New member needing tercel 4wd advice

[retro4wd]

Hey people. I've been viewing posts on here for about a month now and thought id join up.

I like the quirky looks of the tercel, the 30+mpg gas mileage and the 4wd.

I've noticed how rare they are. I'd like a non sunroof, manual, sr5.

How hard is it finding parts for these? What should I look out for?

Is it worth buying a cheap $500 tercel that needs work rather than a $1k in decent condition? The only reason I ask there is one for sale today near me but reverse doesn't work. Would a transmission rebuild be expensive?

[ARCHINSTL]

Welcome to the Club!
Lots of knowledgeable and helpful folks here - and - a lot is available by using the Search feature. There is also a FSM available for download.
Where are you located? There is a "Complete Cars For Sale" forum at the top of the "Parts" forum. Most of us post CL or eBay or Canadian kijiiji (sp?) leads there.
Go for the cleanest, most rust-free car you can find, regardless of being a DLX or SR5; the former can be "upgraded" to SR5 status with seats, instrument cluster and a couple of minor things - they are mechanically identical.
Heck - I'd even go for a 2WD if it was really cherry.
Most parts are quite easy to find, whether AM or OE from a dealer. 'Cept for 4WD transmissions...
Tom M.

[Petros]

welcome to the list!

The transmission is not a difficult rebuild, but parts are quite costly. A tranny kit, if you can find them are about $600, used trans are $200-500, and hard to find. There are no "low milage" trans out there, or very rare at best, and they have not made this trans since 1987. So I would get one with a good manual trans. They are fairly long lived it cared for, I know some that have put 300-500k miles on the trans, as long as they are not abused and the gear oil is changed regularly.

I like buying fixers, the most I have paid for any of my 4 Tercel4wd that I have owned was $200, most well under that. They are easy to work on and mechanical parts are cheap and plentiful (except the trans). I would pay more for one with a good body that needs mechanical work (only because I hate doing body work).

Most common major engine issue is blown head gasket (usually because they have a bad radiator). Other issues are bad carb, messed up vacuum lines or vacuum components.

Although these are great reiliable cars, they all are quite old and you need to expect to do regular work on them. As they age seals, hoses, switches, etc. start failing all over the car, and though not costly, there are just quite a few that has to get fixed as it ages. If you can not do the repairs yourself, the repair bills will eat you up. So if you are handy with that kind of stuff, than these are great old cars to own.