Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Ouch.
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
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I have a Craigslist app with saved searches/notifications on my phone and have "festiva" and "mercury capri" saved. A '91 Capri XR2 (turbo 1.6/5 speed) for $425 popped up near Atlanta a couple weeks ago and I texted the owner about it but I didn't hear back from him and I wasn't able to go get it that weekend anyway. He texted back the next Wednesday saying that the car had to be gone by the next day. He was only asking $300 at that point so I loaded up the trailer and went to pick it up that afternoon after work. When I got there I noticed an automatic shifter in the console, so it ended up being a base Capri with a N/A 1.6, and someone had installed a XR2 spoiler/badge. The owner apologized and dropped the price to $200 since he had advertised it as a XR2 with a 5 speed. I was kinda bummed that it wasn't a XR2 but I can use the N/A 1.6 as-is since it's basically a Miata 1.6 engine that's set up for front wheel drive. It doesn't have the "big nose" crank that the 92-93 cars have so I can't run an ATI damper. I don't know how long it'll live at higher RPMs without a damper so I'm planning on it just being a temporary engine until I can find the parts to build a hotter engine. http://i.imgur.com/3zvu0Gyl.jpg I've also been working on rebuilding the 40 DCOE's, just waiting on a few new parts to come in the mail and they'll be done. I'll put them on eBay and find a pair of 45 Dellorto's with around 37mm venturis instead since the 33mm venturis in the Webers will limit flow above 6000 rpm. http://i.imgur.com/ku9ftFHl.jpg https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...1408425456986/ I've had some questions about rebuilding the Webers... it's not that difficult, just time consuming and there is a lot of cleaning. I dissasembled, then soaked the bodies and parts in a gallon can of carb cleaner, then glass bead blast the carb bodies. The brass parts are soaked in aluminum brightener acid to clean off any corrosion. I found a couple of vids on youtube that show the reassembly well. [/QUOTE] |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
I'd find a Hyabusa motor for that Capri.....
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Glad to see some updates. Sucks about the car not being what you hoped.
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
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I'm still hoping to find a good deal on a decent XR2 that I can stow away until I find a clean '92/'93 GL Sport to build. I'll swap in the turbo motor and trans, do the same suspension setup as this one, but keep it all 100% factory parts under the hood so it looks like something the SVO team could have put together. |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Really cool stuff. I know very little about your doing but it's really cool. I feel like I've learned a ton. Because I'm a big dare to be different kinda person I really did it. Thanks for keeping us updated.
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Took it to the first fall semester Clemson autocross on the 26th, first time I've autocrossed it on the Nankang tires. The fastest time of the day was a Fiesta ST with a 48.937, and I came in 8th overall (out of 56 cars) with a 51.042. I was running 5-6 seconds off the fastest times when I had the Achilles all season tires mounted, so the stickier tires helped a lot. It would have been a little quicker but at the level of grip it has now there's apparently too much fuel slosh in the float bowl and it wasn't making power coming out of longer 180* corners. I've seen an old magazine article testing a modified Festiva and they had the same problem on the skid pad. The Webers will solve that problem.
I murdered a cone on my first run... this was a 53.241 lap plus a two second penalty. http://youtu.be/-OuMOFbAqlw Second run, 51.59. http://youtu.be/A_b5qToN6TE http://i.imgur.com/gHArdiUl.jpg Three wheeling into a corner. http://i.imgur.com/0fifXnJl.jpg |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Thanks for sharing your story with this little car, this is so cool!
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Awesome.
