neanderpaul

This may be weird to you guys but here goes. I am a ford festiva nut. There are many of us around. The festiva is a mazda design. It is a mazda 121. It has actually been in continuous production under 4 names for 24 years now. Mazda 121, Ford Festiva, Kia pride, Saipa Nasim are all the same car. we like 'em stock and modded. I've seen 10 with over 500,000 miles. I saw 2 in october with 465,000 miles and 475,000 miles. Both had the original engine, trans, and even CLUTCH! 0-60 is a normal 10 seconds yet they get over 50 mpg. Modded the power to weight ratio makes them killer on the 1/4 mile and at autox.
Here is my friend in a rear mount turbo getting a Saleen mustang (with a bad driver) at the track...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ABrUNCCC4Y
Here is a fast one eating a fox body. He has a mazda BP+T from an Escort GT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHiJERhf_0w
Another 73 year old friend has built a festiva pickup with an extended bed. You can see he's no slouch.


He also built a festiva with a Taurus engine and trans mounted in the back. Not unlike Jay Leno's Shogun festiva but with a regular ford vulcan V6 instead.

So why am I here? His next project involves this title-less junkyard donor. He is planning a full engine, trans, suspension, brake, etc etc swap. I may be asking a lot of questions soon. I'm hoping for a warm welcome. and knowledge.








I'm also a musician. 8)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjvacflnBzY

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

You may not make it to Hollywood,but I gotta give ya credit!
If you are leaning towards putting a 'non' rotary engine in that 1st gen,then try www.grannysspeedshop.com to see what they have to help you out parts wise.
there is aslo a V-8 rx7 forum on the Internet you may want to check out.
You can slam a TII(rx7 turbo engine) into that car and make real good power.the Thing is though,If you have never worked on them before,they can come back to haunt ya!.It is all in the tuning..and how much you can afford to "lose" on the car,as they don't keep a good appreciation value..haha.!
I keep on sinking money into my 2nd gen,and I know If I sold it tomorrow,I would lose my Shirt..pants,gotchies...etc!
anyways.enough of that,,Good luck,welcome,and keep on Yodellin'..Cheers STYX!

Sgtblue

iTrader: (16)

I suspect there's more than one member of this forum who would trade their FB for your "junkyard donor". Looks like a pretty sound car. You might want to check the 1st Gen. Parts-for-Sale section rules when you have time. Might be some value in what you get rid of.

There was a guy local here that autocrossed a Festiva. He was a good driver and it ran well...usually in the top 3 in class. Entertaining to watch too...cornering on three wheels. But sorry, they don't do much for me.

neanderpaul

I have a buddy who autocrosses his. He got 3 FTD in a row. Last one was at a Porsche club.

We're real glad that most people feel the way you do - " they don't do much for me." That way we can get 200,000 miles for a $500 investment at 50 mpg!

Or you can buy a dead one for $150, a dead Escort GT or mazda protege, or Capri XR2. Use the parts we need and turn a profit on the rest. I literally have a several hundred dollar profit in a festiva that goes 0-60 in 6 seconds and can still get up to 50 mpg. Think of it this way. A regular protege can get 40 mpg. You drop about 800 lbs off that car and your performance and gas mileage go way up. That's what happens when you take the drive train from the 2400 lb protege and stick in a 1600 lb festiva.

That junkyard donor is VERY sound. Our cars are generally never rusty in Virginia. It's clean, straight, and complete with a VERY nice interior.

neanderpaul

I appreciate the link! That RX will be used up. we might have some parts to sell but like I said engine, trans, suspension, hubs, etc etc. will be used. Maybe even gas tank. My friend who is building the rotary powered festiva uses all junkyard parts. He only uses whole cars. Festiva nuts are just a different breed. We often are forced into the festiva for practicality then almost all of us fall in love. I've been in love for 20 years! They are fun like a go cart is fun. Then throwing a little cheap horsepower at them results in a huge smile/$ ratio. So my buddy has $350 in both cars. He might... might spend another $200 - $500 but I wouldn't be surprised to see him make everything and spend nothing. He's 73. He has little money. A ton of talent. And nothing but free time. He doesn't have much in that truck other than his time and that's what he does for fun.

I also do "regular" music too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H80n2kv_K3E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pibBs_PjWQ

neanderpaul

By the way we had 69 cars at our last festiva meet. Festiva madness 3.



And my buddy towed a 323 GTX on a tow dolly with an aspire (same mazda B3 engine as the festiva) from Virginia all the way to Canada!! 70 mph in 4th gear. The B3 is a durable beast!