new t4 build parts list and specs for mods.

[Krunk]

Hello TERCEL4wd.com, my name is Jay. My wife and I live in northern California, we just purchased a 83 Toyota Tercel sr5 4wd. As soon as we saw it we were in love, of course my idea of love is dump money, hers is make it pretty. So I would like to compile a parts list for the Barto lift but buy new parts instead of junkers if possible, do the 93 tercel brake conversion, with new bushings all around. Not looking to do the lifting plates in the front. Motor and body all original has new radiator. 199,000 miles on it, some rust that kinda worries me at bottom of front window pillar. also....no brakes at all.....e-brake works, honestly feels like a pad fell out ! I will go pick it up this weekend with the car carrier, get some pictures up. I was also very interested in the specs on the rock sliders i seen posted as well as the bumpers. I am sure there are tons of people like me so we should just put together a full parts list? oe replacement + performance/mod parts also? My block appears to be spewing oil from valve cover, though it only smokes slightly LOL FUUUN, need valve cover gasket, any other tune up things I should pick up other then plugs/ wire/ cap ?

[Petros]

welcome to the list! Sounds like a fun project car, not only do you need the brake upgrade, you should consider doing a whole engine swap to get more than then 62 hp out of it. Depending on the depth of your pocket book, you can go 4ac (easy swap), 4AFE (fuel injected), or 4AGE (the ultimate!). lots of good reading material in this web site.

besides tune up and obvious leaks, you should do a trans flush (use cheap ATF, run until warm and drain it) and put in good quality gear oil in the trans (or half synthtic/half gear oil), read the links on doing an oil change in the trans (not obvious because of the three compartments of the transaxle). You might also adjust the valves.

[Krunk]

LIFT QUESTIONS: ok, first round of real questions, after pouring over the forums for a mere 30 hours or so I am still left with these questions, If I want to use new kyb shocks which car year and model should I purchase them for? I need make model and year for front and rear. Also if I am purchasing a new shock for the rear is there a direct swap without any bushing fabrication? .lol? im lazy! Also what year corolla do I pull the front spring and hat out of? and if I want only 2.75" lift in the rear how much of the pathfinder spring do i cut off?


BRAKE QUESTIONS: I think I will do the MR2 upgrade (what year MR2?)( Is it better to do the late model tercel rotors and calipers? and if so what year?) and pull the calipers and rotors from the local pick your part, however I am looking for a link to cheap 5mm spacers that fit right in, another thing, can someone please explain exactly what I have to modify on the hoses? I got lost there for some reason.


Back to the trany flush, what I am worried about is if I flush it having it loosen everything up and then falling apart, in my XP if its not leaking on the trany don't mess with it. Also I have determind that the valves are not making any noise and all the leakage is coming from valve cover, easy fix, let us pray the slight exhaust smoke is outside temp and bad tune and not my hot water pouring into a oil jacket. Judging by the way it drove and considering it only has something like 67 hp stock...this thing took off, one thing I noticed is the valve cover doesnt have the 3a on it.....strange, could be a frankenstien. I stopped on the dirt road put in EL4 and punched it....opps damn near riped my head off, shift was perfect and it tracked straight on the hwy at 55. For once there was no gas spewing out of the carb when i started it up for the first time(has happened to me many times with carb vehicles). Anyways when I start ripping into it ill update on this post, anyone that could attempt to keep up with and answer my almost constant string of questions please do so promptly and lets get this beast in romping form!

[4wdchico]

It is not the valves that are making a bit of noise that you need worry about. It is the tight valves that could soon burn and fail, they make no noise at all. Most 'yota owners have no idea that most Toyota vehicles need their valves adjusted on a regular service interval . So the odds are very good that your car's previous owner was one of the folks who neglected the valve adjustment need. The service interval for the 3ac valve adjustment is 15k miles.

The small amount of smoking that you are seeing is very possibly due to the fact that the valve stem seals have gotten crispy with use/age. Changing the valve stems seals on the t4wd is very easy compared to most cars.

Adjusting the valves, changing the valve stem seals and replacing the valve cover gasket can all be part of one job.

Checking the oil level in the in the transmission is every bit as important as anything mentioned above, possibly more so.

[deejay1272]

The small amount of smoking that you are seeing is very possibly due to the fact that the valve stem seals have gotten crispy with use/age. Changing the valve stems seals on the t4wd is very easy compared to most cars.

Adjusting the valves, changing the valve stem seals and replacing the valve cover gasket can all be part of one job.

Does anyone have plans to write up a repair guide on valve adjustment, valve stem seal replacement and valve cover replacement? This would be most helpful:)

[SynthDesign]

That's a long list of questions.
Are you referring to the Barto BC Lift?
Tercel 93 plus ft calipers and mounts are the same as 87 thru 89 MR2 and same rotor diameter. Unsure if there is a different offset on the hat. Petros used 1/4 inch plate for his 87 MR2 caliper spacers while I used 94 Tecel rotors and calipers and lines and need 4.5 mm spacers. No modifications are needed to the hoses. Hoses go with the corresponding calipers but both last model tercels and aw11 MR2s use a banjo type fitting at the caliper.