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Thanks guys!! |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
A few days ago I started getting the Capri engine ready to pull. The driver side axle gave me some trouble, but I finally got it out with some advice from the Festiva forum members.
https://i.imgur.com/WV7NlKdl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/1zMLWxXl.jpg Yesterday I stripped everything off the engine, then cleaned and painted the block. I originally bought a Honda F22 header to try to modify and make it fit the Capri engine, but it wasn't a good match for the oil pan notch. I bought a MX-6 header that looked like a closer fit and cut the flange off so I could see how it's going to line up on the b6d. Looks good, so I'll go with it. I also reinstalled the compressor to check for clearance at the #1 pipe, fits much better than the F22 header. https://i.imgur.com/FaLKsIEl.jpg The b6d flange I found on eBay is pretty crappy. It was missing two holes, and five of the others didn't quite line up. The ports are a little off too. Nothing a carbide burr and drill press can't fix. https://i.imgur.com/OFAdYrMl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/xRazibWl.jpg Figured out why the engine didn't want to turn over easily when I tried to do a compression test... that's the nose of the starter housing. https://i.imgur.com/yLJqI8Fl.jpg Today I installed a new timing belt, water pump, cam/crank seals, and I detailed the valve cover. I tack welded the header to the flange to hold it in place for mock up in the car. I'm off tomorrow, so I'm hoping to pull the B6t/G series out of the blue car so I can get the trans cleaned up and ready to mount to the B6d. https://i.imgur.com/btywWoPl.jpg |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
The engine looks good.
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Can't wait to see how the little roller skate boogies!
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Got a lot done and not a lot posted...
I swapped out the interior from a nicer/higher optioned LX. This included a tilt column. https://i.imgur.com/gl6BuQkl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/oYgv5BYl.jpg Pulled the original 1.3. https://i.imgur.com/EywCa3dl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/1KyXFZyl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/94CEReNl.jpg Bought a pair of 45mm Dellorto DHLA's. https://i.imgur.com/Sw8F7Mml.jpg Cleaned the engine compartment. https://i.imgur.com/i3uDpjml.jpg Transfered the front bracing and radiator support from the mock up car to this one, and made lower radiator mounts. Radiator is aftermarket for a Honda Civic. https://i.imgur.com/F7yf6X4l.jpg https://i.imgur.com/lSFu077l.jpg https://i.imgur.com/DvESXFwl.jpg First test fit in the car. https://i.imgur.com/tDQcJSMl.jpg Heated and bent the header tube to fit the flange better. Also cut out a pie shaped piece from the end of each tube to angle the bottom of the header back away from the radiator. https://i.imgur.com/t1iuDpjl.jpg Current state. Need to hook everything up still, but it's in. https://i.imgur.com/1GT94MFl.jpg |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Wow. What did you do to clean the engine bay? Very nice work
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Watched your youtube videos, that little booger scoots!
Those carbs look ridiculously cool! |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Been super busy with a project at work so I haven't had time to work on the '88. The dually I bought a couple months ago was killing me on gas ($100 bucks a week) so found and I bought a pretty clean '89 a couple weeks ago. Found it on the back of a used car lot, cleaned it up, and stuck the suspension from the '88 under it so I could autocross it the next day. My best run was a 54.752, the fastest of the day was 50.652.
https://i.imgur.com/OMZC7WFl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/BH9tjYal.jpg https://i.imgur.com/IOkAfMKl.jpg |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
I’m starting to really dig these things. Cool new ride.
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
No progress on the red car, it's been a crazy busy last few months. The white car developed engine problems, mainly lack of compression on a few cylinders and the crank pulley bolt loosened. That caused the timing belt hub to chew up the end of the crankshaft.
