I could be getting a free tercel! update: got it running

[chrlblk]

Hello all let me say that this is a great site.
I have the chance to get a free 1983 Tercel 4wd (blue, blue interior, man transmission) for free. It belongs to a guy I work with. He got it about a year ago for for $500.
The good:
new cv shafts, new rear wheel bearings, new tires, new brake master cyl,no rust or dents, good interior recent alignment and carb rebuild.
the bad:
300k miles,He got drunk started his car floored gas pedal and passed out. The engine came apart (more like melted out of the car) after about 10 min. at full throttle. The police got called for a chainsaw like noise at about 2:00 am in the middle of town and promptly gave him a DUI
The car is mine if I want it.
I have not seen the car since he blew the engine but I hear what is left of the engine is quite a site.
I plan on getting the car ,if it isn't to messed up, and installing a used engine and driving it for another 100,000 miles
ps it also has the inclineometer in it.

[ARCHINSTL]

Welcome !
I must say, your engine story is a first for the Club. Take a photo if you get it. Sounds like it would be worth it; after all, "Free is free."
Besides, you could always part it out (shudder)!
Tom M.

[coltarms]

The cost of a new engine is not that outrageous, anywhere from $350 at a junkyard or classified ad, to $1500 from a remanufacturing company. Installation is pretty straight forward, meaning that you should be able to do it yourself with the aid of a borrowed engine crane and a small but adequate selection of tools.

Congrats!

[keith]

Proformance has been clearing out old stock of reman engines on Ebay, that is where I got my 4AC longblock for $250. They had a 3AC listed at the same time for the same price that didn't sell. Look for it, they seem to be a good company. It is currently not listed, but they are putting up new listings now. It might be there tomorrow.

[Iain]

All i can say is-



4AC-FTW!

[chrlblk]

Thanks for your comments.
I should get to drag the beast home on Monday afternoon. Do I have to pull rear drive shaft to tow this car on a dolly?
I will look into a 4AC. This car will have to pass emmissions in CA.
I am a mechanic so I will not have a problem with tools.
When I go to put this car back together it will have all new belts, seals, hoses, water pump, clutch, and it looks like about 10 feet of vac lines.
I will get some pictures of the car when I get it home.
I can't wait till Monday.

[keith]

As long as it is NOT in 4wd, the driveshaft will freewheel at the transfer case, so you don't need to pull the driveshaft.

[chrlblk]

Well after waiting for the previous owner to get the tercel out of the shop I finally got to drag the beast home.
I opened the hood to find a ton of melted engine components:
timing belt cover (just a pile of melted plastic), accessory drive belts (in the same pile as timing cover), some wiring, dis cap and rotor, all seals I can see (cam seal, front crank seal, dis. seal...all melted)... The radiator is empty and the engine has no oil left in it.
The engine even got hot enough to melt the grill a small amount.(pics to follow)
The car will crank over but has no spark.
I plan on locating a complete engine assembly from a wrecker and putting this car back on the road.
This car is actually an 84 sr5 4wd with a sunroof and powersteering, and in better shape than I thought
The best part about this car is that my wife has already fallen in love with our terc. I can't wait to get this beast going.
I just got a digi cam so look forward to some pics of the destruction that full throttle can do

[Mickey_D]

If the timing belt cover is melted, you can pretty much figure on the timing belt being toast, which would explain the lack of spark (IIA gear (distributor drive gear) is on the back of the camshaft).

[Boxerdog]

All I can say is that this is a testament to Toyota that this poor abused engine will still attempt to turn over after being overreved to oblivion. Glad to hear you plan on breathing new life into your new rig. I'm quite new to this site and have found these guys to be very helpful and informative, except for the guy who rallys Volvos, he's just plain nuts.

[chrlblk]

[img][img]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r162 ... 4wd005.jpg[/img]
[img][img]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r162 ... 4wd001.jpg[/img][/img]
[img][img]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r162 ... 4wd009.jpg[/img][/img]
Here it is.
I will get more pics later.

[Typrus]

Wow. Thats some mileage. Doesn't look in bad shape from the pics either.

[Mickey_D]

Ooooooh, can I have it? The body on that one is actually intact, unlike mine!!

I'd just drop my engine into it.....

[spokane4wheeling]

i know i would have a eng. in that so fast your head would spinn that is one beutiful tercel. and i wish you good luck with it . i know i would love to have that.(':p')

[chrlblk]

Well I solved my no spark. It was a bad ignitioin module. The distributer got so hot inside it melted the rotor. Since I didn't have another module I wired up a GM four wire HEI module and it works. Google HEI module conversioin and a few write ups will come up. I will also do a write up with pics if any one is interested.
It turns out that the heat in the engine compartment was from the connectioin on the front of the exhaust manifold that goes to the egr valve tube. It looks like a big banjo type fitting.
When I got the engine to start it puts out a nice blue flame from the manifold exhaust mainfold to the radiator. This is what melted my water pump and ac belts, timing cover...
Since I had no marshmellows to roast or, desire to catch all sorts of things on fire, I decided to stop running it untill I get the bolt for the manifold.It was also a little loud for 9:00 pm.
I will bring home a compression tester and cooling system pressure tester and really check this motor out. With a little luck I can put this car back on the road with this engine.