busy. I also treat the store as a side hobby and not a business. In a good month I get 5 orders, mostly for small items, like taillight gaskets. Hard to get the motivation to do more especially when I am not really making any money. Feel free to PM though if you are looking for something in particular that I have but don't have listed in the store. I also take paypal and do business outside of the website.

Thanks for the write up, Charlie! I was going to post that, but you beat me to it.

[ryanprins13]

Time is the biggest reason. It is really easy to post things on facebook. A little harder to post things in the store. I also have 4 kids, a pregnant wife, 10 acres to maintain, multiple car projects, a full-time job, and a few other time consuming obligations. I am surprised that I have been able to get all the orders fulfilled within the 48 hours required by square. The store just gets pushed to the back. Not that I don't care, I am just too busy. I also treat the store as a side hobby and not a business. In a good month I get 5 orders, mostly for small items, like taillight gaskets. Hard to get the motivation to do more especially when I am not really making any money. Feel free to PM though if you are looking for something in particular that I have but don't have listed in the store. I also take paypal and do business outside of the website.

Thanks for the write up, Charlie! I was going to post that, but you beat me to it.

Ok cool, thats kind of what i thought but was wondering if there was anything more challenging about the website like the 48hour thing you mentioned. And i do realize it doesn't make you much money But when there is stuff I am looking for I will send you a message.

[Advancedynamix]

Thanks for the writeup Charlie! Do you have a pic or two of the finished product?

I don't. I was in such a hurry to get these out to Ben that I didn't think to snap any pictures. I had to stay up till 3am for 3 days straight just to assemble and package them. I have to be to work at 6am. It is a labor of love. Lol.
I'm sure Ben can snap some shots when he gets them. He's got a lot going on too, so it may take a while.

[sc72]

Yesterday was the Lakestiva meet and up until that time all I was able to do was read about how good charlies shot package is, well now I am a firm believer in what he is making, the guys that I road with could not find good twisty corners but the parking lots sure got carved up. thanks fellas it was fun and eye opening.

[David88]

1/29/16 post# 185. Third post after a post stating "No deposit needed as of right now". Does that get me in line for a set? I have not been contacted. I was serious and still am..

[Hot_Wheels]

Oh nose! We need to settle this like men! I say we do a cage match! Who ever is alive after the match gets the honor of buying a suspension set up!

[errjam]

wow, fantastic and awesome thanks to both of you guys, for your hard work, interest and support , I have had my festiva for less than a year but already very excited about it ( and my other 'fun' car is a full maximum motorsports suspension / bear brake upgraded / 385 HSP weighing 3000 lbs mustang setting on sticky tires ) it's such a fun , tossable car all while getting 40mpg and having plenty of space