Escort motor for my festy

[festyfreak39]

See and there's festyfreak backing me up yet again with the same thought train. If i had never owned any aspires or festivas but stumbled on a 1.9 escort deal, copying those guys woulda been something to try.

hahahaha we def share the same thought process...

[Team Lightning]

If I remember correctly the 1.9 has about 88 hp and the GT 1.8 has about 127 hp.

[festyfreak39]

If I remember correctly the 1.9 has about 88 hp and the GT 1.8 has about 127 hp.

the older ones do , and the newer 1997 ones come with like 110hp / 125 lbs tq.

[Tommy]

Im glad I asked before I got this car I was thinking of the 1.8 when I found this, that would have been a bad mistake. What does the 1.8 come in I need a motor my 1.3 is starting to get hurt and Im looking for a motor to build while I drive the car, I should be asking what motor should I get Im not looking for a hot rod I drive 100 miles a day and need the fuel mileage but would like more power so I can run the A/C without using an entire tank of gas. And Thank you guys for letting my know I was about to mess up big.

[festyfreak39]

Im glad I asked before I got this car I was thinking of the 1.8 when I found this, that would have been a bad mistake. What does the 1.8 come in I need a motor my 1.3 is starting to get hurt and Im looking for a motor to build while I drive the car, I should be asking what motor should I get Im not looking for a hot rod I drive 100 miles a day and need the fuel mileage but would like more power so I can run the A/C without using an entire tank of gas. And Thank you guys for letting my know I was about to mess up big.

mazda 323 1.6 is exactly what you need. SOHC, direct swap more power good fuel economy and takes 0 effort to swap.

[Zanzer]

^^ Word :mrgreen:


I guess working at the garage I just saw the bad 1.9's LOL

[bhazard]

They aren't bad, just not what id want in a festy.

I believe there's a guy on ecomodder with over 500k on an 88ish escort.

[getnpsi]

1.9 is just not a set it and forget it type of engine. Once the valve dropping issue is addressed with a new valve job it's just as potent as many older tech engines. I could be wrong but i think the 1.9 would be the budget swap into a first gen ford fiesta, that thing would move with a t-25 and megasquirt lol.

OP: if you want to keep a/c the 1.6 is the engine you want unless you want to do a little trial and error notching the frame. The longer blocks will require this. eurostiva has a 1.8 engine in his car with a/c.

[Tommy]

Ok so I need a mazda 1.6 but what year?

[getnpsi]

1988ish engine, but 1992ish ECU.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34503

[Tommychu]

A CVH swap is theoretically plausible into a Festiva. A few of those escorts used an F tranny. 323 Diff swap into a trans with the CVH Bell, 86-89 323 CV's and you're good to go. There's just not much point; if you're going to do a diff swap, custom mounts, and a massive wiring overhaul just to make an impractical engine swap work why not do a K engine?
It's like swapping a GM 2.8 into, well, anything. The potential for power is there if you have enough cash, but otherwise it's an unreliable gutless fuel pig in comparison to the easier swaps.

[nitrofarm]

Those 1.9s are prolly the worst motor ever built lol

They where def pieces of Junk. You could take three good 1.9's and use them to make one good junk 1.9 motor. How Ford ever made them is behond me. I guess its a good thing that they let the Asian's build some of their 4 cyl's. The Z tech's arent bad though I had a 02 ZX3 that you couldnt blow up (I tried). But everything else failed @ 60K. And I mean everything. Pissed me off so bad I had to buy a 06 civic.

[neanderpaul]

Those 1.9s are prolly the worst motor ever built lol

They where def pieces of Junk.

This is ridiculous. Tell that to my buddy driving his with 275k original miles. The motor is very durable and efficient.

This is not a motor you want to put in your festiva but it is a great tough motor.

[getnpsi]

Mechanics only see the worst of everything, kinda like gynecologists? There are scores of ugly teal and/or forest green 1997ish escort wagons still out there on the road going strong where I live. SE model focus has the 2.0L version of the 1.9 and plenty of those in the 150k range or more keeping someone happy.