1988 Festiva LX 'Red' (diesel conversion)

[Christ]

So I had this Festiva that I used to drive around, and no matter what I did to it, it always seemed to run really stupid rich once it warmed up. I did literally everything I could think of to that carburetor, including taking it completely down, soaking it in carb clean and immersing it in a ultrasonic bath. Still no help [although it did seem to have more power after that...]

So I thought to myself... I'm gonna put a VW diesel in there.

Then that never happened, because, well, matching things up and blah blah blah was just gonna be too much work for me to do in my available funds and work space.

So I thought again - Maybe I'm gonna put a smaller utility diesel in there.

Ok, yeah. I can do that.

And so here we are.

I've already got the engine out [and after tearing it halfway apart, found the reason it was running so poorly to be a temp sensor that was never connected under the intake manifold... :doh:], rad, A/C components, etc.

I have a choice of a couple engines to use... one of them may be a 20HP Lombardini diesel [ideal], the other is a 18HP opposed twin Briggs and Stratton motor.

The design goals going into this were 45MPH capable and... um... nope, that's about it. I'm hoping to see about 60MPG from it, maybe more.

What I want to do with it ideally is use a starter/generator in place of the engine's original starter so that it works sort of like an electric/gas golf cart. To start moving, you press the pedal slightly, and then the engine takes over once it's spinning fast enough to start.

Since it'll never be able to idle, I won't be tempted to... well, leave it idle.

The point I'm at right now is making a template for the bell housing/utility engine adapter, figuring out how far out the engine needs to be spaced from the transmission, adapting the 1'' keyed output shaft of the engine to the .75'' 12 spline shaft of the transmission, and engine mounting.

At some point, I'd like to attach a PTO clutch and the OEM alternator with a low-voltage and manual turn on switch, so that I'm only driving the alternator if the battery gets low or if I need extra power for something [A/C inverter, etc].

Now, on to pics:



This is the 12 spline clutch hub. It's what's left after you disassemble a junk clutch disk.

I have a few full-length pulley sets from 1'' shaft motors laying around, so what I think I can do is make an adapter by boring the 1'' ID of the pulley sleeve to 1.180'' [the OD of the center part of the spline hub] and welding it inside the pulley sleeve. The end result will give me a 12 spline on one side and a 1'' ID keyed sleeve on the other side. If I get really frisky, I can bore the 1'' motor shaft 15mm to fit the pilot of the trans input shaft and bring the engine and trans about 1/2'' closer together as well. I may do just that because it will also help keep the two shafts from being able to flex in awkward positions and stress the coupler.

Also:

That's the victim.

Plenty of usable parts will be taken off and I have a bunch of spares around for Festivae if anyone needs anything.

This one had a good running mid-mile motor in it, carb'd intake and the carb, usable [but used] clutch disk, flywheel and pressure plate assembly with good pilot bearing in it, Factory A/C components, radiator, among other things that will be parted/removed from it.

[arcosine]

It would be easier to rejet the carb to run lean.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by arcosine

It would be easier to rejet the carb to run lean.

Was there a point to that?

Where's the fun, engineering, technical acuity required to rejet a stock carb that will still run like crap [or so I thought] when I'm done?

Nah... I want to /make/ something.

[skyking]

Doo Eeet!
If I had a vw diesel engine spare I'd do something similar.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by skyking

Doo Eeet!
If I had a vw diesel engine spare I'd do something similar.

I have 5 of those motors. Want to buy one? LOL

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Which engine are you gonna fit there instead of the VW?

[Christ]

Well, it was gonna be a 20HP Lombardini... but I think the guy was sadly mistaken, because he just showed me a blue single cylinder, which is more than likely no more than 14HP.

The other option was a B/S 18HP I/C engine from one of my lawn tractors, barring that, the best option I have is a 10HP launtop [chinese] diesel left over from a bike that got trashed by my house falling on it.

Honestly, I don't think 10HP will be enough to keep me at/near 45 MPH around here. Lots of small hills and such.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

If it wasn't for the hilly terrain, that 14hp engine could eventually get the job done. Anyway, I would probably not consider to use anything under 20hp into a Festiva to keep some relatively safe performance, altough 30hp might be a good limit for a good efficiency while retaining some decent overall performance.

[Christ]

I'm good at 18HP, honestly. There's so little traffic around here in the areas I need to go 45 or so, acceleration is just one of those 'gotta do it eventually' things. I've made the entire trip from my house to my old man's house without going over 30MPH just because I didn't feel like it once.

I'd really like to get a Kohler 3 cylinder or something similar for the extra bottom end, but frankly, if I put the motor in it and it runs and goes, that'll be good enough until I can save up for something a little better later on.

I do plan on lightening the car up, I sort of arbitrarily chose 45MPH because that's the speed at which road load and aero load sort of meet up typically. Plus it's the min legal speed on highways in PA. I'll be sure to use a tail tag [orange triangle] to indicate a slow moving vehicle.

[skyking]

Originally Posted by Christ

I have 5 of those motors. Want to buy one? LOL

Seriously, I would some day. Just not till I finish everything in front of the pile first