Manual swapping an auto tercel

General discussion about our beloved Tercel 4WD cars
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Smatters09
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My tercel:: 1983 toyota tercel wagon 4wd 5speed

Manual swapping an auto tercel

Post by Smatters09 »

As some of you may know I am looking for tercel wagon I prefer a manual car however I am open to buying an automatic wagon for the right price but would prefer to swap it to a manual in the near future is it doable and is it all that difficult? I ask only cause a fella near me had a complete manual wagon but the body is shit but I could buy the trans and clutch assembly from it I don't know it it's all the hard time swap or not thanks in advance I'm asking so if its possible it will open my search window a little more
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NWMO
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Re: Manual swapping an auto tercel

Post by NWMO »

Here is a link to a member's write up about what is necessary found in the Repair Guide section of the site. It is possible.

The search engine on the site is so-so, I will often search from Google and include Tercel4WD.com in the search, seems to work better.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1443

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rer233
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Re: Manual swapping an auto tercel

Post by rer233 »

You're gonna need a lot more than just the tranny and clutch ass'y- ie rear diff "pumpkin", driveshaft, top section of the floorpan (where the shifter levers mount) and a bunch of other odds and ends. I did it a few years back (do a search on "sex change" and the thread will come up) and couldn't be happier with the result. You'll pretty much need a M/T donor car to complete the transformation. Good luck!
if it aint there, there's a good chance it won't break!
83 SR5 Silver/Blue (Snowmobile/work beater)-totaled but drivable
85 SR5 Blue
88 SR5 White (the 'good' one)-not anymore-totaled
87 fwd silver wagon a/t
87 4wd dx Cream (a/t- not anymore- now m/t)
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Smatters09
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Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Dec 03, 2019 11:39 am
My tercel:: 1983 toyota tercel wagon 4wd 5speed

Re: Manual swapping an auto tercel

Post by Smatters09 »

Damn yeah I don't want to get into it like they haha rather hold out for a manual car they seem to be more common anyhow
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Petros
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My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
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Re: Manual swapping an auto tercel

Post by Petros »

it can be done, all the mounts and bits are present in both cars for manaul and auto trans. as noted however, you should buy the whole car to make sure you get all the varioius parts you will need. there are a lot of strange little odds and ends you will need, like the "extra low" light on the dash (there is a place for it, and it is wired in the harness, but you still need the bulb and tiny mount that goes in the instrument cluster). lots of similar small parts you will need. Get a whole donor car that has a body not worth rebuilding and keeping on the road.

it is a big job to do it, and only worth it if your plans are to do a ground up rebuilt, full strip, clean, repair/rebuild. than it would not be much more effort. otherwise, best to just find one with the manual trans. besides, the SR5 trim line has better sets and instrument cluster anyway, (and a few other nice details), and they only came with a manual trans.
'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)
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