Aspire Trans

[tireiron55]

Hey ya'll. I'm a new owner to the Festiva Aspire world, and I'm already in need of a little help. I was trying to find a Festiva, but I happened upon a 97 Aspire for $500, and couldn't turn that down. The owner said it needed a clutch. It wasn't shifting right, so I assumed it was the clutch. Turns out after I installed a new one, that it's the transmission. I don't have 4th gear, it doesn't want to stay in 5th, and it makes a ton of racket in 1st through 3rd. I can't find an Aspire transmission around here, so I'm looking to the Festiva or other car makes that I can steel a trans from. I have the 1.3 motor. There is an Aspire site, but they haven't been as helpful as I would have hoped, so I'm coming here. I've gotten one reply that says I can use the Festiva trans but I'll have to use the rear mount from one as well. That's fine with me. I just want this car up and running. It's my only mode of transportation other than my electric scooter. I weld, but I'm not really good. I could make a mount if needed. But I would like to make things as simple as possible. I might try to just trade the freaking Aspire for a Festiva. I don't know what kind of trade I could get without a good transmission though.

[gothguydante]

try posting your location maybe there is someone who lives near you. and might know where to find one for you or have one...

[Safety Guy]

If you find a Festiva transaxle, it will have a lower numerical final drive so your initial acceleration will be a bit slower, but your engine will turn slower at higher speeds. Your speedo will be a bit off as well, indicating you are going faster than you really are by maybe 4%. Oh, and you'll lose the lockup torque convertor since Festiva units didn't have them yet.

I've heard you'll need to use the Aspire front and rear mounts to put on the Festiva transaxle to install it. The side engine mount should be good to go.

Karl

[V8Festiva]

Hello new Aspire owner. Where are you located? It would be helpful to know.

There are a number of Aspires in the Raleigh, NC area.

Some are in junk yards and there are a couple on Craigslist for sale. 500.00 and 900.00 I think last time I looked.

I joined that Aspire site also. Wanted to post there about the local cars in junk yards along with the upcoming Aspire/Festiva meet in Raleigh the 18th.

A few Aspire owners have contacted me that say they will attend. I could e-mail them and maybe they have the parts you need.

I don't have a Aspire at this time. I gave my only Aspire to a family member in real bad need with the understanding it will be return when he buys a replacement or the car stops running. So someday I may have one for parts.

I have a few Festivas. Some are parts only and a few could be fixed up. Most are automatics and 4 speeds. May would trade you a Festiva for the Aspire.

Your welcome to attend the meet coming up in two weeks even without a Aspire or Festiva.
You may could get your needed parts while here.


Dean
Raleigh, NC

[tireiron55]

It's a good 400miles to Raleigh for me. I'm in upper West Virginia. I'm right on the PA border. I've posted on craigslist and have check the local junkyards. Nothing on Aspires yet. I'm going to keep checking the local paper too. Thanks for the info guys. I'll let you know when I find something.

[V8Festiva]

Looks like your along the route That I took to attend The Festiva meet in Ohio this year.

Not a bad ride over to Raleigh from your area.


Maybe see you next year when I head back up again for another Ohio Meet.
Plans are to travel up with 2 or 3 more from Raleigh area.

Dean
Raleigh, NC

[Damkid]

Oh, and you'll lose the lockup torque convertor since Festiva units didn't have them yet.

Karl

torque converter in a standard transmission??:scratch::scratch: i think you had a blonde moment Karl :lol: but we'll let you get away with it

[Safety Guy]

Huh? Oh yeah.

Well, my Nursie is blond. She musta stuck me a little too hard with that needle.

OUCH!

And now, here's a couple of blondes for everyone's enjoyment...

Karl

[tireiron55]

I was going to let that go.

I'm not real happy buying this car and finding out it needs a transmission. I wouldn't have bought it had I known that. I just want a Festiva. Man, this thing runs nice though. Surprisingly very peppy for a 1.3lt engine. I think I might keep it. I'm going to try to rebuild the transmission if no one wants it. Maybe I can pull the final drive out of my Aspire trans and put it in the Festiva. Is that possible? I am going to be able to use the same axles, right? I have found transmission from an 86 Festiva. The guy wants to sell me the whole car for $150. It's ready to be junked with a blown motor. That's just price for it. Pretty much buying by the weight, not the parts. I would like to turn it into a little race car. Drop a BP in it, or a B6. I would rather B6, but I don't want to get into that just yet. I need a job to do much of any of this work.

The electric scooter is broke, and I need money to fix it. I figure some on here might appreciate it. It's a Schwinn Stealth 1000 running at 48v 100amps. Fast and fun. It tops out at about 23mph, and gets there in about 4.5 seconds. I'm hoping to put a 3500w motor on it from a big scooter. That should let me go about 40mph and get there really fast. Hurray for little things that go fast.

[V8Festiva]

Sorry for your Aspire bad luck. I just got in from dropping a friend off at the airport. Just saw a 4 door Aspire on the Saturn of Raleigh used car lot this morning. 1997 model with automatic, White. It was at the back.. They may wholesale it because it is so old.


I may go by there and see if they will allow me to leave a note in the car for who ever buys it about this site and the Aspire site.

If you were local, I would maybe be able to trade you a Festiva for it.

Your welcome to come to the Festiva/Aspire meet here in Raleigh in two weeks.

There could be one or two Festivas there for sale.

One fellow local said if he don't sell it by the meet, he would have his car at the meet.

It is a 88 and it has been in Raleigh all it's life. So it should be about rust free.

I may bring a 89 model with automatic, great body, no rust. Has a bearing knock.

Dean
Raleigh, NC

[Damkid]

try this thread, maybe he'll part with the tranny

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17089

[FestYboy]

^ auto trans

[solatare]

id look that one you got offered for 150 over reall good. if its not been wrecked or rusted too bad swap the suspension and engine from the aspire into it. maybe use te aspire for parts. festiva is alot more fun anyway.

[Safety Guy]

What solatare said!

Karl