So it has been a long time since an update Life has become more and more busy. Work on the The Tercel has continued, however........
First on the list was to come up with a solution for the weak front spring rate that these cars have. I drive my car HARD and the constant bottoming out of the front suspension was becoming more and more annoying bye the bump, let alone when Off-roading which is 90% of what this car see's. This problem had to be addressed.
I initially had a set of landcruiser coil springs from an 80 series. Knowing that these springs are very stiff I began cutting them down to achieve the right length.
The main reason for trying these were because of the identicle diameter to the stock tercel front spring.
Side by side
Factory rubber on cruiser spring
Factory Spring Hat on cruiser spring
These thing are a perfect fit everything bolted together with ease
Land cruiser spring vs. Tercel spring
So after all of this I put them back in, fingers crossed that I had eliminated enough of the spring rate to make them work in such a light vehicle.I put the car on it's own weight and sure enough there was no down travel and they rode like they were solid mounted, and lifted the front end 4" over stock
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
needless to say I gave up that day and went back at it a couple of days later.
After yet another trip to the junkyard ( I have a great re-pore with the owner) I started checking every single import 80-90's era front wheel drive and realized that spring hats are interchangeable between almost similar weight vehicles. I came across a 1986 toyota Camry started measuring and I hit the nail on the head.
I purchased the pair of struts for 40$ and went home. So what you need to do is use the spring and spring hat from the camry strut and assemble it into the tercel strut. I did not have my camera with me when I Assembled these (sorry). But They went together very easily and worked out perfectly
Here is a pic of hybrid Strut in car with mud from first test run.
After the first road test these springs are AWSOME all of the issues were eliminated and the car handles amazingly. No more nose diving or bottoming out.........
And Off-Road WOW!!!! Hitting wash board @ 50mph with No loss of control and a very nice ride.
I will never drive another tercel without doing this upgrade, they should have done this from the factory.......
When I put these hybrid struts back in I also used my old strut spacers that are 1 3/4" with this I gained 4" over stock, exactly what I wanted but it left the CV angle to be less them desirable. I decided to do a 5/8" Drive train Drop with solid aluminum Spacers. I only dropped the engine end not the transmission end. This put my CV angle back to within a few degrees of stock.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
but keeps my driveshaft out-put higher.
The rear suspension is the pathfinder spring set up from the 87' which gives 4" of lift over stock so the car is sitting nice and level
also finished up the winch mount for the front bumper with bull bar
The front bumper with winch
A Scenic Shot
.Thats All for now Fingers Sore from typing
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)