Novice Mechanic

[Swayde96]

I have a 1990 Festiva with an engine that lost compression, a 1988 Festiva (4 speed) with a bad transmission, a 1993 (5speed) with a bad transmission. My question is, how hard will it be to change these components out? And how much will these parts costs at a random junkyard? I have proper equipment and assistance I just need some more educated replies to this subject before jumping in.

[jfd64]

Motors and trannys in festies are an easy swap out compared to most cars.Studying a repair manual and having it close by can be very helpful the ist time around.Probably 200 a piece ,give or take on price would be my guess but i cant speak for any specific salvage yard that has them.I think lkq is at about 100 for a manual trans if u pull.A suggestion would be to Pull them as a unit from the 90,93 and mate your good motor and trans and put back in your choice of 90 or 93. After gaining that experience then seek an inexpensive running and shifting cheap parts car and pull and drop the drive train from that into the one left without.For myself unless the 88 was really nice i might not mess with it cause i don't want to deal with the carb motors and all the parts involved but others may prefer them.Good luck on your journey.

[ryanprins13]

Which car do you want to keep the body from to make a good one? If your doing carb to carb, fi to fi, manual trans to manual trans these are probably the easiest vehicles there is to swap motors and trannies in and out of. Easiest swap would be the 90 trans into the 93 i its also a 5speed. But which body do you wanna keep?


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[blkfordsedan]

Yep. With the exception of maybe an early '60s to early '70s Ford/Chevy/Dodge, Festivas are probably the easiest to swap motors and transmissions. The worst part IMO is disassembling the front suspension and pulling the axles. I don't like rolling around on the ground much anymore. Once you do it a few times, you learn what tools fit best, how to get at the bolts, where and how to pry on things, etc.. Then it becomes pretty quick & easy.

[Swayde96]

Great advice from you all, the 93 has the best body and impeccable interior, so that would be my pick. I also have an 89 that runs just fine, I haven't took a swing at it yet because of the other three but might it be carbed as well?


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[Swayde96]

I was wrong the 89 has the Bad tranny not the 88. With that said I have a better question now, what years are carbed and fi? I'm curious now if the the engine from the 89 would be compatible with the 90? That would save a heap of trouble with salvage yards.


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[lessersivad]

I was wrong the 89 has the Bad tranny not the 88. With that said I have a better question now, what years are carbed and fi? I'm curious now if the the engine from the 89 would be compatible with the 90? That would save a heap of trouble with salvage yards.


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'88 and ('89 with manual trans) should be carbed. ('89 automatic) and all '90-'93 should be FI. Note; the '89 autos are sort of a 'bastard child' of FI(change over year).

Swapping engines from carb to FI I would simply replace the intake manifold, distributor, and install a block off plate for the manual fuel pump.

Hope this helps.

[Swayde96]

Well that's a tad disappointing. So both 90's are fi and 80's are carbed. Got it!


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[ryanprins13]

I just am getting a bit confused as to whats what on your cars.
So you want to keep the body of the '93 5speed. The engine in it is good so all you need is a transmission. Do you have another car with a good 5 speed?


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[Swayde96]

'88(blue) runs fine, body is okay
'89(black) good engine bad tranny
'89 (red) good tranny bad engine
'93(red) good engine bad tranny
I want to keep '93 body and have the 5 speed available from from the '89. I would like them all to running well though.


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[lessersivad]

Well that's a tad disappointing. So both 90's are fi and 80's are carbed. Got it!


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Are all of the cars you have manual trans?

Also it's not that difficult to swap the intake and distributor. I did it on my '89 auto when I installed an engine from an Aspire. The only thing I didn't have to do is install the manual fuel pump block-off plate.

[Swayde96]

Are all of the cars you have manual trans?

Also it's not that difficult to swap the intake and distributor. I did it on my '89 auto when I installed an engine from an Aspire. The only thing I didn't have to do is install the manual fuel pump block-off plate.

Yes they are all manuals


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[Swayde96]

I've never converted a cars fuel feed, is there a link that can show me what needs to be done?


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[lessersivad]

Swayde, IF this is what you want to do;
" I'm curious now if the the engine from the 89 would be compatible with the 90? That would save a heap of trouble with salvage yards."

The answer is yes. BY swapping the intake manifold and distributor and using the fuel pump block off plate from the '90.

In other words, '89 remove the intake, distributor and fuel pump. '90 remove intake manifold, distributor and the block off plate where the mechanical fuel pump would go on the '89.

Install the '90 intake manifold, distributor, and the block off plate onto the '89 engine. Done. You will have changed the '89 engine into a '90 engine.

I don't understand the big confusion on the issue, but then again maybe I haven't explained it clearly.

[Dragonhealer]

After trying each method, I have found it easiest to drop the drivline as an assembly down onto an engine cart, lift the front of the car, roll the driveline out. Everything is easy to get to then.