I ended up using the original short block leftover from the red car, rebuilt/ported a head from a parts car, and swapped in a five speed from the same parts car. It got all new seals, belts, hoses, water pump, tune up parts, CV boots, clutch kit, and I converted it to use an early 80's Escort carburetor which is basically a progressive two barrel Weber. It should be good to go for a long time. I had to rush to finish the white car since I had signed up for a track event at INDE Motorsport Ranch in Arizona with the FordFestiva.com group. I got the car running the day before we left out with only 80 test miles, so I ended up trailering it out there just to be safe. It ran great from the shop we met at to the track (~150 miles). At the track it ran good enough to set a new track record for fastest original engine (1.3l b3) Festiva. The old track record was a 2:22.xx. I was running 2:23 with a 215 pound passenger and a 20-30 mph headwind down the 2200 ft front stretch, so I figured I had a shot at beating the record. With no passenger I ran a best of 2:20.26 on Saturday with a string of back to back 2:20.xx laps; the car was very consistant. On Sunday there was very little wind and I was able to run multiple 2:17.xx laps, with the best being a 2:17.14. The ported head, along with the Escort carb and sticky tires went a long way in getting the car around the track that quickly; I ran within a second of a 1.6 DOHC swapped car with summer tires, and another 1.6 swapped car wasn't able to pass me on the 2,200 ft front stretch without me letting off to let him pass. The best part of the weekend was watching Charlie (he's the guy in the vids I posted earlier, and who developed the suspension I'm using) outrun a new GT350R Mustang in his old 180 hp turbo daily driver Festiva. The guy driving the Mustang slowed to let Charlie pass so he could "reel him back in", but Charlie was ahead by half the front stretch in only two laps. Pulling the parts car out to steal the cylinder head and 5 speed, along with the A/C parts for Charlie. https://i.imgur.com/4LZX3IDl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/ZoQnMbjl.jpg Porting the head. https://i.imgur.com/bgAtr1Vl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Ub72qj9l.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Fzl3ICfl.jpg New parts. https://i.imgur.com/n4JBrsWl.jpg Original engine pulled. https://i.imgur.com/EtZWM3Hl.jpg |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
The old engine leaked like crazy so the engine bay was filthy. I pressure washed it then scrubbed it with Purple Power degreaser.
https://i.imgur.com/A4W7xn8l.jpg https://i.imgur.com/IDUFCwOl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/3vaSfqjl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/C90qOEVl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/S3cfuqwl.jpg After. https://i.imgur.com/yysZMN9l.jpg https://i.imgur.com/NpXMsOal.jpg https://i.imgur.com/diGToNal.jpg https://i.imgur.com/JM4X9ptl.jpg New engine in. https://i.imgur.com/8J9ypi1l.jpg Had some trouble with vacuum leaks, and I didn't find out that the idle mixture screw was blocked until after I'd installed the carb. I also forgot to trim the fuel cut solenoid stem so the car wouldn't idle at first... :dohh: https://i.imgur.com/SyZBzGJl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Glb2gtZl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/bauqX58l.jpg |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
So I barely had the car ready to go in time but no wheels for the track tires I bought. I had ordered 165/55-14's so I could use the wheels I already had but found out that they were backordered until late Feb. I ordered a set of 165/50-15's and started looking for 15" wheels that would fit. Found a set of Riken mesh wheels that were the perfect offset and size but the seller kept making excuses when I tried to meet him to pick them up. Ended up leaving out for Arizona with tires but no wheels, so I was constantly checking craigslist along the way out. I found a set of Audi 100 wheels in Arkansas not far off the interstate and was able to buy them and get the tires mounted before we arrived at the track.
My sister and brother in law came along on the trip. We used his tow dolly to pull the car most of the way, though I did take it off in New Mexico to get some miles on it before going straight to the track. https://i.imgur.com/NzIsKN4l.jpg https://i.imgur.com/r7ThTjvl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/GEg0Xo7l.png We arrived in Phoenix wednesday night and everyone started working on getting Charlie's track car ready. https://i.imgur.com/rqapbH7l.png |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
We left out of Phoenix Friday afternoon to go to the track with a convoy of 17 Festivas.
https://i.imgur.com/6uwMLdHl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/zNzNx2Xl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/i7uOL4Ll.jpg I was busy driving so I didn't take many pics while at the track, and my camera mount broke so I wasn't able to get any videos from inside the car. I got about 200 miles in on the track. https://i.imgur.com/1Yb7muKl.jpg Tires after the first day on the track. They held up very well, especially compared to a few other guys who were running summer or all season tires that didn't make it through both days. They wore evenly from inside to outside so the alignment was good. I'm runnning -3* camber and zero toe all arouind, caster isn't adjustable. I run the same alignment on the street and there was no noticeable tire wear from driving the car back home from Arizona. https://i.imgur.com/5XgNEHjl.jpg |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
A bit of info from the lap timer app. The car ran very consistant lap times when I wasn't entering/exiting the track or slowed down by traffic. There were a few times where I had no traffic and was able to click off 4-5 laps within a second of each other.
