Search found 26 matches

by BlackStraw
Thu Sep 24, 2020 10:09 am
Forum: General
Topic: Improving Tercel Visibility
Replies: 7
Views: 1873

Re: Improving Tercel Visibility

I had an unsettling experience with visibility in a tight parking lot once - it was actually a Datsun pickup, but the situation could very much be applicable to the design of early Tercels. I was approaching a parking lot to enter by turning left, and a fellow was coming out of the parking lot also ...
by BlackStraw
Thu Apr 09, 2020 10:40 am
Forum: General
Topic: Retiring my 1986 hatchback
Replies: 11
Views: 3478

Re: Retiring my 1986 hatchback

For me the appeal of an electric bike is just that - extending the range. Now to be clear I'm not talking about the ones where you sit there and dangle your legs and press the thumb throttle....I mean the "assist" type where you absolutely need to pedal to go up a hill for example - but wi...
by BlackStraw
Thu Apr 09, 2020 8:44 am
Forum: General
Topic: Retiring my 1986 hatchback
Replies: 11
Views: 3478

Re: Retiring my 1986 hatchback

Petros it was not my preferred plan, and generally I am in agreement with you in regards to these programs....especially in the style of the "Cash for clunkers" where perfectly good running vehicles were trashed for no good reason other than to artificially create demand for new cars. Howe...
by BlackStraw
Wed Apr 08, 2020 7:38 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Retiring my 1986 hatchback
Replies: 11
Views: 3478

Re: Retiring my 1986 hatchback

I'm just outside of Duncan....I did see that ad for the one in Cumberland, but as I have watched my full-time employment suddenly become 8-10 hours a week because of coronavirus lockdowns, have to admit it is a fairly low priority. I have a feeling that if this mess keeps up, anyone looking for a vi...
by BlackStraw
Wed Apr 08, 2020 10:43 am
Forum: General
Topic: Retiring my 1986 hatchback
Replies: 11
Views: 3478

Retiring my 1986 hatchback

Well folks, it is almost time to say goodbye to this handsome beast, my 1986 2wd hatchback. I had a Subaru Outback in 2014 that ended up being a complete nightmare, and after dropping $5000 in repairs in one year and STILL having issues with it, I wanted something cheap and easy and reliable - and f...
by BlackStraw
Wed Jan 29, 2020 12:46 pm
Forum: Off-Topic
Topic: Mr Heater propane heater in enclosed space?
Replies: 24
Views: 18988

Re: Mr Heater propane heater in enclosed space?

Great looking cabin! I've been using something very similar to what you have, a Coleman ProCat catalytic heater….was very difficult to find in Canada, had to order it from a Costco website. There must have been some regulation change about 7 years ago, because this type of heater used to be readily ...
by BlackStraw
Fri Nov 30, 2018 12:30 pm
Forum: Off-Topic
Topic: solar panel battery charging?
Replies: 11
Views: 12125

Re: solar panel battery charging?

As to your battery going dead, it's probably more due to old age, or being damaged during the period of overcharging, than simply having it connected for a long period to the solar setup. Not entirely sure of this, but I think there might be a thing too where if you have a solar panel hooked up dire...
by BlackStraw
Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:01 pm
Forum: Cars for sale
Topic: 1983 SR5 2wd Hatchback
Replies: 3
Views: 2008

1983 SR5 2wd Hatchback

https://images.craigslist.org/00808_4C3STuSjWGF_600x450.jpg https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/d/1983-toyota-tercel-sr5/6735047784.html Not mine, but thought the SR5 on this bad boy was interesting enough to post....can't have been many of these sold. A fair amount of 2nd-gen Tercel automatics...
by BlackStraw
Tue Jul 17, 2018 11:52 am
Forum: Off-Topic
Topic: Is this a good buy or a farewell?
Replies: 4
Views: 2645

Re: Is this a good buy or a farewell?

I used to own a 1982 Datsun/Nissan pickup with a SD22 in it - those engines are rock solid, all cast iron, push rod, gear-timed, mechanical fuel pump. Was not pretty trying to start it when the morning temperatures were much below freezing, but once it was warm it ran beautifully.
by BlackStraw
Wed Feb 21, 2018 11:14 pm
Forum: Off-Topic
Topic: my post-tercel vehicle adventures
Replies: 29
Views: 23586

Re: my post-tercel vehicle adventures

I'm just up the highway near good ol' Duncan. Did you manage to find an X-trail with manual transmission? That is one vehicle I might consider down the line....I seem to have much better luck with 20-30 year old cars than ones where the year starts with a "2". I was looking into X-trails a...
by BlackStraw
Mon Feb 19, 2018 1:35 pm
Forum: Off-Topic
Topic: my post-tercel vehicle adventures
Replies: 29
Views: 23586

Re: my post-tercel vehicle adventures

I'm a daily checker of the south vancouver island used car listings....and have to say I was VERY tempted to come and buy your wagon....especially knowing from your posts here the quality of mechanical attention you would have put into it. Knew it wouldn't last long at that price. But alas there's o...
by BlackStraw
Thu May 18, 2017 9:52 am
Forum: Tercel 4WD Parts: New and Used
Topic: REAR WHEEL BEARINGS $5.44!!
Replies: 6
Views: 1810

Re: REAR WHEEL BEARINGS $5.44!!

Those close out specials are great, I got pretty much the same deal about year ago....a set of front bearings for about $6 each. At my local auto parts store I was quoted $125 each.
by BlackStraw
Tue Feb 28, 2017 10:08 am
Forum: Tercel 4WD Repair Questions
Topic: Head liner sag is such a drag
Replies: 13
Views: 3631

Re: Head liner sag is such a drag

The headliner in my 86 hatchback was also drooping down about 3"....and I'm six feet tall, so it kept feeling like someone was rubbing a staticky balloon on my head every time I drove it. It's a very thin fabric, and then feels like cardboard between that and the roof metal...rather than mess a...
by BlackStraw
Mon Feb 06, 2017 12:12 pm
Forum: Tercel 4WD Repair Questions
Topic: Front marker lights compatibility
Replies: 5
Views: 1685

Re: Front marker lights compatibility

Good info to know, thanks fellows! Still hoping to find a pair available locally, but I'll know now to not bother looking for T4WD parts cars.
by BlackStraw
Thu Feb 02, 2017 12:44 pm
Forum: Tercel 4WD Repair Questions
Topic: Front marker lights compatibility
Replies: 5
Views: 1685

Front marker lights compatibility

I am looking for replacement left and right corner marker lights (the orange ones directly beside the headlights) for my 1986 hatchback....can anyone confirm if these are in fact identical to the corner marker lenses used on 2WD /4WD wagons, or if they are specific to the hatchback models? They look...