Selling my '85 Tercel, 164k miles! $1300. Portland, OR

This forum is for cars that run, or at least are close to running. This isn't for parting out complete cars.
Post Reply
User avatar
Chirpbark
Member
Posts: 34
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2014 3:01 pm
My tercel:: 1985 4WD
Location: Salem, OR

Selling my '85 Tercel, 164k miles! $1300. Portland, OR

Post by Chirpbark »

I'm asking here before I ask on craigslist since you guys will appreciate it.

I just received my grandpa’s old Bravada, and am sadly going to sell the Tercel :(

There’s an oil leak that I’m 90% sure is coming from the oil pan gasket, which apparently is a p.i.t.a. to replace.
It runs and drives great, however.

Pros/Things I’ve done or had done to it since 2014:

New front axles
New front wheel bearings!
New power steering assembly
New alternator
New battery
New starter
New speakers
New ignition coil (iirc)
New water pump and hoses
New master fuses
New E3 spark plugs and good wires
Degreased engine
Extra little parts

Cons:

Driver side window doesn't roll down, the gripping part of the assembly is twerked out.
The oil leak, which you will need to fix because it’s pretty crappy.
Muffler has severed from the pipe and is really just hanging there.
Left swapped fender has an ugly paint job.
Some rust & dents.
Ripped seat.
I made a quick wiring fix near the battery that will have to be done better and safer. Should only take $5 and 10 minutes.
Left turn light cover is broken; the light works fine.

$1300

Please email me @ slearn2@gmail.com or text 1-503-750-5286
User avatar
Petros
Highest Ranking Member
Posts: 11930
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:31 pm
My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
Location: Arlington WA USA

Re: Selling my '85 Tercel, 164k miles! $1300. Portland, OR

Post by Petros »

sounds like a good price, despite it's issues.

Unless someone had the oil pan off and botched the install, not likely the oil pan is leaking. Most often, oil leaks down from somewhere else on the engne and runs around the lip of the oil pan so it appears to be leaking from the gasket. Usually it is from one of a few sources: valve cover gasket (including the rear "half moon" plug), distributor o-ring, front main seal, rear main seal, oil sender unit, gasket under the fuel pump mount. All of these are much easier to fix than fighting off the oil pan, which is not likely to be the source of the leak. the rear main seal can even leak and cause oil to run around the oil pan lip, this one is a lot of work to replace (you have to pull the trans and flywheel to reach it), so make sure you eliminate all other possible sources first.

Usually if you clean the engine bay at a coin op pressure washer place, you keep an eye out for freash oil and you can track down the source.

Good luck with your sale. Personally I would keep the Tercel.
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
User avatar
Chirpbark
Member
Posts: 34
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2014 3:01 pm
My tercel:: 1985 4WD
Location: Salem, OR

Re: Selling my '85 Tercel, 164k miles! $1300. Portland, OR

Post by Chirpbark »

Thanks. It really appears to be coming from the pan, as my friend also thought when we jacked it up, but we didn't inspect it too thoroughly. I can't really afford to keep working on it, and I don't want to insure both cars... Maybe I'll have a mechanic check it out just in case.
Post Reply