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Fix your broken swoopies.

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  • Fix your broken swoopies.

    If any of you have the classic wobbling swoopies, and can't seem to find ant good ones in the jy. Fix the broken ears. Its very simple. You will need a few items/tools.

    * A heavy duty staple. ( cardboard box ones are good)


    * A small butane torch. ( $25 at radioshack)


    *A good pair of cutters/side cuts/dykes. Its all the same.
    *A Phillips screw driver (+)
    *Needle-nose Visegrips.

    Start by removing the outer most screw buy its self that secures the glass into the housing.
    For a more detailed break-down of how to disassemble the swoopies read this.http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=12226
    Once you have the glass and motor assembly freed from the housing you will probably notice one or both tabs broken.
    Take one of your large staples and bend it to conform to the shape of the old tab.


    Mark approx. 1/8" extra to insert into plastic housing later.


    Use your cutters to trim to final size.
    Use your small visegrips to get a good firm grip in the center of the staple.


    Carefully heat the staple till both ends are glowing red. Be careful not to actually melt the metal it could be dangerous.


    Immediately after removing the staple from the flame push the glowing red staple into the white plastic where the old tab used to be. Give it a moment to cool before releasing the visegrips.


    If the staple is strait and flush with the front edge, you can reinstall glass and screw. That's it. Repeat if needed. Good luck!
    Im not driving a Festiva because I'm poor. I drive a Festiva because i want to!

    Dennis
    93 L Advancedynamics suspension mod, awaiting B6 swap
    91 GL B6 sohc, currently in the hands of DAE undergoing top secret work. Soon to be cable G, with stage 3 F1 Kevlar clutch... To be continued
    93 GL In progress BP/hydro G
    15 Mitsubishi Mirage daily
    88 Dakota tow pig

  • #2
    I see your staple idea worked :p Nice write up!
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Nancy- 1.8L BP, aspire swap, g-trans
    The Adventures of Nancy! Build Thread
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    My Musica! Click me!

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    • #3
      Nice fix! Is that the set of mirrors you got from me?
      "Lane, I've been going to this high school for seven and a half years. I'm no dummy."

      Gone but never forgotten, "Hulkstiva"...http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ht=progression

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      • #4
        why actually yes they are. i now have 3 sets of them. all wobbled on atleast 1.
        Im not driving a Festiva because I'm poor. I drive a Festiva because i want to!

        Dennis
        93 L Advancedynamics suspension mod, awaiting B6 swap
        91 GL B6 sohc, currently in the hands of DAE undergoing top secret work. Soon to be cable G, with stage 3 F1 Kevlar clutch... To be continued
        93 GL In progress BP/hydro G
        15 Mitsubishi Mirage daily
        88 Dakota tow pig

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        • #5
          Beautiful fix idea! I know bravekozak has a bunch of wobbly swoopies. I'm sure he appreciates this
          -Zack
          Blue '93 GL Auto: White 13" 5 Point Wheels, Full LED Conversion, and an 8" Sub

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          • #6
            I have to try this technique. I have about 6 sets of Festiva swoopies with this problem. I only have an acetylene torch. I will have to be careful and use my smallest nozzle. I will practice on some test plastic first. Thanks.

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            • #7
              I'm sure a lighter/candle would do just fine
              -Zack
              Blue '93 GL Auto: White 13" 5 Point Wheels, Full LED Conversion, and an 8" Sub

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              • #8
                What's a "swoopie"?
                Original owner of silver grey carburetted 1989 Festiva. 105k km as of June 2006. 140k km as of June 2021.

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                • #9
                  The U.S. had a different type of power mirror on the 88 and 89 models.
                  It was one piece that did not pivot. That power mirror was never available in Canada. The power mirror that was made available on later models was designed based on the Protege mirror. It was more aerodynamic and it pivoted. The Festiva and Protege shared the same mirror housings and internals. The only difference being the sail plate. It appears more swoopies were sold in Canada than the United States for some strange reason.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by WmWatt View Post
                    What's a "swoopie"?
                    Ditto

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                    • #11
                      Both cars in this photo have "swoopies"

                      Ian
                      Calgary AB, Canada
                      93 L B6T: June 2016 FOTM
                      59 Austin Healey "Bugeye" Sprite

                      "It's infinitely better to fail with courage than to sit idle with fear...." Chip Gaines (pg 167 of Capital Gaines, Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff)

                      Link to the "Road Trip Starting Points" page of my Econobox Café blog

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                      • #12
                        See why I always ask pointed questions regarding looking at the mirror motor ears for evidence of breakage or repair, prior to purchase? I threaten to send them back if they tell me it's O.K. and it isn't.

                        Dear bravekozak,

                        I am sorry it took me so long to get back to you, it's been quite busy here. The mirror does NOT wobble, however, upon looking inside I can see that it had been repaired at one time. There is a large amount of plastic "glue" behind the mirror so I cannot visibly see any "ears". I hope this helps, thank you, Osseo Salvage.

                        - osseosalvagellc

                        Last edited by bravekozak; 04-09-2013, 01:07 PM.

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                        • #13
                          Good fix! I have a similar write up, somewhere, where I used a strip of aluminum, shaped like the plastic tabs, and 5 min exopy to fix my swoopies. 3 yrs later, still holding.
                          Dan




                          Red 1988 Festiva L - CUJO

                          Black 1992 Festiva GL Sport - BLACK MAGIC

                          I'm just...a little slow... sometimes:withstupid:

                          R.I.P.
                          Blue 1972 Chevelle SS-468 C.I.D. B'nM TH400-4:56 posi-Black racing stripes-Black vinyl top-Black int.
                          Black on black 1976 Camaro LT-350 4 bolt main .060 over
                          Silver 1988 Festiva L

                          My Music!
                          http://www.reverbnation.com/main/sea...t_songs/266647

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                          • #14
                            I bought this and this today in order to fix up the Festiva swoopies. Don't be alarmed to see a high price after I create some perfect swoopies to sell on here. I will take a picture of my swoopy salvage bins after it stops raining.
                            Last edited by bravekozak; 04-09-2013, 06:28 PM.

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by bravekozak View Post
                              I bought this and this today in order to fix up the Festiva swoopies. Don't be alarmed to see a high price after I create some perfect swoopies to sell on here. I will take a picture of my swoopy salvage bins after it stops raining.
                              Brave -

                              Hey, as a reminder, I committed to buying a set of swoopies from you a couple of months ago, when you said that you had quite a few that needed the tabs, etc fixed on them.

                              "Fixed" is fine with me as long as they stay "fixed". :thumbs_up:

                              Pls let me know when you've got some good ones to sell....
                              88L - 'Twistiva' - 'The Fusion of Man and Machine'
                              88LX - 'Laztiza' - Future Resurrection Project
                              91L - 'Mistiva' - My Daughter's DD
                              93L - 'Vextiva' - Airport Car

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