Brainstorming the FASTiva

[Loren]

So, I've been thinking. And that's never a good thing.

We've got the FASTiva. It's running well enough, should get through the season... we hope. But, what next? Do we sell it? Do we keep running it? Do we upgrade it further?

The "theoretical" Easy Button upgrade is the Mazda B6 or BP swap. That's a 1.6 or 1.8 Miata-type engine. The problem there is that it would require the associated transmission (the stock transmission would NOT hold that much torque), which would require some subframe modification. And then we'd still have a 120 hp, 1800# FWD car with an open diff. Less than ideal for the amount of work involved, and all of those parts are now close to 20 years old and getting harder to find in good condition, if at all. (a problem we've hit with the FASTiva itself, they just don't show up in salvage yards any more)

BUT... oh, there's always a but...

I have a parts car Festiva in my garage with an empty engine bay. What if... what if we used that as a mule to fit something else into the car? Find a suitable more modern and plentiful FWD engine and transaxle... get the associated SUBFRAME... and then modify that subframe to fit the FASTiva. Then we could bolt in the modern powerplant... could (probably should) even use the front suspension from that car... and make stuff happen.

After we've got it all mocked up on the parts car, bring in the FASTiva and swap it in!

What could possibly go wrong?

Next post will start investigating possibilities...

[Loren]

So... perfect world... we want a reliable engine and trans WITH a factory LSD. That's a pretty short list.

The only thing modern that comes to mind is the Sentra SE-R that has an optional LSD in the Spec V version. There could be others, but Sentras are cheap and plentiful, so there's that.

I think the 2.5 engine would be overkill for the FASTiva, though. Both in output and size/weight. Which begs the question... will other physically smaller Nissan engines bolt up to that? Would take some research to answer that question.

If we forego the LSD, then there are a LOT of interesting possibilities, and I'd make lightness a priority... the stock 1.3 liter has a heavy cast-iron block. It's not absurdly small for what it is, so a lot of similar displacement engines (up to about 1.6) should easily fit. And, of course, a more modern engine will have more output per displacement.

Something simple like a Nissan Versa or Toyota Yaris drivetrain would do the trick. 100 hp, a transaxle that can handle it, cheap and plentiful in TODAY's salvage yards. That's the problem with the "easy" Mazda swaps... availability of low-mileage salvage parts has gone away.

Now, I'm not saying I have the MOTIVATION to make this happen. Just thinking out loud. Since the parts car is in the garage... with no engine in it...

[Loren]

And then there's reality.

Can buy a 120k mile Yaris with a 5-speed for around $3k.

Considering that a highly modded Festiva is going into M0... if we went full racecar on a Yaris, we could get weight down to 2,000 pounds easily enough. 100 hp, 2000 pounds, Toyota reliability, not a Frankenstein project. Not as much "fun", but more sensible.

Ridiculous coolness of the FASTiva project aside, this project doesn't make economic sense.

[Amphoteric88]

Ridiculous coolness of the FASTiva project aside, this project doesn't make economic sense.

Few, if any, projects do make that sort of sense...

I, for one, enjoy a bit of sensibility in my choices for vehicles. Hence, Corolla

I think the question is do you want to be competitive or is experimentation worth the investment? The Yaris would be a more typical build, while the FASTiva path would be... different...

[Native]

while the FASTiva path would be... different...

Kinda like putting a Ford engine in a Triumph...

[aw614]

might as well do a mid-engine swap or a bimotor festiva

[Amphoteric88]

[Loren]

might as well do a mid-engine swap or a bimotor festiva

A simple FWD swap would require modifying a subframe and... really, not much else other than maybe a custom set of axles if we don't find a way to use the hubs from the donor car.

Mid-engine, RWD or twin engine would all require exponentially more fabrication.

I'll GIVE you the parts car if you wish to make that happen.

[aw614]

lol no thanks

But on the nissan motor, they were quite torquey, the power was nice (drove one for 4 months in 2011). I wasn't a fan of the transmission linkage feel, but I believe all of them were drive by wire...

[Loren]

Yeah, I spent a year or so co-driving a 2004 Spec V. Lots of torque... and thus lots of insane torque steer! With the LSD, it would try to rip the wheel right out of your hands!

After today's autocross, maybe we're back to thinking about "simple power upgrades" for the stock engine. Couple hundred bucks instead of a couple thousand bucks. We can get roller rockers from an Aspire that will fit. And if we can fab up an exhaust header and maybe get the head shaved and do some port work... our 63 hp engine might be good for 75! (which doesn't sound like much... but, on yesterday's course, it could have moved us up a couple more positions up closer to top 10 overall!)

[AScoda]

I think the 2.5 engine would be overkill

O ver kill. I don't even know what that means. Is that even a word? Doesn't even sound right. I mean, really. Is underkill a thing? If no underkill, there can't be an overkill.
You're drunk, go home.