I need some help on a serious decision regarding my '85 and '88 wagons. A few days ago, I had the transmission go out on my '88 wagon. I haven't pulled it yet, but I have a pretty good idea as to what happened. The bearing that holds the shaft with the gear that transfers power from the input shaft to the rest of the tranny went out, caused the gear to wobble around, and presumably destroyed that gear, the input shaft, and the gear below it. There is someone on the facebook group that had exactly this happen, and said he has replacement parts if I decide to go this route.
Aside from that, lets talk about the good and bad of the '88 (left wagon with paint peeling, dlx).
The good:
- CV's and front + rear axle seals, bearings
7ac engine (7afe bottom end, 4ac head)
Replaced shift fork bolt for 3rd, 4th gear
Countershaft bearing in tranny
New tires
Sway bar bushings, ball joints
New shocks + struts
New windshield
Weber 32/36
Installed working A/C
SR5 tach cluster
New radiator + hoses
- Body has multiple rust holes in fenders, rear quarter panels
Transmission went out
Bumper supports are rotted
Exhaust was poorly made and installed
Drivers side window regulator shot
Engine uses oil (mostly due to the 500k mile 4ac head I used)
Rack is worn out
Paint was poorly applied
The good:
- Body is nearly rust free
Windshield frame is rusty
Less mileage
SR5 variant
Transmission doesnt make any odd noises
Engine in decent shape
Seems to have been cared for better than the '88
Factory exhaust in good shape
Has roof rack + mounting hardware
- All windows, except rear quarters and hatch, leak
The brown interior smells like mouse pee
Seats have a slight green tinge to them
Headliner has piss stains, is sagging as well
Wipers blow fuse constantly (when we got the car, the ash tray was full of 20A fuses for this)
A/C needs recharge (still has factory r12 with some gas still in the system)
Has been in a front end collision (dented fenders, bent hood)
Hood latch cable broke
Engine doesnt idle right regardless of factory aisin carb vs weber 32/36 (will most likely start another thread about this issue)
Needs suspension work
Broken speedo cable, stripped speedo gear unit (though i do have a replacement gear)
Radiator is rotting, thermostat missing