Junk or save-- tranny problem

[FLAMMC]

I have an 86 4wd sr5. Bought it for 250 with 3rd and 4th gear gone in the tranny. Pulled the tranny, and came to find out that a new one is close to a thousand, and used upwards of 600. Any ideas? The body and engine are exceptional, and this thing runs like brand new. I dont want to junk it, but cannot see spending that much for the car. Can I temporarily use a non-4wd tranny and at least have some wheels? It is a great little car, and with gas at 4$ a gallon worth keeping. Just trolling for ideas....Thanks

[splatterdog]

If the rest is exceptional, a $1000 tranny will make it a car worth at least twice your investment and you won't have to wonder if it will work and for how long.

A parts car could come in handy too.

[Highlander]

Where are you located? There are a bunch of 84/85 4WDs for sale around here ~$500 or less. Check craigs list wherever you are, some people just can't seem to figure out how to work on them . If I had the $$ I'd be buying up every one of them that I come across, but that just ain't happenin.

[FLAMMC]

Thanks for your replies-- I am in seaside, oregon. About 60 miles outside of Portland. If there was a good tranny even remotely close, I would surely go get it. I have a couple mechanics looking around right now. Any other advice is greatly appreciated!!

[Neu]

In portland, check the junkyards. A member recently sold one of his, with a great tranny, to a local yard. They'll want probably 350 to 700 for it. And it's worth it. Also see if you can buy a parts car. It'll be worth it.

[Petros]

Last year I needed a trans. There is a web based wrecking yard network where you can list what you want and you will get bids from all over the USA. The last time I did this the best price for a T4wd tranny I got was $450 for a cleaned, tested and guaranteed trans crated and shipped to my house. The other prices were about $600., a few at $1000. Make sure you get the '85-'87 trans, the final drive ratio (ring gear) is different. Unless you want to change out the rear diff 3rd member to the earlier (higher) ratio. It will slow the engine speed down a bit a freeway speeds, but it is not as good at pulling hills as the lower (later) diff ratio. It might be possible to swap out your old ring and pinion if you can not find the later trans set up, but get some help on adjusting the gear lash, it is critical (it usually uses shims to adjust the lash).

If there are any pull-a-part type yards you can usually get one for about $50 or so, you will not know if it is any good until you put it in (a clue might be that the car is not wrecked, but it ends up in the yard because something cost more to fix than the value of the car). Most will warranty the trans to be good, but you will have to install it to know for sure. If you at least run it through the shifts it will tell you something. Once it is out of the car you can manually turn it and run it though the all the gears, and verify the 4wd works while still in the yard. Of course when I needed a trans they had no T4wds (when they always had two or three before!).

I found a rust bucket in a side yard and found the owner, I bought as a parts car for $100. I was able to drive it home (with my radiator and battery in it) and the engine and trans was good. I saved the running engine (on blocks in my garage), used the trans in my "good" car, and put the good tires on my wife's Corrolla all-trac. And then I towed the hulk to the scarp yard and got $82 for it. Not bad, but a lot of extra work. OF course the tires were worth about $200 by themselves.

These cars are getting old enough where finding a low mile trans is getting difficult, but there are still a lot around.

Good luck.

[FLAMMC]

Thanks to all who responded here. I will attempt to get onto the internet site you mentioned. I also am considering biting the bullet and having the tranny rebuilt. From what is said on this site, the car is a winner with lots of life left in it. I will keep all posted, and if anyone else has any ideas, I am surely open to them. Thanks again!!!

[ARCHINSTL]

Well - Butler Toy in Indy has/can get a new 5-speed for 4WD: List $1,748.05 / Its price $1,311.04...Dunno about freight.
If you are spending $1000 for a rebuilt, and this is truly a new trans for $1311 - it might be worth a call/email... http://www.toyotaoemparts.com.
There are full rebuild kits for around $1K, but whether you can get a rebuilt for $1K or the new for $1311 - why do the rebuild yourself?
Tom M.

[4wdchico]

Well - Butler Toy in Indy has/can get a new 5-speed for 4WD: List $1,748.05 / Its price $1,311.04...Dunno about freight.
If you are spending $1000 for a rebuilt, and this is truly a new trans for $1311 - it might be worth a call/email... http://www.toyotaoemparts.com.
There are full rebuild kits for around $1K, but whether you can get a rebuilt for $1K or the new for $1311 - why do the rebuild yourself?
Tom M.

I was poking around the Butler Toy site a while back and came across that. Is that the whole thing from front diff all the way back to the extension housing? I suppose it is, if so, that is a pretty good deal.

[ARCHINSTL]

I dunno - give them a call / send an email. The one for the 5-speed wagon is $500 more than the one for the 5-speed sedan, so it may well include all / more than just the trans itself - or it may just be because it is a 6-speed...
Butler has been most courteous in the past, with several parts guys - no snickering at inquiries for 22 year-old cars.
Incidentally, even if a part is not shown - inquire. Several of the front suspension bushings were not shown, and it could still get them. Another example are the 3 bits for the shifter lever base, mentioned in several threads.
Tom M.

[FLAMMC]

OK gents, I am exhausted. So, after a long hunt, I have found a low mile tranny from a vendor in Indiana. (thanks to the poster suggesting them-- you rock!!!). Here is my dilemma-- it will cost me around a thousand for the tranny, shipping and to do the front brakes (the only thing needed to make the car run and drive perfect). It will take me approximately 6 weeks to save that up, so between now and then, I am just offering to any enthusiast here if they want to make a deal for the car as-is, I am open to it. I am in dire need of a decent reliable gas-sipper, and would love to get this one going, but thought I would put this out there. THANKS to all who replied to my question, this site is wonderful. Feel free to email me with questions about the car!! Flamm_c@yahoo.com

[MootsMan]

I would seriously look into the self-service junk yards. There is one here in Nashville, and I have pulled at least 3 and maybe 4 Tercel transmissions out of there. I pull every 6 speed tranny that hits the lot if i get to it before somebody else does. $55, and yeah, it may have something wrong with it, but so far I know I got two good ones. The one in my '86 now came from there, and I've put 30k on it in about a years worth of driving. There are not many of these cars here around Nashville, but I would think you could find all kinds of them there on the west coast. It's worth a gamble in my book, even if you have to pay somebody a few $$$ to help you do the work. It is not a difficult procedure to get one out and then back into your car...just a little time consuming. Go for it , and let us know !