[splatterdog]

I'm getting like a broken record.

CHANGE THAT TRANNY FLUID ANY AND ALL OF YOU DOUBTERS!!!!!!! Bad fluid is much worse than new fluid.

Otherwise- I can appreciate Petros's enthusiasm, but you have normal repair/maintenance issues before you get all gung ho. Quite frankly, I haven't really been all that unimpressed with properly functioning OE brakes either. I have to stop oversize tires too. Complicated engine swaps can wait for a while. Sounds like 62hp is putting a smile on your face.

Is this going to be a daily driver or all out rally car? That's the big question. If you are looking to kick ass there are much better choices. These cars are a lot more tortoise than hare. That's not a bad thing though. Just had an 02 WRX in the shop. Nice and quick, but what a pile! There is no way possible that car will still be around when it's 25 years old. My 85 will still be "getting there" after that one is long gone and sold back to us by the Chinese.

Don't let me get you down any. You picked an awesome little car to play with. Build your list after you get to know it. Sounds like the car already has it's hooks in you. Not too many(if any) previous owners have much bad to say about these cars, other than having to let it go.

That's good you are doing your homework. Now evaluate the car and prioritize, after you actually have it. There's no shortage of ideas here. Someone will be there every step of the way.

Unless money is no object. If so, well, everyone else will be jealous.

[Krunk]

That's a long list of questions.
Are you referring to the Barto BC Lift?
Tercel 93 plus ft calipers and mounts are the same as 87 thru 89 MR2 and same rotor diameter. Unsure if there is a different offset on the hat. Petros used 1/4 inch plate for his 87 MR2 caliper spacers while I used 94 Tecel rotors and calipers and lines and need 4.5 mm spacers. No modifications are needed to the hoses. Hoses go with the corresponding calipers but both last model tercels and aw11 MR2s use a banjo type fitting at the caliper.

Yes, referring to Barto lift, was wanting to get stock replacement shocks( KYB makes direct replacement just have to put springs on myself) and then do the springs, just didn't catch which year corolla to get the front springs and hat off of. So i think it will be easier to find 93+ rotors and calipers though probably more expensive for replacement parts and to buy them at the scraper at least I could get them, pretty much sure every MR2 in California has been modded into the crusher by now. I looked online for wheel spacers and only found 5mm, I do not have the tools to do welding or cutting, I have a long shaft die grinder for port jobs and hand tools, wish I had air tools. One of the posts I was reading said you had to modify the mr2 hoses to fit the tercel hookups? did i read this wrong? help me out with a link to some spacers if you know where to go? Also found a buddy that works for welder, they got everything on the truck so rock sliders and bumpers coming soon! Seems like this build was ment to be everything just sliding into place.

[Krunk]

I'm getting like a broken record.

CHANGE THAT TRANNY FLUID ANY AND ALL OF YOU DOUBTERS!!!!!!! Bad fluid is much worse than new fluid.

Otherwise- I can appreciate Petros's enthusiasm, but you have normal repair/maintenance issues before you get all gung ho. Quite frankly, I haven't really been all that unimpressed with properly functioning OE brakes either. I have to stop oversize tires too. Complicated engine swaps can wait for a while. Sounds like 62hp is putting a smile on your face.

Is this going to be a daily driver or all out rally car? That's the big question. If you are looking to kick ass there are much better choices. These cars are a lot more tortoise than hare. That's not a bad thing though. Just had an 02 WRX in the shop. Nice and quick, but what a pile! There is no way possible that car will still be around when it's 25 years old. My 85 will still be "getting there" after that one is long gone and sold back to us by the Chinese.

Don't let me get you down any. You picked an awesome little car to play with. Build your list after you get to know it. Sounds like the car already has it's hooks in you. Not too many(if any) previous owners have much bad to say about these cars, other than having to let it go.

That's good you are doing your homework. Now evaluate the car and prioritize, after you actually have it. There's no shortage of ideas here. Someone will be there every step of the way.

Unless money is no object. If so, well, everyone else will be jealous.

Thanks for kicking my tranny fluid fears to the curb, tranny flush incoming, for sure first things first, I hate doing wiring from when I wired my B16A JDM motor into my 91 USDM dx hatchback honda.....fun. And that being said, I already have a streetable(barely) race car.
This car( T4 ) is going to be to haul lumber and tools to and from work and for my wife to get groceries in style. I want the rock crawler look but with only minimal lift 2" and beef it up. No need for a motor swap at the moment, if i was going to do it i would go for the easy way 4a. I am only 32 year of age but project cars are a passion and after all the mistakes I have made, I attempt to be more cautious now. This T4 will only be driven a couple times a week, but I want it for backup if I need and I want it reliable. Not trying to get to aggressive I want to keep maintenance to a minimum.
I really appreciate the prompt responses from everyone on this site glad to see active people out there working on these cars. I still need some answers to my questions still though. Also wondering if when you use the 93+ tercel calipers and rotors do you also use the booster and master cyl? or do you still have to find a MR2? Is it better to buy new master cyl and booster or will a pick ur part work?

