Question on 5 Speed Transmission

[bolokid]

My winter build is going to be an 88 Festiva which I purchased with the engine in pieces, 4 speed transmission still in place, perfect body and exceptional interior. I am starting to gather parts for the build and want to replace the 4 speed with a 5 speed transmission. From the forum I gather that an Aspire 5 speed will slip right into place without any modifications.

So the questions are: Is the Aspire 5 speed the same transmission as the Festiva 5 speed? Is either of these transmissions more durable than the other? Known weak points of either?

Thanks.

[rickbz28]

Front mount is different between the two.Have a Festiva at 600,000 miles tranny has never been touched.I also have four Aspires that I have had to change the tranny in,one only had 96,000 miles the others have been in the 250,000 mile range.One Aspire is currently running a Festy five speed and has increased my MPG by about 5 to 7.Final drive ratio is also different thats why better mileage with the Festy trans in Aspire.

[Festy46]

The Aspire's transmission makes the engine run about 500 rpms faster to make the same road speed as the Festiva transmission. Like the above poster said, the fuel savings alone is worth keeping a Festiva transmission. We raced the Festiva transmission on circle tracks for years and never had a problem with them. Just don't be stupid when driving it, like dropping in a bigger engine, and then running the engine up to 5000 rpms and dropping the clutch. The Festiva transmission won't take that kind of abuse.

[bhearts]

I personally like the festiva transmission more, 1st gear and second gear are about the same between festiva and aspire, but festiva 3rd goes to 85, 4th to 120. Where are the aspire 3rd is 65-70mph. And 4th is about 90,

[bolokid]

Festiva 5 speed is what I will use.

Thanks.