New Tercel 4WD for me

tercel4wdrules · Post by **tercel4wdrules** » Sat May 15, 2004 7:53 pm

About a week ago I found a silver 85 SR5 for sale. I was planning that our next Tercel would be either an 85 or 86 SR5 and it had to be silver. When I found it I knew that I needed to have it because it looked like this was going to be my only opportunity for me. The guy who's selling it wants $300 US, but it has a blown engine. It took me a week before I was able to convince my dad to go take a look at it. I thought he would never go, but Thursday I was able to convince him with the help of my mom. We had to drive around 60 miles (round trip) to go see it, but it was worth it. The guy said that 5 years ago an old lady had it and gave it to him. It only had around 30,000 miles. Now it has 110,XXX miles and I like it. Sooo we got there and I immediately recognized it- it was covered by a car cover and so far it looked like it was in good shape.

Now the inspection story:

The guy removed the cover and we took a pretty good look at it on the exterior and interior. It's missing some of the turn signal light covers (inside ones) and the interior is very dirty. The drivers seat is really worn out and torn (common I guess) and everything else inside looked ok. I like the idea of a tilt steering wheel and power steering, both, which our 83 doesn't have is good. I didn't take a look at the ceiling trim but I assume it should be fine. Oh, itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s missing the cargo cover, which I must have, too! One thing that really liked was the original 4-way radio. Ever since my dad has owned the 83 SR5 I've always wanted the either the original radio or cassette player. The clutch pedal cover is missing. I immediately noticed the differences in the interior of the 83 SR5 and carpet.

The exterior was a different story. It has two dents that look rusted, but fixable. I didn't notice any other defects other than a couple of minor scratches and two or three major ones that are rusted. One of the dents was on the left corner near the side marker light on the left side (driverÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s side). The other one was on the driverÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s door near the top of where the window rolls up. Hmm... Why are there dents only on the drivers side? The paint is mostly still glossy and vibrant. Man I like this thing too much. The grille is in excellent shape as well as the hood. It has the white rims, which are also in good shape.

The mechanical inspection was quick and not thorough, as there was not much to check. The car wasn't registered for a year and it has the original blue license plate as well as the thing that goes around it where it says where it was bought just like our 83. I then took a brief look under the hood and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The guy finally told my dad and I why the engine gave up- supposedly it overheated and I guess that caused it to seize, but there was a sizable amount of oil everywhere even on the wingnut area of the air cleaner!! Blown gaskets? I'm just going to swap the engine with another 3A-C. All the A/C components are there and I hope it will just need a refill. Where do I get a hydrocarbon based R12 substitute? I looked under the car and it looks like the transaxle is covered with oil. I'm assuming its the leaking engine oil because it's dark colored and manual transmission fluid I understand is supposed to be clear. Ain't I right? Unless it could be tranny oil that has never been changed. I don't know at this point, but hopefully it's just engine oil that is on it. Then I tested the front suspension by attempting to bounce it and I pushed pretty hard on the right side and it didn't bounce much, still stiff, unlike the 83... push... boinggg. :blink: Well I did all of this in around 10-12 minutes.

Reflection:

I really liked this car and in about a week or so my dad is going to go and is going to buy it. He told the guy for the car to be considered sold. I'm very happy, I think my dream of having 3 silver SR5s is going to come true. After this one I will need to get a 87 SR5, but this time fully loaded with alloy wheels, power sunroof, cruise control, etc. But that won't be for a while. It's going to cost my dad $75 to get it towed for 30 miles, not bad. Now I have some questions: Do I need the numbers on the carb to match with the one currently there? I have an extra one that was rebuilt and was in great shape last time it was used, just needs some stuff. I'll fix this car up, which is much easier than fixing the 83. We'll keep the 83, just that we will partially restore it later. Too attached to that car to get rid of it and so is my dad in a way. What other advice can you guys give me on the engine swap as well as other things I should watch out for? This car would of have been great for a 4A-GE swap which IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m look forward to but donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t have the time, tools, money, experience, and knowledge to do such a thing. Maybe some other day.

I never knew I could write so much for a 10-15 minute inspection of a car. I can surprise myself sometimes.

icE · Post by **icE** » Sat May 15, 2004 8:15 pm

lol nice, and an awesome find! These cars get rarer by the day. If you had more money i'd buy a more powerful engine for the car. Hope everything works out well for yaz

tercel4wdrules · Post by **tercel4wdrules** » Sat May 15, 2004 8:29 pm

Yes, I hope everthing does, thanks! Yeah I would go for a 4A-C but I want to get to swap the 3A-C mostly by myself and I want to keep it stock.

Thereminator · Post by **Thereminator** » Sat May 15, 2004 8:44 pm

Good deal Carlos,mabey you will get a 4-ac($350,or less in L.A.). Thats probably engine~oil on your half~shaft and if the carb is the same gen. Modle and has the same live~vacume~feeds(9?)and the two Idle~solinoids it should be fine.If you find used~Jap.~engines for dirt~cheep,Let me Know,Have Fun. B)

tercel4wdrules · Post by **tercel4wdrules** » Sat May 15, 2004 9:12 pm

Oh, by the way I found the car on recycler.com a local classifieds agency that posts cars on cars.com. I guess that occasionally looking paid off!

tercel4wdrules · Post by **tercel4wdrules** » Sat May 15, 2004 9:17 pm

Alan, I could probably find one in a wrecking yard or one of those ecology centers for $75, but the problem is I'm underage and they probably won't let me in. I have found 2 local places for engines (I'm talking about the 3A-C) and one is $250 and the other is $325. I'll probably go for the $325 one though. Yeah, the unused carb is missing both solenoids and I think its missing a red colored wire that goes on I think the choke heater or opener I forgot which one it is, but other than that it was in great shape. I didn't see oil on the half-shafts but maybe I wasn't looking hard enough.