[Krunk]

Also, I have enough money to buy parts from pick and pull and then replace whatever I cannot salvage, I will pick up most parts for rocker and bumpers from wrecker. Mostly what im needing are a link for the spacers for a 93+ Tercel brake conversion, and part numbers for the replacement shocks and assembly, and exactly what front springs and hats to salvage from what year and model? If I buy the stock replacement struts from kyb the gs-2 or w/e will they work with the corolla springs? And instead of the ford taurus rear struts is there something that I can put in there without changing a bushing? Do i do valves warm? running? or cold? intake and exhaust gap? also anyone got a link for pregapped plugs for the 3a? need some wires and a cap also. The reason I am asking all these questions is I just want to do it right and make sure I am getting all the right parts, thanks for the help ahead of time. At least this way my thread will combine everyone's knowledge hopefully.

[ARCHINSTL]

Read the various threads on trans draining and filling ! ! !
And note the modified tools to open the filler plugs BEFORE the drain plugs...
Tom M.

[Krunk]

Still need to know what year corolla springs and hat for the barto lift, will read tranny drain thread for sure! thanks for drilling it in. Fill in the blanks for me here people, I am not the smartest rock in the pile.

About the valves...lol used to Honda's where if you hear noise you adjust, welcome to Toyota land, I actually owned a 87 2wd Tercel about 12 years ago....was on my way to work one morning with windows frosted over, station wagon(Chevy with uninsured driver) ran red light and took front of car completely off, still drove home, sold car for 120 $ the guys that bought it use a come-a-long to straighten frame rails and drove it home LOL

I have been reading the trans posts/thread and thinking I will use 85/140 with 30% synthetic 85/140 is this correct? since my beast has 200k on it and I doubt its ever been changed I want to use more standard gear oil to stiffin up shift a bit. seemed a little sloppy when I drove it the other day. anyone want to fab me some spacers and ship them to me? I can pay via paypal(total pain) or via debt card? lol

[ARCHINSTL]

How do you fill the jug with the cap in place? Just wonderin'...

My words were not meant as a reflection on your mechanical adeptness - but many are unfamiliar with the peculiarities of the T4WD trans and the fill plugs made from softanium - it is a different avis.
Tom M.

[Krunk]

yeah my original response was half sarcasm, not worried thanks for the input, any idea on the year of corolla to pull front springs from? and also what rear struts will bolt right in( I really hate doing bushings after replacing every single rubber part with poly on multiple cars) and still expand enough for the pathfinder springs? If I put air shocks on the rear and just pumped them up enough to allow for pathfinder springs would this make it to stiff? Sorry though I have had many lowered cars I have never actually lifted a vehicle, though through the years I am very familiar with the concepts and such as being a tuner made me have to endure many conversations with hicks.

[Krunk]

So i am thinking I will get the KYB replacement struts and swap the 1986 camry springs and hats on the front while replacing the rear springs with 1987 pathfinder springs. Is this correct? If I wanted to only lift the front 2" would this do it? If not how much would I have to cut? also I only want 2.5-3" in the rear how much of the pathfinder springs do i have to cut?
I would like to do the lift without modifying any of the mounting or lowering the cross member, I really do not want to put the spacers in either but I do not want to destroy my cv joints. Will this work?
Obviously after many forum searches I tracked down the exact years and models. I would rather not use the inserts and just buy new struts, kyb makes them and should only run about $200. Tell me what you think pls.

Ah so did a little more research on the KYB struts, the rears you can get the whole assembly but the fronts you can only get the inserts, this is true for monroe, kyb, and gabriel brands, unless im just not finding them on the sites im checking. You can get a kyb twin tube shock for as little as $60 new for the rear(with entire assembly or go with a gas filled insert for as little as $38. Front kyb strut inserts are $40 each. I really do not ant to do inserts. Still searching for a OE replacement that I can modify for for the camry springs on the front. Will the stock rear struts have enough travel if I put a 3" lift with pathfinder springs?

Also another quick thing about the brakes on my car....pedal to the floor still non existent, brand new master cyl for the right year, he says he didn't do a bleed( original owner) but doesn't feel like air in lines, feels like....nothing at all. Only other time I have felt this is when a pad fell out of the clips and lost it on the road( the next stop light was fun!) Is it possible for this to happen on the T4? I am so excited! I cannot sleep waiting to see if I will at least get to go see it tomorrow. Looks like I will not get to take the carrier out there till saturday I keep having to remind myself why I have a job lately(must be a midlife thing).