I guess it's official...

[Dave G]

... I'm a Festiva nut. Picked up that 5 speed I've been wanting just now :-)

Has about 134k miles on it, seems to run just fine. No expensive noises. Didn't do it for me, but according to the previous owner it has a problem where it just dies for no apparent reason occasionally. Starts right back up, though. He suspects the ignition switch, which IS really sloppy. Needs exhaust from the cat back, has a torn driver side outboard CV joint boot. The body is straight, some rust in the usual places (not very much), no rust I could see underneath. Three hundred bucks.

Some pics in the garage:

http://www.ws-design.com/junk/

[ramichael]

Nice looking ride.

[PaulLehr]

Looks like a great score for 300 bucks !!

[htchbck]

looks like you got a real good deal... maybe a little sanding a painting on the hood before that gets any worse (I had a bad experience with a taurus and some rust spots like that). Are you planning a motor swap? if not it looks like ya might need a new valve cover gasket :roll:

[25Horseplay]

You can never have just 1 Festiva! Dave you coming to Ohiostiva? If so I have a nice green hood I'll bring you!

[Safety Guy]

Good score Dave!! A blue one, too, in addition to your classic yellow banana.

You'll have to mod this one.

I'll have to come over soon to see it. Let me know if you need any help. I'll be a bit busy this next week and then I should have some time.

Karl

[packrat427]

Awesome Dave !!
OH OH the seats , now there is 2 of us :lol: :lol:

[Dave G]

Thanks, everyone :-). Unfortunately I don't have the title yet, so no driving it this weekend. Plus I'm getting over a cold, so I don't feel like crawling around under it very much today. But I'm thinking I got a pretty good find here!

Brian - hood, sure! How much do you want for it?

Karl - yes, by all means come over and have a look. As for "modding", I dunno; gotta get it reliable first, then we'll see :-).

Packrat - I thought I'd seen those seat cover somewhere before :-).

Somethings gotta go - anyone looking for an S-10? http://columbus.craigslist.org/car/208082181.html

[Dave G]

Somethings gotta go - anyone looking for an S-10? http://columbus.craigslist.org/car/208082181.html

Craigslist is amazing; the truck is sold already (about 3 hours after placing the ad).

[thewalrus]

Looks good! Not a bad find for $300.

[Safety Guy]

Congrats on selling your truck, Dave!

Now you HAVE to begin looking for a B6 engine...

Karl

[Dave G]

Re: I guess it's official...

... has a problem where it just dies for no apparent reason occasionally.

Well I'm guardedly optimistic that the entire electrical problem is due to a bad main fusible link. The one that was in there had too small connectors on it, kinda just jambed in there... came out with no effort at all. Lots of corrosion. I'll bet that's it. Off to NAPA to try to find the correct spade connectors.

[packrat427]

I had a whole bag that I brought to Michigan of all sizes , I will bring them to Ohio again

[Dave G]

I had a whole bag that I brought to Michigan of all sizes , I will bring them to Ohio again

Hey that would be great! I found some a bit too large at NAPA, soldered them on to the old link's wire, and all seems to be well (knock wood). Got the title this evening too, so tomorrow afternoon I should be able to take the thing out on the road! :-)

[Dave G]

It lives! :-) Have done around 20 miles worth of errands in the thing today, and so far, so good.

Apparently the fusible link was not the cause of the engine quitting, because it did it to me a couple of times this morning. Once right after turning on the turn signal, and once when putting it in reverse. But those were both on the first little drive this morning; since then no problems. So I dunno - just have to wait and see I guess.

It's louder than hell with no muffler and I think I'm going to just break down and take it to Monroe tomorrow (I hate exhaust work).

So far I have replaced both outside rear wheel bearings, fixed the rusted solid parking brake linkage(s) (the link between the brake shoes), fixed the rusted solid hood latch, and replaced several burned out light bulbs.

It's a heck of a lot more fun to drive than the automatic :-)