so, how much have you spent?

thebigbread · Post by **thebigbread** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:13 pm

some of us spend a few bucks on our terc just to get it running, others go all out & spend thousands of dollars.

Me? ive spent in excess of $2200...

And this will be my next order from tirerack.com:

Brake pads: $50
Shoes: $14
Rotors: $24 x 2
KYB GR2s: i think $36 x 4
Michelin Harmonies: $72 x 4

Total: $544

keith · Post by **keith** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:06 pm

Lets see, car free, gift from my sister to my son in 2000 with 192k miles.
2002
$1600 for transmission rebuild and new clutch
$100 alternator
2003
$200 distributor
$100 radiator
$60 starter
2005
$650 junkyard engine
2006/7
$250 + 85 shipping 4AC reman off ebay 2006
$300 Weber carb
$200 new clutch from Toyota
$200 new EMPI axles
$170 new struts and shocks
$100+ misc

total $3930 + about $600 in tires over the 6 years, so about $4600
Son has also put in some new interior items, carpets, seat covers, visors and an Alpine stereo system with sub in the back.

Car now has 320k and runs like new. Seems like a lot, but that ain't bad for 6 years and 130k miles of driving. Could easily spend that much or more for a used car and still have to face repairs.

Post by **ARCHINSTL** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:48 pm

Well -
NOW I don't feel so bad - I'll give a total when I get home from gkidsitting...I had been embarrassed...as long as my daughters don't see it (spending their patrimony).
Tom M.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:27 pm

Hmmmmmmm...........
On this one- At least $2k in parts. Wouldn't be surprised if it was more. Labor would be much more. Stress on top of that.
Alt, $61
Regulator, $30
Water Pump, 30
Timing Kit, 73
all hoses, 55
radiator, 120
clutch set- 150
all new belts- 49
struts and shocks- 140
2 sets of sparkers- 18-ish
20 or so oil changes-600+
10 air filters at least- 70+
3 gallons of SeaFoam at least- 120
4 fuel filters-25
fuel hoses-12 for the 2 by filter
battery-75
battery holddown kit-20
battery terminals- 15
full brake set- $156
wheel cylinders-56
master cylinder-157
brake hoses-53
new rims- $80
snow tires- $320
swaybar end bushings- $49
swaybar body bush- 90
control arm bushings- 42
inner and outer tie-rods- 240
Exhaust work-100
Fuel Pump-31
Carb Rebuild- $300

God... What else is there, mechanically? I hae at least $900 tied up in the stereo.... I'm sure I missed some. And its hardly done.

Well, with whats listed above- $3337. Yeehaw.

Been driving the 84 since... May or April of 05 I think.

Post by **ARCHINSTL** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:34 pm

That is an interesting amount for a carb rebuild ($300); National still has remans for $168.
Tom M.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:40 pm

Meh. Beat the hell out of the $590 the Stealership wanted.

GTSSportCoupe · Post by **GTSSportCoupe** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:37 pm

$400 purchase price.

$2600 in parts.

Mechanically it's pretty good, but it still looks like a rusty $400 dollar car.

takza · Post by **takza** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 4:08 am

Typrus wrote: 3 gallons of SeaFoam at least- 120

Warning! Warning! Seafoam addiction!

Paid about $1200...spent over $1200 for parts. Damned thing's still running! It handles almost like a sports cars...has sports car brakes...gets off road OK...can carry a lot of crap...and sometimes I think I'm pedaling it...but I'm sort of happy at the gas station.

shogun · Post by **shogun** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:35 am

ive spent a couple of times the value of my car, been racing it since 2001 and 2 sets of tires a year $700 a year, synthetic fluids 130 per month, racing fuel 50 every time i tested or raced, and that si for 6 years, not counting routine maintenance things

coltarms · Post by **coltarms** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 12:15 pm

I put up a similar post but I'm not gonna go find it. Here is the breakdown of replaced parts (not including specific tools or chemicals)

Reman Holley Carb
2 Reman Alternators (1st reman was bad and lost receipt)
Complete Reman IIA Assy
Distributor Cap and Rotor
2 Sets Belden Wires
3 Sets NGK Plugs
Valve Seals
TVSV
EGR Vacuum Modulator
Manifold Gasket
Timing belt
Alternator Belt
2 Air Filters
Fuel Pump
3 Fuel Filters
Radiator Hoses
Thermostat
Brake pads
Drivers CV Shaft
Both Front Strut Cartridges
Both Rear Shocks
misc vacuum line and small parts
Stereo, speakers, and wiring (Prolly $150 total in parts)
Tail Light Assy
Side Marker Assy
Headlights
Several Exhaust Gaskets and Hangers

All in all, over $1200 on a $600 car. Is it worth it? Well, yes and no. Good to have a second car, project, hobby, and great gas mileage, but it is an old '83 turdmobile. I could have spent the same amount of cash on my Jeep, or on a motorcycle, or just bought a $2000 car (which would have required much less work.) Instead I chose to do it this way. I love that Turkle!

