Need mechanical help in Sanford, NC

[Britstiva]

My Festiva's clutch and transmission are shot. I have purchased another trans and a clutch kit to go in the car.

I do have some mechanical experience but I've never worked on a transmission. I NEED HELP!!!

I've priced this out and the cheapest I can get it done from a mechanic is $250-300. With everything going up in price, I don't have that money to throw on a car that isn't my primary vehicle.

She's been setting for almost ten months now. Is there anyone out there who would be willing to help me?!

I'm not looking for someone to come over here and do the work for me. But if you have the know-how, then tell me to turn this bolt, remove this, do this, do that.. that's what I'm looking for.

I'll cook you a steak, buy you some beer... whatever it takes. Just please help!

Forgot to tell ya:

I have an '88 Ford Festiva L. It's a manual 4 speed. Location: Sanford, NC.

[hawkdoc60]

Where do you live?

[hawkdoc60]

Oops! I guess I should have checked your link first. I would be more than happy to help you out, but there is no way I could get down there anytime soon.

[Pu241]

10 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You could have bought the Hayness or Ford manual and have done this by the book a dozen times blind folded.
Do you have any of these available to you?
When you start this with the appropriate documentation and run into an issue certainly drop us a line.
Pics would also be of value if you run into an issue.
BTW, add NC to you location.

[Britstiva]

[QUOTE=Pu241;146442]10 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You could have bought the Haynes or Ford manual and have done this by the book a dozen times blind folded.
QUOTE]

Yeap, I've got the Haynes manual. And trust me, I really hate that I'm even posting this. This is so aggravating! I just know that once I did the entire thing myself, there would be some odd noise to start up.

Then I'd be on here posting "...what is this noise?" And everyone would be saying, "...you should have replaced this too. Now you're gonna have to tear it all back apart!"

....And trust me at this point, I'd rather just drop a steel beam on it just forget the whole thing. But I just can't do that. LOL I'm just aggravated.

[Pu241]

Was going to post the thread we had some time ago about replacing the tranny but can't find it!
Anyone remember this thread?
It was basically a sequential list of what needed to be done and in what order.
It was nice because a number of people had contributed to it and it seemed rather complete.

[SimonTuffGuy]

I'd suggest posting something in the regional forums down below... Or maybe searching through the forum to see what members are near you (we have a map of members that's liked in the General Discussion forum as well)...

Surely there's got to be someone that could be there to help.

I had a buddy help with mine and I was thankful for the extra hands when I needed it. We pulled the tranny from a junkyard starting at 8 AM... After pulling it and traveling home, we had the BP engine out of my Festiva and the new tranny dropped back in before the sun was setting.

So... It's honestly not THAT bad to do. Just patience, and remembering what nuts and bolts go where.

[Festy46]

So... It's honestly not THAT bad to do. Just patience, and remembering what nuts and bolts go where.

I use a tray like you would find in a fishing tackle box only bigger with separate little spaces for different groups of bolts. For example, when I remove the transmission, I put the 4 big bolts, the tiny bolts that hold the tin dust shield and the support bracket bolts in one compartment. That way when I'm ready to bolt the transmission back up to the engine, I have all the bolts together for that. Another thing I do to keep track of my bolts is replace them a few turns with my fingers in the place they belong. A couple examples are the hood bolts and the radiator top brackets. When I remove the hood I screw the bolts back into the hood so I know where they are when it's time to put the hood back on. The same thing for the top radiator brackets. Another good thing to do when you remove any wires or hoses is to wrap a piece of masking tape around the wire or hose and write something on it to remind you where that particular part goes.

[Britstiva]

Thanks for all the tips guys! I've actually spoke to one of the local guys and we've been working on getting together for the past two months. But things are hectic for him right now and he doesn't forsee any free time coming soon.

So, I'm actually trying to work up the nerve to just jump in there by myself and see how far I can get. If everything plays out the way I want it to, I may do just that this weekend. *Of course, if I don't chicken out before then* LOL

I was thinking of using ziploc bags labeled for the bolts and the digital camera for the removal process. (as much as I can).

I've got a friend who can atleast be there when I start so if I need an extra hand here and there, he could assist me some. But he has zero mechanical knowledge.

[sam.1956]

Using ziploc bags is an excellent idea. Some masking tape & magic marker for labeling hoses & such and a digital camera to help you remember where stuff goes is great too. If you have another car to drive, then I'd say jump on in. When I did my car, I'd never tackled anything like swapping out a clutch in a FWD car, and I'm only a mediocre wrench spinner at best. The Festiva is simple enough that it really isn't that tough to do. Just take your time, think logically about what's going on & have that Haynes manual on your hip for reference.

[Britstiva]

First, check out the date this thread was started. I posted it asking for help back in May. I purchased this car in the Summer of 2007. So it's been here, waiting for help for over a year.


Update!

The transmission was removed from the car today! I also belong to a VW Beetle group and one of my members there came over to help me out. Everything was rusted or frozen. The brakes were tough to get loose to move the car since it's been setting. The rim was rusted onto the car... After about 20 minutes of banging and PB Buster, it finally came off the car!

Then the brake unit was froze onto the rotor. We literally had to bang and beat our way into the car. LOL We were both breaking a steady sweat by the time we finally got to the transmission.

We've gotten the tranny off and the clutch replaced. Now we're having a heck of a time getting the tranny back onto the motor. We literally worked for about 8 hours today, just to get to this point. We were both so tired from wrestling the car, that we called it a day. I'm already sore. LOL

To be honest with you guys, I'm a bit disappointed that I couldn't get any Festiva guys over to help. We sure could have used some Festiva knowledge to get out of some ruts along the way. And maybe even have finished the project today.

Thank God this guy had transmission knowledge. There was no way I could done this job by just reading a book or done it alone!

As it stands now, it may be a few weeks before he can return to help me finish the project. So, I'm asking again (practically begging) for help to get this finished.

Can anyone come over and help me finish this thing?!

[collegeboi]

Sorry man wish i was closer, dont know a lot but would help you.

Come on guys help a few member.

[FestYboy]

i'd be there if it weren't for the 8 hr drive and having to work... i hate work.

[Britstiva]

Here are two pics from Saturday. Man, I'm still sore from tugging and beating parts! Here's how she's setting now in the drive until it's completed: (Hey Dean, notice that new hood without any rust?! Thanks to you at the Festiva Madness meet in October, she's looking better!!)

[V8Festiva]

Great that you could use the hood.

Dean
Raleigh, NC