Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - 1988 Festiva LX 'Red' (diesel conversion)

Christ · 01-25-2014, 08:55 PM

I can't think of much that I'd need help with on it at the moment, other than maybe once it's set to be installed, some welding to create a hybrid front [nose] engine mount and perhaps some help with machining adapter pieces or something.

I talked about this in part and piece on FF.com about 2 years ago when I had my first Festiva [before buying 3 more immediately afterward] and never got around to it... I'm kinda slow at these things until I've done them once or twice and then I can do it no problem. lol.

I have this same thread on FF.com, I'm sure you've seen it. I gotta get pics for that one, too. Been slacking on that a lot lately, mostly because my phone sucks at taking decent pics.

I was sort of thinking that since I'm swapping VR6 brakes/suspension onto my B4 TDi, I can use the front hubs and axles from the TDi and have the axles shortened if necessary, or grab some MK1 VW axles, since they should be closer to the correct track width for the Festiva.

One of the first problems I have to deal with is that the Festiva ball joints are straight/notch style, and the VW [all] ball joints are tapered/thread style, which clearly are not compatible. One 'fix' for this I may have an option for is to line drill the VW hubs [machine work] and slot an opening in the edge, then drill in the appropriate place to 'mock' the Festiva hubs. We at FF.com know that VW and Festiva front struts are similar enough to each other that some easy handwerk with a file will clear up any confusion there.

Another potential issue is the discrepancy between tie rod ends for both cars. I'm checking into whether I can make the VW rack work in the Festiva... shouldn't be too hard.

It's sad, but I'm more or less going to end up converting the front end of the Festiva into a VW in doing this swap, making things 'easy' for other DIY'ers who also want to do a similar swap happen upon a wrecked IDI/TDI vw parts car. So many of the VW parts are basically interchangeable that no matter what sorts of parts I use on the swap, the basic principles will be the same for taking all the parts from the same car.

01-25-2014, 08:55 PM	#59 (permalink)
Christ Moderate your Moderation. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Troy, Pa. Posts: 8,919 Pasta - '96 Volkswagen Passat TDi 90 day: 45.22 mpg (US) Thanks: 1,369 Thanked 430 Times in 353 Posts	I can't think of much that I'd need help with on it at the moment, other than maybe once it's set to be installed, some welding to create a hybrid front [nose] engine mount and perhaps some help with machining adapter pieces or something. I talked about this in part and piece on FF.com about 2 years ago when I had my first Festiva [before buying 3 more immediately afterward] and never got around to it... I'm kinda slow at these things until I've done them once or twice and then I can do it no problem. lol. I have this same thread on FF.com, I'm sure you've seen it. I gotta get pics for that one, too. Been slacking on that a lot lately, mostly because my phone sucks at taking decent pics. I was sort of thinking that since I'm swapping VR6 brakes/suspension onto my B4 TDi, I can use the front hubs and axles from the TDi and have the axles shortened if necessary, or grab some MK1 VW axles, since they should be closer to the correct track width for the Festiva. One of the first problems I have to deal with is that the Festiva ball joints are straight/notch style, and the VW [all] ball joints are tapered/thread style, which clearly are not compatible. One 'fix' for this I may have an option for is to line drill the VW hubs [machine work] and slot an opening in the edge, then drill in the appropriate place to 'mock' the Festiva hubs. We at FF.com know that VW and Festiva front struts are similar enough to each other that some easy handwerk with a file will clear up any confusion there. Another potential issue is the discrepancy between tie rod ends for both cars. I'm checking into whether I can make the VW rack work in the Festiva... shouldn't be too hard. It's sad, but I'm more or less going to end up converting the front end of the Festiva into a VW in doing this swap, making things 'easy' for other DIY'ers who also want to do a similar swap happen upon a wrecked IDI/TDI vw parts car. So many of the VW parts are basically interchangeable that no matter what sorts of parts I use on the swap, the basic principles will be the same for taking all the parts from the same car. __________________ "¿ʞɐǝɹɟ ɐ ǝɹ,noʎ uǝɥʍ 'ʇı ʇ,usı 'ʎlǝuol s,ʇı"