T Pie · Post by **T Pie** » Mon May 17, 2004 7:53 pm

Try the link below for a Freon subsitute. Used it in my wagon the last 2 summers, and it worked great (Atlanta). A friend is also running it in two of his cars , with the same results. Runs at a much lower pressure than a 134 conversion, and it wont eat up the system.

<a href='http://www.autorefrigerants.us/' target='_blank'>http://www.autorefrigerants.us/</a>

tercel4wdrules · Post by **tercel4wdrules** » Mon May 17, 2004 8:15 pm

T Pie wrote: Try the link below for a Freon subsitute. Used it in my wagon the last 2 summers, and it worked great (Atlanta). A friend is also running it in two of his cars , with the same results. Runs at a much lower pressure than a 134 conversion, and it wont eat up the system.

<a href='http://www.autorefrigerants.us/' target='_blank'>http://www.autorefrigerants.us/</a>

Above all welcome T pie. I have two questions for you. Which Tercel 4WD do you have and which one of those packages did you buy (freon)? It looks like they're a good deal and won't eat up your system as the 134a's will.

T Pie · Post by **T Pie** » Mon May 17, 2004 8:51 pm

I have an '87 SR5 manual. I originaly split a case of ES-12 and used an R- 134a can tap adapted to an R-12 manifold set. If I were worried about a leak, I would use the refrigerant/dyecharge, as it will cool the same. I would also order a side tap for R-12 and R-134, to make it easier to use in differant vehicles. We picked up the oil charge locally. Check their specials page to see if they have a package that will better suit you.
Alt link:

<a href='http://autorefrigerants.com/' target='_blank'>http://autorefrigerants.com/</a>

tercel4wdrules · Post by **tercel4wdrules** » Mon May 17, 2004 9:12 pm

Wow! You have the 87 SR5! My favorite Tercel 4WD. Can you tell me what color it is and what are the options it has? I'll check out the prices and see what's better for me.

T Pie · Post by **T Pie** » Mon May 17, 2004 9:51 pm

It's a white SR5. This is the first one I'd seen, so I'm not sure what's an option and what's SR5. It has 6 speed, p/s, a/c, P/b, standard white steel rims w/ center caps, idiot lights, tach, rear defrost, rear wiper. No sun roof (just heard about that) or cruise.
Bought it for $200 about 2 years ago. Original owners brought it down from Alaska. It had set up about 5 years. Had it cranked in less than an hour Front end customized by a deer. Rebuilt carb (twice), new hood fluids and tires. Straightened new hood, cowl, wiper blades, and adjusted hood latch so hood wouldnt open at speed and block my view. Replaced gas tank, fuel pump(electric), rebuilt carb again, a/c compressor and dryer. Took about 6 months. The fuel system left me walking several times, I got REAL mad at it and didn't touch it for about 3 of those months.
Recently picked up some used body parts, including a grill and head lamps from an '83. Would like '87 lights, but can't stand the thought of paying more for headlights and grill than for the car. The '83's will be better than the home made lights I've been running.

tercel4wdrules · Post by **tercel4wdrules** » Mon May 17, 2004 10:27 pm

Thanks for describing your Tercel! Options are the sunroof, cruise, A/C, alloy wheels, tilt steering wheel, etc. I don't think they offered two tone paint anymore on the 85-88's. As you may have read before I want a silver metallic 87 SR5 with the alloy wheels and all those other goodies. It will have to be a 6 speed as I have heard the 3 speeds are awful, not that I'm against them. Also as far as I know auto was only offered in a deluxe. In a worst case scenerio and this is only if I have to, I'll buy a 87 deluxe, but it has to be silver so that it matches the other ones.

T Pie · Post by **T Pie** » Mon May 17, 2004 10:43 pm

Mine has tilt as well.
BTW there's an '87 on trader online. No details, though.

<a href='http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c ... ardist=393' target='_blank'>http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c ... ist=393</a>

Thereminator · Post by **Thereminator** » Mon May 17, 2004 11:31 pm

Hey T~pie,Welcome abord! Was the stuff you used Freeze~12 and would the Quickcharge~Kit be the way~to~go? Carlos,The Carb I Bought at Ecology cost $20 and was ready to bolt~on.Mabey you could get a friend or go with your dad to look for parts,it fun and if there are several good parts~cars down here,Ill bet your area is a virtual gold~mine!

T Pie · Post by **T Pie** » Tue May 18, 2004 4:49 am

No, this is a differant product. Freeze 12 is available locally, but requires the use of the correct oil. In other words you may have to evacuate the entire oil charge. The Enviro-safe product is compatable with R-12 or R-134 oils. I've used Freeze 12 successfully, but I've also seen systems fail. I belive it happened because of poor evacuation or not changing the oil.