new member in Fargo w 86 4WD SR5

[Petros]

Check the outside rolling diameter of your new tire/wheel combo, very much larger than the stock diameter you may have to clearance the fender well.

valve adjustment is simple and straight forward, similar to the MG but this has an overhead cam that the rocker rides on directly. I have found that doing the valve adjustment warm makes for a better, more quiet, outcome. I would suspect that unless it was out a lot you will not see much change. of course the gap is only 0.010 exhaust and .008" intake, unlike the MG which was more like 0.040" if I recall.

Most common problems with drivablity is usually related to the vacuum systems (not the carb). fairly easy to check, just follow the FSM procedures. First thing you should do is check the vac line routing against the diagram in the FSM, follow each line and make sure it is connected to the correct place at both ends, there are no cracks and all of them are actually connected rather than hanging loose. that usually solves most of the drivablity issues. If not, most common source of cold drivablity problems is the auxiliary acceleration pump (AAP), easy check, pull the vac line off and see if it has fuel in it. as a temp fix cap it off at both ends, you only need it when it is cold, it cuts off after warm up. Replace the diaphragm to fix it.

If everything is working properly the factory carb has good drivablity and economy. After everything else is check out and you still have issues than it might be worth rebuilding the carb. It is big job but not as bad as one would think looking at it, a kit is about $30 and it will take about an hour and a half to do it. most important thing is to have a nice clean paper covered table to work on so you do not lose the tiny parts (unlike my very messy and cluttered shop work bench).

good luck.

[Jamminfargo]

Ok so I put one the new used focuse rims and I thinkg they look ok...lots more ground clearance and no issues with clearance in the fender wells. One still must have some gravel in it as theres a slight clicking noise...hoping the rim isnt bent. And man the hub center part barely fits these ford rims.

[Jamminfargo]

The tercel is fun to drive and when pushed a little bit it remonds me of a 78 spitfire 1500 I had a long time ago. It will also hopefully be reliable enough to drive year round. It will be mostly garaged in the summer. always in the winters and actually not have to hibernate like the toy it will be replacing. Will miss the Marauder but I will not miss looking at it mothballed every year for 7 months waiitng to come out and play.
Lowered on Eibachs, regeared, chipped and dyno tuned among other monor modifications and soon to be on craigslist

[Jamminfargo]

ok so my car was listed on craigslist by previous owner as an 84, then when I go look at it he says its an 85, then when I title it, the DMV says its an 86...and now the doppleganger to this car is or was for sale in Reno in the forums. I looked carefully at the pictures and it even has the same weird interior fabric pattern...and THAT one says its an 85. My car sounds like a Johnny Cash song..."I got me an 84, 85, 86 Tercel 4 wheelin mean machine"

Oh and just for grins, after driving it a bit I can't imagine naming this car after a woman (as Ive done with many cars). A Tercel is a small falcon but since this is more like hanging out with a guy, I think Im gonna call it a Kestrel...may even make up some black vinyl lettering for it... By the way an american kestrel is a small wicked looking falcon but as it (the name Kestrel) appears in taxonomy or whatever its called, it generally refers to a male falcon or hawk.
Not knocking anyones Tercels but when I hear Tercel I think of a tiny japanese economy car...Kestrel has a different image to it.
Ok so I am a weirdo... Have a beachin weekend everyone. Heading to the garage to play

[Gottolovem]

Kestrel i like it the rims kinda look like claws specially If you switch the orientation of the spokes so they look like there grabbing a hold of the ground.

[ARCHINSTL]

OT a tad, but... Kestrel was the name of one model of one of my favorite marques, the Riley. http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20144/lot/609/
And the car from which the preceding vehicle sprang:
It was arguably the first four-door 'sport saloon." See http://rileyrob.co.uk/specs/12-4/kestrel4.htm and http://rileyrob.co.uk/specs/kestrel6.htm
Tom M.

P.S. that Marauder looks just wicked...

[dlb]

jamminfargo, are those 15" ford escort wheels? i think i was looking at some similar to those a while back. they look familiar.