https://i.imgur.com/GzqcfGcl.png https://i.imgur.com/2A2yE8Hl.png The app keeps up with your best time over sections of the track, and pieces your best sections together to create your best possible "virtual lap time". Theoretically the car had a 2:16.85 in it, so I'm really happy with my 2:17.14, only three tenths slower. https://i.imgur.com/NWAMJPfl.png The car was pulling over 1.2g's in the corners, which is very impressive considering the Camaro ZL1 1LE does 1.11 and the GT350R does 1.10g. Even more impressive that it does it on a set of tires that only cost $382 shipped and will last 10,000 miles on the street with a few autocrosses on them. Tires on a GT350R or a 1LE would cost more than I spent on the whole trip, including tires and track costs, and hotels. https://i.imgur.com/3QdGxgZl.png Street tires after the trip home. https://i.imgur.com/2xpt0Oxl.jpg 3,419 miles total on the trip. https://i.imgur.com/gfTGIfzl.png My best mileage was 35.4 mpg in Atlanta traffic. This will go up once I rejet the carb, it's running a bit rich. https://i.imgur.com/6J3VVBwl.png |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Here's the video from inside the car that outran a GT350R. Charlie was running 2:03 - 2:04 laps. You can see the GT350R at 4:45. He was on a cool down lap about to get off the track, but saw Charlie and decided to let him pass so he could chase him down. He never caught up and was losing a few seconds a lap every lap.
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Awesome updates and trip. Way to go on the record. By far my favorite non truck build on here.
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
One of the guys that went to INDE with us named Joe posted a vid from inside his car, and you can see me up ahead a few times. The camera car has a ~120 hp B6d engine and Federal 595 SS tires (260tw summer tires) and the same suspension setup I'm running. The other guy in the car giving pointers is Charlie, the guy who developed the suspension.
You can see me in front of Joe from 11:20 to about 22:30. This was shot on our first day on the track so we were still learning the lines. Another B6d car (blue) pops in with us at 18:00. I'm back in view at 27:32-30:00. My favorite part is 35:40 to 38:00. Joe lets me pass on the front stretch and then works to keep up with me through the infeild. This was shot on the second day so we had figured the track out and were really pushing the cars hard. There was a lot less of a head wind on the front stretch so speeds were 5 mph higher too. Our best times were only about .7 seconds apart- I had more grip due from the stickier track tires but he had a lot more power. His top speed on the straight was 10 mph faster than mine. In this part of the vid he has a passenger slowing him down a little so we're pretty even. |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
I ran into a local guy a few weeks ago at a car show in Myrtle Beach and he told me about a Festiva in a scrap yard. I was needing to scrap the Capri leftovers so I went Saturday to drop off the Capri and check to see if they still had the Festiva.
They said the car had been there for years and was in a back corner, and were willing to sell it whole at current scrap price. It's an 88 or 89 L, four speed with A/C, seemed really straight and had no rust that I could see. I'll try to go back this week with the trailer and bring it home. https://i.imgur.com/eePTmKcl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/cdOeWYJl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/K4khC6El.jpg https://i.imgur.com/0jlPIDjl.jpg |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Cool vids. Can’t wait for more updates.
