This is my 1990 Festiva purchased around 2001 for $400 with a blown clutch. Inspired by Cam Waugh's FASTIVA from Sport and Compact Car, I wanted my own Little Suicide Machine. Mods Started slow, EXP body kit, custom intake. Thats how it stayed until about early 2006 when i finally had my daily driver paid off and the Festy was now an extra car. I had an idea of what I wanted but now it was time to find the parts. 1 year and about $2000 later its finally coming around. So take a look, tell me what you think, and if you see an ugly little car coming up behind you, downshift and floor it or move over, cause when there is no finish line the race doesn't end.



Festiva in Sport Compact Car August 2007 Issue. Festiva Rock!!!


In the Pits at the Driveway March 25, 2007. Photo by Chris Hightower (not me)

In the Staging Lanes at the Local AutoX. It was rainy that day but no matter this beast is ready. I placed 3rd in my class.


Front View

EXP front facia, gives it a good aggressive look (a low one too)
the lower lip is from a 1990 ford ranger. i ground off some of the plastic and it bolted right up under the bumper. The support
is an wire tensioner from home depot 6 bucks.

Intake/Catch Can

The intake uses a length of aluminum pipe from a subara intake.
i used the stock rubber tube and mated it used a section of pvc.
then i wrapped the joint with rubber algamation tape (hasn't leaked in 15000 miles). That is a K&N marine filter a friend found at goodwill for a dollar. i made a custom aluminum MAF adapter (could have bought one but i had a lathe and some metal so why buy). Catch can is from summit racing.

The Gauge Array in all its glory

Inside View

F1 Style Racing Mirrors off EBAY Bolted right on to the door frame, its nice to have 2 mirrors now

EXP Side Skirts, Man I love these wheels, you might think they would cause alot of torque steer but its barely noticeable.

GTECH DYNO RESULTS 64.8 HP 79.8 FT/LBS TQ

AERO RACE WHEELS 13x6 3.5 Backspacing

Ford Sticker on Discount at Autozone. 4 Hood Pins, Pull them all grab the handles and off comes the hood.

Rear View, Exp Bumper

Driver View

The Dash has been completely gutted except for the side supports. The aluminum bar seen below the steering column is a length of c bar stock bought at home depot for about 9 bucks. It makes an excellent full length support for the frameless dash.

Battery Box

Autozone marine battery box. works great I had to rig a custom battery hold down using a pair of eyebolts (inside through box and floor) a set of battery tie down bolts and a couple pieces of the stock under dash storage support

Cat Back System

Done by Medina's Mufflers in Robstown, Texas if your anywhere within 100 miles make the drive. these guys do great work and it cheap. the whole system cost about 30 bucks (excluding
muffler).

Dash Board

GTECH and Gauge Array

Coil Relocation

I moved the coil to the rubber brackets where the egr solenoid and some other useless crap used to hang. I used pieces of the origional coil mount and just rigged it up. works great!

Control Center

Switches are awesome. ECU, IGNITION, FUEL, GUAGES, FAN, EXTRA

Dead Pedal

I Made this in the shop.6061 aluminum, been in a few cars so its a little worn, but hey what isn't on this car

Power Center

Emergency Kill switch from O'Reilly's. Thats the origional Festiva Fusible Link System Poking out from underneath. I kept it to run the alernator through so i wouldn't fry everything.
inline amp meter keep current draw in check.

Escort Seat

Side and hip bolsters, not the best but beats a stock Festiva seat any day. bolted right to the floor with grade 8 bolts and some big ol fat washers. puts the seat low and far back sports car style. NOTE: I'm 6'2" if you are much shorter than this you will not be able to reach the pedals.

Exp RearBumper

Off an Escort EXP i bought from a friend the car was a hunk of shit but the body kit was in good shape so why not.

3A Muffler

49.99 what can I say, oh yeah damn is it loud. but it sure does
sound sweet.

Power Distribution
A little peek behind the scenes.

Duct tape Eyebrow,last about 3-6 months, cost $3.00

This is what happens when you hit a cone at 50 mph... this is
how you fix it.

Wires In Here

I ripped every wire and shortened the harness to the bare minimum. lost about 25 pounds in the process too. it all runs through a new hole in the fire wall.

ECU Rewire

Its a little messy but quite reliable. everything fit on a 22 x 12 sheet of steel from lowes. i got the terminal strips at radio shack.


Fuse Box For Light Systems, sits in origional box location just had to modify the door a little bit.

Sumitomo HTR 200, this is a great tire and at 42 bucks a piece I don't believe you can do better.


These are RACTIVE Coilover adjuster bodies on GR2 struts. I used QA1 springs from Summit 220LB Front 180LB Rear. Custom Hat Adapters (miata coilover kit has flat top hats). I love the handling, what a difference, combined with the RWD offset wheels it is simply awesome the rear is a little bouncy but turn-in is direct and immediate and the grip is perfect progressive break away excellent feel.


Parts not pictured, V12 Motorsports cross-drilled/slotted rotors, Ebay Honda Civic short shifter. All new bearings, drums/seals. Energy Suspension Anti-Sway Bar Bushings.
Coming Soon, New Paint Job (same scheme just all the black done in actual auto paint), FMS Strut Tower Brace (When they are back in stock), Plexiglass side and hatch windows. Fiberglass fenders and hood.
Special Note, Texas State Inspection including Emission Testing was PASSED with "flying colors" the tech said. 07/25/07.

This is with NO emissions equipment except the stock cat, everything else was removed and/or plugged.

Check out the New Blood! 1991 Festiva LX

On the course (sorry not a better shot)