'88 F*rd Festiva Autocross/Track/Daily Driver Build

[theastronaut]

The engine for the white '89 L autocross car (the one I took to Arizona a couple of times) is mostly together now, but I threw it together with the old cylinder head (ported head was stuck at the machine shop) to try to make it to some events last year. So I need to get it in the shop and swap the head out, and build an appropriate header/exhaust system to compliment the new cam timing and maximize scavenging. The local autocross events are done for until the fall so I'd like to get it back together with the ported/shaved head and RX1 carb setup by then.










I was able to track down quite a bit of NOS parts for the build- all bearings, pistons, rings, head gasket, rockers, oil pump, thermostat, timing covers, plug wires, and rebuild kit for the old Escort two barrel carb that was on it. The rarest find by far was the NOS AC compressor with a serpentine clutch pulley, those only came on Festivas that were ordered with optional power steering which was insanely uncommon. The Kia crank/damper I used uses a serpentine belt, so I used a new OEM Kia alternator and a Kia/Aspire/Miata AC belt tensioner to complete the serpentine conversion using all OEM parts.