Mickey_D · Post by **Mickey_D** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:01 pm

When I owned mine, I bought it for $500 (I know, but I needed a car FAST!!)

After that I stole the tires off my wife's Neon to put on it. $20 for the rims. Slapped on an old set of hubcaps I had lying around.

Did two oil changes on it, stuffed several hundred gallons of gas through it, and two years worth of tabs on the plates.

Oh, and a set of wiper blades.

Not bad for the last 35,000 of 196,000 miles on it......

jetswim · Post by **jetswim** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:27 am

Well let's see:
$900 for the car
$300 for a new windshield installed
$40 rear brakes
$200 paint and misc. body repair
$40 new dizzy and plugs
$70 rust free passenger door
$80 for 4 aluminim rims and predator GTS all seasons
Total= $1630 CDN most of which was spent in 2005 when I
found the car at the wreckers. Not bad and I've had no problems
since then that is why I hardly post anything!
Still drives like a dream.

thebigbread · Post by **thebigbread** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:19 am

jetswim wrote:Well let's see:
$900 for the car
$300 for a new windshield installed
$40 rear brakes
$200 paint and misc. body repair
$40 new dizzy and plugs
$70 rust free passenger door
$80 for 4 aluminim rims and predator GTS all seasons
Total= $1630 CDN most of which was spent in 2005 when I
found the car at the wreckers. Not bad and I've had no problems
since then that is why I hardly post anything!
Still drives like a dream.

i didnt know you could buy whole cars at a wrecker. wish i could find a AE86 or MR2, then i could easily do my 4age swap. mine runs, but man it must have some bad carbon desposits. put new spark plugs in, run them for 10 minutes, then the plugs head is completely black.

BTW i paid 50 for mine, the owner (which coincedentally i dated his granddaugher, talk about wierd) needed it out of his yard fast, but it had locked brakes. My brother-in-law was considering buying it, but it was to small for his family of 6. my dad bought it, but i thought "how we gonna get this to my house with a dead engine"? answer: my dad drove the car with me in the passenger seat, while the previous owner (a great friend of my dads) pushed it with his Ranger down MIDTOWN MOBILE! my dad made a swerve into our driveway. LOL it sat at our old house for about 4 weeks, then my dad & i (my mom & sisters stayed home, thank God) towed it +50 miles to our new house. & thats pretty much it.

Don Jorgensen · Post by **Don Jorgensen** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:52 pm

Memories of my first 2 Tercel Wagons is that I spent a little more for the cars but had no major expenses. Silvie the 86 DLX was purchased in 95 for about $1,700 with approx 130,000 miles. I only put brakes, tires, mufflers, 1 alternator, 1 starter, one major tune up, a heater fan motor, fuel pump and filter, 2 timing belts, an alt. belt, plus numerous headlights over 10 years and 165,000 more miles than when I bought her.

My current SR5 4WD with 233,000 miles cost
car 500
clutch 130
left front axel 70
ceramic disk brakes front 35
valve cover gasket 12
radiator cap, top rad. hose, thermostat and antifreeze 30
misc. window weatherstrips 15
2 headlights 20
4- 14" rims 50
4 all season tires 200
wipers, bulbs, and misc. 20
total without the trip to get him is $1082
I have purchased a used 4AC from a 87 Corolla with 104,000 miles for 150
a spare rebuilt starter and alternator for 25
and soon will spend an additional 925 to get a Weber carb, better camshaft, gasket set, right front axel, front coil springs and struts, recondition the flywheel, degreaser, etc.
After I heal from this work I intend to do over the seats in leather, I have a friend who will help with this and also do a little body work and repaint.

The total complete should just take me to $3,100. Over the next year I should be finished and then WHAT?
Well I know I will continue to take the Tercel on those fine long day rides out on the BLM and Forest Service backroads of adventure with the dogs in the back, the wify and picnic lunch along and just look for adventure going off into the sunset during my crepuscular years.

takza · Post by **takza** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 4:25 am

Don Jorgensen wrote:Well I know I will continue to take the Tercel on those fine long day rides out on the BLM and Forest Service backroads of adventure with the dogs in the back, the wify and picnic lunch along and just look for adventure going off into the sunset during my crepuscular years.

Now that's the way to treat a Tercel! I had to look up "crepuscular"...doesn't sound so good.....

...must not be a way to avoid it though.