Stolen: 1985 t4wd green/dark green Portland Oregon

[simon guey]

My Tercel was stolen from in front of my house 6/22/21
it is a two tone green color .. sr5,4wd Please contact Portland Police
case # 21-170140
thanks. has yellow oregon plates AUP-353 ...thanks

[simon guey]

update: was found on side of road. few miles from my house a month after.
now has a rod knock maybe.. and slipping clutch is now really bad. I think the thiefs forgot to check the oil.
time to pull the engine out and rebuild ? or maybe sell it. nothing smashed or missing just was very bummed out . not sure what to do.

[drafting3d]

Thats so sad, how many theft posts have been on here over the years!
I had a Mitsubishi 4x4 that was attempted stolen then burnt righ outside my house one night, I still havent recovered from that shock...

Maybe turn it into a good thing, surely with all the 4ac powered Tercs around there will be a spare 3ac to rebuild to factory spec and enjoy 35 mpg.

[drafting3d]

Or even a 'new' bottom end conversion like a 4afe from a Chevy Nova / Toyo Corolla and put a 4ac head on it (retain carb, SOHC, ultra simple)

[Mattel]

I'm glad you got it back. Looks really clean. I hope you can find a good engine to put in it.

[NWMO]

On the bright side, you got her back. If the body is solid/straight, that's better than any of mine and a great candidate for "improving" to your taste as you rework. Yes, it sucks that it was stolen and abused, but that's the past, I tend to look forward and not back.

[dlb]

update: was found on side of road. few miles from my house a month after.
now has a rod knock maybe.. and slipping clutch is now really bad. I think the thiefs forgot to check the oil.
time to pull the engine out and rebuild ? or maybe sell it. nothing smashed or missing just was very bummed out . not sure what to do.

Wow, crazy. Did you get any money from insurance to cover the repairs? Regardless, fixing it definitely gets my vote.

[Petros]

What a shame. some idiot was driving it around not far from where it was stolen from? as if no one would notice an ancient Tercel4wd. Driving a 37 year old econo-box and never bothered to check the oil? Most stolen cars are recovered, my '84 T4wd was stolen from behind my work place when I was working late, they took my used $20 picknpull battery, some dirty coveralls, an ice ax I had in the back for hiking, a half case of energy drinks, and some garage sale tools out of the back and left it in a farmers field about 7 miles from where they stole it. whatever they thought they might get, they would have made more money flipping hamburgers that night.

Now you can pull the engine and just install new rod bearings by dropping the oil pan, and get a new clutch in it. if you have the right tools and the parts you need, that can be done in a day. fairly fast and straight forward.

OTOH, it might be a good time to consider up grading to a fresh rebuilt 4ac. with a performance cam, balanced and a new clutch.

[rer233]

Might want to get a Club too. Can't believe it got stolen- came from the factory with the best anti-theft device already installed for today's thieves (M/T.)

[dlb]

A former forum member here, Barto, relocated the clutch safety switch to the lower left dash panel. That way he could bump the car along for a few meters if he ran out of gas, but it also doubled as a theft deterrent because no one knew to press the little button on the dash when starting the car. I've always remembered that.

[simon guey]

thanks for the encouraging words.
I needed a car asap and bought a 79 corolla. I will park the tercel till next spring and make a decision weather to rebuild or do a 4ac swap. if anybody in the pnw has a lead on a 4ac I'd be interested have been checking the pick and pull web site. I visited a nova with a 4-ac one spark plug hole was stripped . the cam was burnt and 1/4'' of sludge inside the valve cover.. not one dent on the car.. passed on it. there is a t4wd in Vancouver WA looks good but right now don't have the time or place to do the repair. I really think rod bearing and clutch is all it needs. just didn't have the motivation to tackle that job with the bad taste in mouth of the whole thing. been working on the corolla and loving it. only had it a week now towed it home not running for 6 years.. now registered and insured and zipping down the road. it has got me excited about fixing the t4wd.

[NWMO]

Keep fighting the good fight Simon!

[jbarrant9]

thanks for the encouraging words.
I needed a car asap and bought a 79 corolla. I will park the tercel till next spring and make a decision weather to rebuild or do a 4ac swap. if anybody in the pnw has a lead on a 4ac I'd be interested have been checking the pick and pull web site. I visited a nova with a 4-ac one spark plug hole was stripped . the cam was burnt and 1/4'' of sludge inside the valve cover.. not one dent on the car.. passed on it. there is a t4wd in Vancouver WA looks good but right now don't have the time or place to do the repair. I really think rod bearing and clutch is all it needs. just didn't have the motivation to tackle that job with the bad taste in mouth of the whole thing. been working on the corolla and loving it. only had it a week now towed it home not running for 6 years.. now registered and insured and zipping down the road. it has got me excited about fixing the t4wd.

I have a 4ac up in north Washington, but I go down south on occasion and could bring it down with me. Gotta keep these things on the road, and I really don't need a spare 4a.

[simon guey]

I would definitely be interested! thanks Jbarrant9.

[Mattel]

I have a 4ac up in north Washington, but I go down south on occasion and could bring it down with me. Gotta keep these things on the road, and I really don't need a spare 4a.

So good of you J. That offer is what makes this forum worthwhile.