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Bought another last week, a '90 L Plus with A/C and 135K miles. I'll clean it up and give it to my mom to drive, she's been wanting a gas saver. I originally found it on facebook marketplace back in February when I was on my way home from Arizona. I sent the owner a message saying I was interested but it sold before I made it home and could go check it out. I popped up again last week so I went and bought it.
https://i.imgur.com/aBptnI2l.jpg https://i.imgur.com/8iK3EYtl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/MvUMqlCl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/0LnI3E5l.jpg It came with a lot of the original paperwork from when it was bought new. https://i.imgur.com/XHCIRwul.jpg https://i.imgur.com/QCc3PBnl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/KwAYeiXl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/NTGI8Wfl.jpg The interior is in pretty good shape overall but needed a thorough cleaning so I pulled it out last night and pressure washed the seats and carpet today. https://i.imgur.com/xV5vXDul.jpg https://i.imgur.com/8Wd51BAl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/JykVM3xl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/kCk1CnKl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/0G5sAyEl.jpg After two rounds of pre-soaking with Purple Power and pressure washing. https://i.imgur.com/D72HoYIl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/TMYoJxWl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/JIACgSll.jpg https://i.imgur.com/66OtuCul.jpg https://i.imgur.com/QugWlfel.jpg https://i.imgur.com/X2PcAe0l.jpg https://i.imgur.com/qpmecFal.jpg |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
That is so crazy you can pressure wash seats like that. Never considered that. Awesome. Also today I saw one of those Capris rolling down the road. I’ve never seen one in person till today. Lol.
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
What a difference!!! It is amazing how much human slime and dirt can accumulate in a vehicle, even one that was taken care of and loved. I have pulled out a filthy carpet and power washed it before, but never done it to the seats. the carpet took like 2 days to totally dry, so I can only imagine how long the foam in the seats took to dry completely. When it comes to seats and light carpet stains I "borrow" my wife's carpet cleaner vacuum with the upholstery attachment, it makes a big difference. I am impressed you keep finding theses gems, all the Festivas I see for sale or see driving around are beat to within an inch of their life.
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
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It works great as long as you can get them dry quickly so they don't sour. I stick them in front of the heater in the shop and point a fan at them. Most of the Festiva's around here are trashed, it's rare to find them in decent shape. The nice ones sell quickly if they're not overpriced. There is a very nice GL Sport (top trim level) that gets reposted in Knoxville every few days that has been for sale for over a year. Would be a decent deal if it wasn't automatic. https://i.imgur.com/5dlIZByl.jpg Here are a few I've spotted locally, they're almost all super rough. I'd love to track down the white car with the red stripe and try to buy it, it's an '89 L Plus. I had a guy stop me in a parking lot after seeing my white Festiva and tell me that he knows the owner of a white Festiva "just like yours" with a red stripe, and they were going to scrap it but decided to try to sell it for $400 instead. I showed him the pic I took and he said it was the same car, but then he wouldn't put me in touch with the owner... :confused: https://i.imgur.com/63fSn4Jl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/4ly6F4gl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/TgoGWVBl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/CLCkXoZl.jpg Vid of the carpet being cleaned, the pics didn't really show how nasty it was. |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
I finally found a Capri XR2 in pretty good shape to use a donor! It was running up until 2-3 months ago when the owner added a boost controller and possible put a hole in a piston. He's not sure exactly what happened but begin to tear it down and figured out he was in over his head. It has around 80K miles and was meticulously maintained until the last owner bought it in 2017. According to service records it only had 58k miles in 2014.
https://i.imgur.com/SbCuQczl.jpg I also bought a Festiva parts car with an engine and five speed for $150 bucks a couple months ago. It's an efi car so I could easily swap the turbo Capri engine in it. The shell is solid and straight, so it would make a great stripped out track car. https://i.imgur.com/rppOu6al.jpg You can see Charlie's turbo Capri swapped track festiva beggining around 4:00 minutes here. This past weekend I swapped the white car back to it's track setup now that its warm enough for the tires to stick. I also installed a NOS Festiva Motorsport street/strip cam, so now it pulls to 7,000 rpm. https://i.imgur.com/DwMfQp4l.jpg |
Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Really cool. You’ve got me looking at Festivas all the time now. I’ve only seen one Capri like that though.
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Re: '88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build
Dang it! You got me looking at them too!!
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