[Jamminfargo]

Hey DLB....yes they are actually 15's off of a focus zx2 which replaced the escorts. Think he said it was an 01, Perfect fit in my humble opinion. He just got the tires on at Christmas and toasted his engine in late January,

[Jamminfargo]

Tom...My wife would agree with you that I am abit over the top in a lot of ways. Ok shes sitting here and says not over the top....but I am cheesy...slightly cheesy in everything but highly entertaining. I love to drive things that are a little different from the current popular...and the marauder is wicked...seriously comfy black leather jacket wrapped around you...wife says shes like "butter" smooth... and then when you drop the hammer...scary fun. It's chipped to run out to 6500 at WOT and the tranny is upgraded to handle it well. Dyno tuned by the best modular motor builder in the south. What I really love about the program I'm running in it now is that it is completely civil and elegant until you want it not to be.

Funnest part is when a fart can honda or acura wants to play... kill the overdrive and drop it in first and just pace them to about 50 and then hit second... chirp and leave them in a hurry. Its a thousand pounds heavier than a cobra but I swear from 35 to well over 100 mph there are only a few cars Ive run up on that can touch it. I put 31 spline moser axles in it, changed the 3.55's to 4.10 gears, put a balanced aluminum racing prop shaft (with safety loop)...bulletproff back side.

At 110 it feels like 60 in other cars...and I've burst it for short periods at 140 having room to go faster. Like I said I will miss her but these winters up here are just too long and I only have a 2 stall heated garage.

And even with the 4.10 gears it gets 21 to 23 mpg on road trips driving at the speed limit (I have really dark tinted windows so I drive it very tame most of the time to avoid tickets)

[Petros]

with a set up like that I imagine it must be really tough to keep it at the speed limit. I would suspect your actual fuel economy is likely much lower.

[tercel4wdrules]

The '86 SR5 I used to have was built in July of 1985. You just need to check the 10th digit of the VIN. If it's a D it's an '83, E is an '84, F is an '85, G is an '86 and so forth. From the picture of the seats you provided it has the '86 SR5 pattern seats.

[Jamminfargo]

Thanks rules for the vin info...ok so it's an 86 yay...almost a new car compared to an 84...hehe

And yes petros I only know the mpg from roadtrips in the marauder....It rarely gets that sort of leisurely usage. I built it up to have fun...It runs pretty consistent 14.25's at a local drag strip- slow off the line with 18" rims but still sort of quick, I have autocrossed it (which is an absolute hoot but seriously detrimental to tires) and while I was in California I designed a removeable roadster style crash cage and bought gears and other goodies to set it up to do land speed racing at El Mirage which I never did accomplish...probably saved the car, a ton of money and possibly my neck.

AND we have a mini blizzard here in Fargo so I got to go out and play with the 4WD on the Tercel a few minutes ago. Oh man are these cars FUN to goof around in. Spent a quarter tank of gas up learning how to drive it a bit. Only about 6-8 inch drifts in the HS parking lot so I didn't exactly go crazy. I am VERY impressed at the tank like nature of the car and for a lil 1500 cc engine it pulls vary well without having to keep the revs up at all.

I know I should start a build thread but for the moment I changed out the dizzy cap and rotor which was really corroded, changed to new NGK plugs- all were firing but the gaps were huge (over .060 on cyls 2 & 3)from wear but no unusual deposits, inspected the vacuum lines visually and saw no cracking or mis routed hoses...I will do a closer inspection when time permits. I have the valve cover gasket and a dizzy O ring but cant locate a gasket for the fuel pump- guessing you all cut custom gaskets for them- any advice here is welcomed....Ummm also got a decent Subaru stereo and 6 CD changer which I'm hoping will fit in the console slots and a set of 4" Alpine speakers...no clue if they will fit yet but one of the front speakers is kaput at the moment. I like to have the parts in the garage for upcoming zen moments when I can spend a few hours relaxing so my work is cut out for me. Not to mention the cutting out work I may attempt in getting rid of the rust spot by the rear wheel well...
Hoping all of you have a great day and better weather there than here
John

[Jamminfargo]

Sold her over the weekend to a good friend here in Fargo that was looking to get a fun car to work on with his son. Cant think of a more fun and durable toy to learn wrenching with. Please welcome him when he registers

Cheers