How's your bushings?

[Petros]

The downside to this job is now I'm hooked. Being an ex-Toyota Van 4WD guy working on the Tercel was sooo much easier. ...Now for the really bad news. I went from owning one Tercel to owning two since I wrote last.... I couldn't pass it up. ....Anyone one known a good psychologist that can help me overcome a burgeoning addiction before it gets out of control. ....This is getting worse. Help me, please. Quickly...

Sorry to hear that, but there is no cure, but it can be managed. Not really "bad" news depending how you view it (I mean you could fall in love with a Morris Minor or something).

Sounds like it is already too late for you, don't fight it, just give into it. You will be happier once you come to grips with it. fix them both up nice, and than decide which one you like better, and sell the other. they sell quickly since they seem to still be very popular depute their age. And than keep your eyes open for the next project. At least this way you will not keep accumulating them, and with the small profit you make on it you can afford the addition, keep funding the purchase of the next one with the sale of the last project. This will also help with any relations you might have with the opposite sex, so you do not end up living in your own private Tercel4wd grave yard all alone.

Selling good running Tercels is a way to keep them alive and spread the joy of owning a Tercel4wd to others. No reason to horde them, clean them up and allow others to discover the joy of Tercel4wds.

[ARCHINSTL]

Not really "bad" news depending how you view it (I mean you could fall in love with a Morris Minor or something).

Fightin' words, Petros, Fightin' words.
You remembered some of my posts - sly...
Wish we had an emoticon for sticking out my tongue, other than the prosaic :p...
Tom M.

[Petros]

C'on Tom, you have owned them, you know exactly what I am talking about. Or even worse, you could fall in love with an air cooled VW! There is no redemption from that affliction.

BTW, it was only after I wrote that bit that I recalled you writing about owning a Minor, I thought about removing it, but decided to let it stand.

[ARCHINSTL]

You are crool, Sir, you are crool.
My addiction lasted for 25 years - from collitch in '58 until ''83 or so. As many as 5 at one time (almost like certain members here with T4WDs).
They bring some big bucks nowadays - there is a flourishing market for them, being brought up from OZ and NZ. They are so darn easy to work on and many Spridget parts switch over with ease. Hmmm - sound familiar?
And - dare I say it - they are so darn cute.
Tom M.

[Petros]

And - dare I say it - they are so darn cute.

Sounds like you got it pretty bad. The Minor are also fun to drive, not like a lot of more popular "classic" Detroit machinery. I understand the addiction entirely. I owned 5 old Volvo 122s sedans before I sold them all and switched to Datsun 510s. I helped a lot of high school friends with the British cars, but never was brave enough to actually buy one (though I almost fell for a Triumph TR4). For whatever short comings the British cars have, they were all cute and fun to drive (when you can keep them running!).

[ARCHINSTL]

Hey - I actually owned a '64 122S 2-door - in between Minors! I bought it new when I got out of the Army and got married. Kept it until '67 when Minors were again brought in, sold it and got a new '67 Minor 'vert.
The Volvo was a great car! Strong motor and spacious inside - the only prob in 35K miles was a split dash cover, which was fairly common on those cars. Even had integrated shoulder belts.
It was between the 122S and a BMW 1602 - both were around $2600 (big bucks!). That was when both were just nice cars and not "statement cars"...
Before buying the T4WD, I actually looked for one - but not many survived.
Tom M.

[Petros]

yes, the 122S was a great car, reliable and solid. I owned a 1965, a '66 and a 67 in between owning a P1800 and a 1958 "444" was actually my first volvo. I moved "up" to the 122S from there. My daily driver I fixed up nice: rebuilt with performance cam, high compression, header, balanced and lightened flywheel. Also has gas filled shocks, and lowered and stiffer springs (these too ride too soft). I beat the carp out of that car, it got wrecked while parked in front of our house, guy going too fast and lost control. Hit so hard he bent the frame, insurance wanted to pay me $400. it was only 12 years old at the time (considered an 'old' car in those days).

I recently saw one at the local Pick-n-Pull in the same color as mine. I marveled at it's simplicity and rugged construction. Made me want to own another! I see them occasionally in the Puget Sound area, but I doubt getting parts would easy or inexpensive.

The utility of the Tercel wagon combined with the 4wd is a combination that is tough to beat. So I am never going back to 2wd.

[dlb]

i was just telling tercel4wdrules about a friend of mine who told me a story about his ex-gf's dad and volvos. my bud was with the girl for a long time so he was tight with the family and most sundays, the dad's fave thing to do was drag my pal along for an hour long drive to the junkyard and go pull parts off volvos. rain or shine, didn't matter. they wouldn't talk at all on the drive and it was awkward as hell but the guy loved it. the guy was just crazy about volvos like we are with tercs. he'd always point stuff out like, "oh wow, this part is rare and is in really good shape...i don't need it but i'll get it just in case." they'd head home and the old guy would throw the "rare" part in a pile with a dozen other of the same thing! i had to laugh because i know that i would be the same way with terc stuff if i had the time and space.