New to site, with question

[piratewilly]

Hey i have a 88 ford festiva lx We bought it for my sister, and withen a month the clutch had gone out and she didn't like it. So i went ahead and started driving it. Now i hate ford ok lol and when i first started driving it, all that would run through my head was "slow a$$ piece of crap ford" but hey i was getting 40 mpg so i couldn't complain to much. Now, like many of you in here im a gear head, so i can't just leave well enough alone. I started doing some research on the car and found that really, its not a ford at all. LOL hey something plus, i started to like it. Then i found out, hey really its basically a mazda engine. Started to like it more, cause i knew that back in the late 80's, early 90's that mazda had some awesome stuff. I started looking over the car and relized that hey whoever owned this car before me did an great job of keeping it in brand new condition. There wasn't a thing out of place or missing on the interior, even the dash wasn't faded or cracked, hell, even the AC blew ice cold. I looked under the hook, immaculate, Not even a hint of dust anywhere, let alone an oil leak. All the hoses were in brand new condition, even the vacuum hoses, and the air filter looked new, and all the parts on this car were factory parts, not aftermarket. My fav. part though has to be the factory installed tow hitch. To top it all off the little car only had 30,000 orignal miles on it. I called the guy who we bought it from and found out that he was just a little old man, retired, but up untill a few years ago he was a master mechanic at our local ford dealership for 30 years, bought the car brand new for his wife, but she never left they house so it just sat while he maintained it. I LOVED THIS CAR NOW. I have a 98 GLX VR6 jetta, a 92 VW Corrado G60 supercharged, a 74 Dodge D100 4x4, and an 88 Toyota MR2 S/C, but my fav out of all of them is my little festiva cause, well, idk there something about driving around a little $h!t box, that u can't explain you just have to experience. Anyways, im driving to go to the movies on thanksgiving when all of a sudden the engine dies and i have to coast to a local gas station. The gas gauge is a little messed up, it will read full till there is a half a tank, then it will read empty, so i figure humm maybe its out of gas. I always keep track of my miles and notice its only been 280 miles since i filled up last and know i usually get at least 330 before im out. So i put in 5 bucks, still just turns over no start. I pore a little bit down the carb, thinking if it is the fuel pump this will make it at least chug. Still nothing. I pull a spark plug wire and check and i was getting spark. I checked timing to see if it for some reason like had fall out of the universe, but it was still good. So im guessing i lost compression. My question is, would it be worth it to rebuild the engine i have, or cheaper to go with something like a B6? I dont wanna be down a long time, so whatever is that cheapest and fastest, but if i do end up just rebuilding the B3 is there something i can do to give it more pep and getup and go something to where it would run in the low 16's in the 1/4 mile? thanks guys let me know.

[av8ter]

Welcome to the forums. Your thread is in the wrong place fye. This could go in engine mods.

I really liked the 88-89 LX models. I currently own a 88l but mine it mostly converted to LX.

The stock B3 engine is peppy only when it is in perfect running condition, but can sustain decent mileage regardless of condition.

Common swaps include:

B6 sohc(same basic engine as stock, just 1.6, and easiest to swap) 80-85hp

B6 dohc(later version of the sohc but dohc and higher Hp, offered in n/a and turbo)110-150hp

Bp dohc 1.8(requires more modding but lots of torque) 125hp

You will find out more about these swap the more you are on here, but as far as transmissions go, you can use the stock up to about 130 hp if you dont abuse it, but need to upgrade if you have any more than that.

[25Horseplay]

I find it hard to believe that with only 30,000 miles the engine is bad. Did the timing belt break? I am moving this to the repair forum for more help. You aren't from Cleveland by ay chance?

[FB71]

+1 vote for the timing belt. Super easy to change, and the engine is freewheeling, so there's no chance for additional damage. Take the distributor cap off, and have someone crank the engine. Watch the rotor and see if it turns. If not, then the belt is most likely broken.

[piratewilly]

well im guessing the TB too, being that old ruber just sitting tends to crap, just like the tires, speaking of which what rims can i put on that car to get like a 13 or 14 i can't find 12inch tires for the life of me and im over in Cali

[FB71]

check this topic, I think it'll answer your wheel and tire questions.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3267

[piratewilly]

which is the easiest and cheapest engine swap?

[FB71]

try this topic

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9826

[kzbill]

That particular engine will go 300,000 mi. incase you were wondering, you don't need to swap it if you want to keep the gas mileage.

[Pu241]

Bakersfield as in CA?

Too bad if that is the case, I was looking forward to helping you cleanup your garage by removing that B3 you wont need anymore!

[piratewilly]

lol yeah well if u can help me out, i would probably send it to yeah for free if u want to pay shiping

[Pu241]

If you can put the B3 on a pallet and get it to a loading dock I'll be glad to pay for shipping!
Actually, the loading dock can palletize it and load it!
let me see what I can setup, if your really going to swap out your B3!

[piratewilly]

ill keep u posted, im still not sure what im planing on doing, im headed to the junk yard with a list, and seeing whats avalible

[Liltucker]

hey i have ann 88 and looking too make some upgrades on the engine... hopefully a swap i know this is the wrong place too bring it up but if u guys could help it would be great!