Need help making a lemon into lemonade

[notahybrid]

To those of you who answered my reliability question on the 1.3l engine a couple weeks ago, thanks. Unfortunately though, it looks like I'm stuck with this car. To basically describe it, it'd make for ok transportation round the junkyard, but don't trust it on the street. The frame has some abuse to it. The front axle will need attention more than the rest. I can't find parts for the carb to get the engine running right, and the dealer can't get me a VIN cut key. This car was fixed up enough for a quick sale but that's it. If at all possible, I need some help getting it pieced back together. I've seen cars in far worse condition be restored so I know it can be done. Just a matter of time money and effort. First, I just want to get it running again, then I'll work on structural integrity I think. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[25Horseplay]

Maybe if you post your location in your profile there might be another member here that can lend a hand.

[Seth]

look in the for sale section. theres usually lots of parts up for sale. everybody is decent on prices and shipping. just depending on what your looking for. and theres a few online shops that have parts as well. the only one i really buy from is www.rockauto.com theyre pretty decent priced decent shipping and theyre pretty fast on delivery.

you have a FI or Carbed? 4 speed? 5 speed?

im sure theres someone on the board with a parts car and a set of keys. might be willing to give a lock set up. with ignition.

front axle? wich side?

[Levitan]

Notahybrid,

Bro, you gotta give way more info than you are giving. What year, carb/efi, 4 speed/5 speed, what issues, what side, top/bottom, what color..I'm assuming it's a Festy. Doc can't help if you don't tell him where it hurts!

[nonamekid]

... the dealer can't get me a VIN cut key.

No one can on festivas. They need the lock number off the passenger door lock. After you get that number, call a local lock smith and have them cut a key based on that number. Let them know it is from a festiva. I had to call a locksmith to get a key cut for the festiva I bought from the police auction, and this is the number he needed in order to get a new key cut.

[notahybrid]

I apologize for the lack of info. I had to cut it short on the last post cause I was running a little late for work yesterday. The car is an '89 carburetted with a 5spd manual. To put it simple, I was played. Several problems were carefully covered up or not mentioned at all instead of being fixed properly. I bought this car off ebay from a seller with a 100% rating from over 50 people. So much for good seller ratings. The engine does run and the car did drive, thankfully. I've heard it, but it can't hold a steady idle and it smokes, so I figure the carb's at least partly to blame. I've heard the carb is the weakest part on the early Festys. As for the tranny, shifter feels like it needs new bushings, no biggie. Clutch is somewhat problematic, but I plan on doing most of my own labor so fixing is just the cost of the parts and my own time. As for body and frame, the body's ok, typical wear I'd expect from a 19 yr old car. Floor has some rot, but still keeps water out. I was nervous to see water puddled in with the spare tire though, but a couple pokes led me to believe the well was just discolored. The major issue with the frame is that one of the mounting points holding the front axle in place is majorly rotted. I'm not a welder, so I'm not sure what it'd take to fix. Anyway, I think that's the entire rundown on this lemon. Some would say it'd be cheaper to get another car and scrap this one or use her for parts. Those are options I'm keeping open, but I feel I paid too much for it to just haul it to the junkyard. I'd lose alot that way. I could use her for a parts car, but I'm a twenty yr old college kid, and the folks just aren't warming up to the idea of having a non-running car around. I'm almost convinced that at any price, my best bet would be to fix her up and drive her using my own labor and some spare cash. I want to use it as a daily driver. Parts are cheap when found, and the mpg's are in Prius territory. Those two things are what attracted me to the Festy in the first place. I've seen rides in far worse condition get resto treatment, and maybe a Festy isn't as desirable as some of those, but it's still repairable I think. If anyone lives near Massillon, Oh, I'd be welcome to meeting with them and discussing the car.

[notahybrid]

Forgot to mention, that would be the passenger side on the axle that needs attention. Thanks.

[scottxd45]

Can you get a picture on here of the rotted mounting point. That would help people make some suggestions on repair.

[notahybrid]

Can you get a picture on here of the rotted mounting point. That would help people make some suggestions on repair.

Sure, I'll get on that.

[25Horseplay]

I am approx 30-40 min north of Massillion. There are quite a few members here within a 1/2 hour of you. I know of a parts car near the airdock in Akron, if the car is still there.

[notahybrid]

Great, nice to know I got tech help that close to home. Do you have the name on the yard or exact location of that parts car?

[notahybrid]

here's 2 pics

[notahybrid]

here's 2 more

[Mike McKown]

I don't see any major league problem there. Maybe I'm not looking in the right spot?

[scottxd45]

I don't see any major league problem there. Maybe I'm not looking in the right spot?

Same here. I can't see anything in the pictures that looks unsafe.