Introduction

[Mason]

I guess an intro is in order...

I've been lurking a while, first quite a while ago for a friends son, who has an 84 T4, that I was helping with some front end repairs and wanted to know more about them. About a month ago I bought an 85 from the original owner, it spent a lot of its 130k miles behind a motorhome. Bought it without being able to start it or move it in any way and the 'noisy throw out bearing' was of course an input shaft bearing. It passed the tail light guarantee under its own power (about 400 feet) and I towed it with a strap the remaining 32 miles with my 94 toyota pickup. Pulled the transmission and brought it and two more (it came with an unknown condition spare and I had access to another unknown) to a transmission shop to see about making one whole. While waiting to hear about that I've been reading a lot more here and tinker on a few things now and then.

I've been a member of other lists in the past, I like this one quite a lot. Kudos, thanks for the good reading so far and, in advance for what I may need.

-Josh

[Gottolovem]

Welcome

I'm Intrested to hear what the tranny shop does

[Mason]

Thanks. He has rebuilt A couple in recent history that I know of, and lots of them years ago when they were more plentiful. He's buried in work right now but should know soon what it looks like in there.

[Gottolovem]

Sounds like your in good hands

[Petros]

welcome to the forum Josh,

where are you located?

[Ridlbox]

Greetings and salutations

[Mason]

Thanks guys. Petros, I am in Fairbanks Alaska.

[dlb]

there are a few other forum members up in alaska and the yukon. you guys should have a northern contingent meetup.

[Petros]

all of the main bearings and seals for the trans are still available, unfortunately new sycros no longer exist. hopefully between the three trans you have, you might get one set of good syncros. keep the leftover parts if they are usable, all may become valuable for parts to fix the remaining trans out there. I think I bought the last T4wd trans kit available in North American a few years ago, and not cheap at $550.

[Mason]

Yikes. Been a while...
I wanted to update you all on the car, it's a short story anyway. I was super busy this fall/winter and the transmission went way to the back of the line to get repaired since I didn't have the time to mess with it. I think it was early January when I got it back and slammed it into the car. Everything seemed to work as it should, I was just so happy to have the thing off the blocks and out of my way in the driveway. I didn't even ask the transmission guy what he changed besides the input shaft bearing and all new seals. Based on the cost of repair, I'd say not much. It has a slight coolant leak or two from the pipes off the water pump and that seems to be about it. I flushed the coolant about five times and spent way too much money on 6 quarts of synthetic gear oil and called it macaroni. It runs really nice and I think it shifts okay but to be honest, I've never run one of these before so I just don't know...and I don't want to. I drove it across town, about 12 miles or so, and parked it after the repairs. I didn't want to buy snow tires for it, I have my truck to drive and I don't have the time to worry with any little things that may or may not happen with a new to me 30 year old car. I must be a touch wiser these days, being kind to my future self. Fixing cars on the side of the road at -20 or colder is something I will choose to avoid, now and forever more.

So anyway, I'm going to sell it next week. Most of you are pretty far away but I'll post a link to the ad in case it's a viable option for anyone. It's been nice to read discussions here and be part of one or two. Enthusiasts are my kind of people.

-Josh

[Mason]

Since I decided to 'give' myself a few days off after an injury at work, I figured I'd take a look at the Tercel and see how the old girl made out sitting alone all winter. Between the few things she needs for me to feel comfortable selling and the time I've spent the last two evening readings posts here, I just may have to drive it around a bit and give it a real go. Nothing like some quality wrench time to make or break a relationship

The crossover tube from the head to the water pump has a pretty steady leak that really needs to be addressed first. The tires were old but in fair shape when I picked it up last august but have spent far too many years without rolling and really need to be changed. So...what else does a person do, but buy an entire wrecked subaru wagon that has new tires on it? Way less hassle, time and money than buying new tires So I'll fix the leak and tires and give it a wash (the weather is warm enough during the 'heat' of the day for that now) and tool around a bit before deciding. I've always liked the mechanical work and never the body work so whenever I get a car I like it to be a good specimen. It's not perfect but it is pretty nice. A few dents never bothered me too much, it's the rust!

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[Petros]

it is amazing the condition of that car after surviving all those winters in AK. not a bad looking T4wd, particularly consider the conditions it has lived in for the last 32 years.

I have determined to keep fixing mine for the rest of my life, presuming I can still get parts for it. It serves me perfectly well, and easy and cheap to keep running.

[ARCHINSTL]

A few dents never bothered me too much, it's the rust!

Where is the rust? Your pix certainly look good! You even have a luggage cover!

I have determined to keep fixing mine for the rest of my life, presuming I can still get parts for it. It serves me perfectly well, and easy and cheap to keep running.

WHAT HE WROTE!
My HS/Collitch buds laugh at me, but I have the car until I croak!
Of course, driving only 3-4K miles per year (and split between the '88 Dodge/Mitsu POS p'up) in retirement helps...
Tom M.

[Mason]

The tercel doesn't have any cancer, just small areas of surface rust where dents or gravel has opened up the paint. I meant with any car I buy, I don't mind dents but stay away from rust. I can fix anything mechanically but have yet to find the patience for body work.

It still has the factory floor mats and I don't think the full spare has seen daylight. I took the sheepskin seat covers off that I'm pretty sure had been there for 25 years. It was a one owner,mostly summer and towed behind an RV car.