Tercel to the Rescue!

[ctishman]

So earlier this evening, I'm driving home from having dinner at the folks' place, and I notice a Ford Escort stopped on a steep hill, on a curve. I slow down and ask him if he's okay. He says his car's overheated, and he's not sure what to do, as he can't get up the hill, and the road's too twisty and busy to drift backwards around the blind corner. Thus, I do what any semi-macho gentleman would: I offer to push him.

Now, I'd never thought of the Tercel as a particularly strong car, but I decided it was worth a shot. I pulled up behind him, stuck it into 4WD and EL, and clutched out, hoping to god nothing on my drivetrain would break.

Wouldn't you know it, nothing did. The wheels slipped for a second in the rough gravel, then caught, and we took off without so much as a creak or a groan from the frame. I shoved his vehicle onto the shoulder at the top of the hill and gave him a ride for the half-mile or so to his house. Driving away, I was immensely impressed with what my car could do.

[brianp]

Neat! Yay for Tercels!

[JOE]

I DID THE SAME THING ABOUT A YEAR AGO, EXCEPT WITH A 74 FORD P/U
WITH A BLOWN MOTOR. TOWED THE GUY FOR ABOUT 1.5KM. SAME THING THOUGH, 4WD EL. PULLED PRETTY GOOD. EVEN HAD TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC
LIGHT.

[Typrus]

I pulled a Jeep Wrangler out of a ditch. I don't remember how he got there, but I know he was pretty stuck. I had the 20 foot tow chain in the back at the time and offered to try and help. He laughed and said something to the extent of "You plannin on pushing?" So I just chuckled, asked if he wanted out, he said yah, so I looped the chain around his tow hooks on the front and mine on the back and I hopped in and 4WD EL'd it. After the Jeep (pronouned Heap by the way... Just ask Jose ) started moving he jumped up, got in, and with my help worked himself clear. So I only did half the work. He complemented the Terc, apologized for his doubt, then offered me something like $50, but I just asked that he do the same for someone else if he saw them. He agreed.
Between that, towing my other Terc around the property, and towing our Geo Metro around, I have a very tired clutch.

[takza]

I TRIED to tow a pickup out of a ditch (not too deep), but it seems that he had a load of ??????? in the back...seemed like about a ton. He spun his clutch and the Terc couldn't budge it.

[Aussie_3ASCV]

are you serious!!!

i rescued a P plater mk2 escort this mornin on the way to work..hahahah he just had water in his dizzy cap and needed a tow home. put snatch strap on and few d-shackles and off we go in RWD EL (shitty CV joint gave me hell so pulled it out). no problems at all. then after dropping him off dropped biggest powerslide around a roundabout like no other tercel has done before.muahahah Driftcel

[Rasmus]

Uhm.. you can just remove the CVs and its RWD? Mmmm...

I've pulled out stumps with mine in EL, towed a lincoln mk 8 up a hill, and believe it or not, moved two volvos on tow with my little Terk

- R

[Typrus]

Removing the CV's is not recommended. Thats why we've been looking at alternative support systems for the front so that either a Corolla GTS or Supra tranny can be used for a beefier engine swap. I'm sure the resaoning is that the CV provides a strong resistive force to the wheels collapsing inwards on themselves under heavy stress, i.e. fast cornering, striking a curb, etc. The main control arm is, after all, mounted to a little ball joint.
I suppose one alternative would be to fit a bearing-equipped locator that bolted tot he engine cradle or something. Would have to allow for swing arm movement and soon... Or maybe just conversion to a more classic A-Arm setup, like on the 1981 Corolla Tercel sitting in my driveway.

[takza]

The front axles have little to do with locating the front suspension? The inner joint slides in/out at least an inch.

[Typrus]

I dunno. Just going off the research I've done.
Also, based on that alone is why I said from folding IN, not OUT. It it pushed hard enough out, it'd just dislocate the CV anyway. Though on the in, it might help to a degree.
I've read and heard that it is not advisable to drive with them removed. Not only from this forum (1st place) but I spoke with some mechanics and tuner buddies.

Also, wouldn't taking the inner CV out allow for gear lube to leak out from the differential?

[Gasoline Fumes]

I dunno. Just going off the research I've done.
Also, based on that alone is why I said from folding IN, not OUT. It it pushed hard enough out, it'd just dislocate the CV anyway. Though on the in, it might help to a degree.
I've read and heard that it is not advisable to drive with them removed. Not only from this forum (1st place) but I spoke with some mechanics and tuner buddies.

Also, wouldn't taking the inner CV out allow for gear lube to leak out from the differential?

The issue is with the wheel bearings. The outer axle stubs helps hold them together.

And yeah, I'd imagine it would leak a lot. Plus you'd probably get a lot of dirt in the gear lube through the open holes.

[mike30]

Uhm.. you can just remove the CVs and its RWD? Mmmm...

I'm not do it (no yet) , but a friend has a Terk'84 and his CV's was broken, he remove this... and it was 6 years ago and from this time he have a RWD Terk... he is amazed of that can do....