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HEAD SWAP
Hello all! Ok i'm well into my in car ring job on my 1988 carb Festiva and i have run across something i think needs attention. The head is off and all cleaned up but my #1 plug was very hard to come out and once i finally got it out the threads were pretty messed up. So i got a thread chaser and cleaned them up but im affraid that when i go to put a new plug in, it wont tighten up. So what i want to know is should i get a helicoil or thread insert and fix it that way or can i swap the head from a late model Aspire, 95 model or so. My thing is my 88 has the mechanical lifter assembly and the late model Aspire has the hydraulic assembly, so can they interchange without any problems? Thanks in advance for any ideas, advice, and comments!
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FF-89 -
The Aspire head will work fine. You can swap the mechanical cam & rocker/shafts onto the Aspire head. I don't think you can run the Aspire cam & valvetrain on your '88, since you probably have a fuel pump driven off the cam (but I could be wrong). Just make sure to run the mechanical rockers on the '88 cam or Aspire roller followers on the Aspire cam.....don't mix the two versions of cam & rockers.
Option #2 would be to take the head in to a machine shop and have an insert installed in the offending plug hole (or do it yourself). It's not the optimal solution, but many people do it without issues. I don't think it costs much and most machine shops have inserts designed specifically for spark plugs. However, if the '88 head is worn bad (cam journals, valve guides & seats, etc.) you may be better off to find a lower mileage head from another Festy or Aspire.Last edited by blkfordsedan; 01-20-2012, 10:56 AM.Brian
93L - 5SP, FMS springs, 323 alloys, 1st gen B6, ported head & intake, FMS cam, ported exhaust manifold w/2-1/4" head pipe.
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I thought the Festy EFI cams and the Aspire cams still had the bump for the mechanical fuel pumps, and all you would have to do is remove the cover on the head to access it. True or not?90 Festy (Larry)--B6M (Matt D. modified B6 head), header, 5-speed, Capri XR2 front brakes, many other little mods
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I think you are correct on that.Originally posted by TominMO View Post-93' L BP swap/e-series, coilovers, RIO front swap, redrilled festy drums, Miata 14" 7 spokes.
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the aspire cams do NOT have the fuel pump lobe but the EFI festys DO.
you can use the aspire head with festy cam and rockers in your 88.Trees aren't kind to me...
currently: 2 88Ls (Scrappy and Jersey), 88LX, 90L(Pepe), 91L, 91GL (Skippy) 93 GL Sport (the Mighty Favakk), 94 (Bruce) & 95 Aspire SEs, 97 Aspire (The Joker),
94 Justy 4WD, 87 Fiero GT, plus 2 parts cars. That's my fleet.
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Back up and atem!
Well all its been sometime now since i last posted about my in car ring job and i am pleased to say that she is running better than i expected. she still idles erratically and not as smooth as i would like but she doesn't cut off on me at all. Gas mileage is 35 to 40 and it will do every bit of 85 on the highway! Here are a couple of pic i took the other day after washing the engine bay. Enjoy!FF-89Comment
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Looking good!Contact me for information about Festiva Madness!
Remember, FestYboy is inflatable , and Scitzz means crazy, YO!
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so what did you wind up doing about the spark plug hole?Trees aren't kind to me...
currently: 2 88Ls (Scrappy and Jersey), 88LX, 90L(Pepe), 91L, 91GL (Skippy) 93 GL Sport (the Mighty Favakk), 94 (Bruce) & 95 Aspire SEs, 97 Aspire (The Joker),
94 Justy 4WD, 87 Fiero GT, plus 2 parts cars. That's my fleet.
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It worked out fine and i just used my same head. I have actually taken the plug out a few times and it tightens right back up so i was glad of that!FF-89Comment
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good to hearTrees aren't kind to me...
currently: 2 88Ls (Scrappy and Jersey), 88LX, 90L(Pepe), 91L, 91GL (Skippy) 93 GL Sport (the Mighty Favakk), 94 (Bruce) & 95 Aspire SEs, 97 Aspire (The Joker),
94 Justy 4WD, 87 Fiero GT, plus 2 parts cars. That's my fleet.
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Ahhhh "Engine Porn" & its wetOriginally posted by ROBERT MITCHELL View Post
Good job Hoss! Glad you got her back on the road.
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