found post on local Toyota forum, "Toyota Corolla Tercel 4WD" is for sale for spares, like "buy it or it goes to be scrapped"
Car has some engine trobles and no documents
What is the "corolla tercel" at all?
Is there any useful parts for us? I can see the engine is transverse not logtitudal as tercel's - so transmission is different. Engine looks like 4A-FE if i get it right.
'90 Toyota Celica 2.0 GTi - with JDM 3S-GE and AC (everyday ride)
'84 Toyota Celica 2.0 XT RWD - 21R engine (3S-GE swap project)
'86 Toyota Celica 2.0 GT FWD - 1st gen 3S-GE 110 kWt (just keeping it for collection)
My tercel:: 81 tercel sr5 GTS (4age RWD and 4WD application on build up for the moment) now im running a 3a with weber 32 dmsa 100,corolla gts front suspension, sway bar and steering, troush exhaust
in north america that is called a corolla all-trac. they're AWD and were meant to replace the 4WD tercel, which was made from '83-'88. the all-trac was produced from '88-'92. they are a little sportier, ride a little smoother, and have lower ground clearance than tercels. a few members here have had both, including myself. i prefer the tercel because whenever i drove the all-trac it felt like i was driving my grandma's car. they're still a solid vehicle though.
the 4AFE engine from the all-trac can be made to fit in the tercel but that's it, and it takes a lot of work. most people who bother with such difficult engine swaps go with a 4AGE since it's more powerful.
I had a car with 4A-GE (1988 Celica) and can tell you this motor revs nice, very nice, but don't last long, consumes oil, and lacks one important feauture for 4WD: the torque. Driver should be used to it, like cruising at 3500-4000 RPM and start moving at least at 2500, burning the clutch. It is great for Celica or MR2 or AE86 but IMO it is stupid to use it on 4WD vehicle.
I also know what headache is to try install transverse engine to longtitudal direction, the intake only is very f*cking huge problem. So engine is not an option, anyway it is dead on this car.
'90 Toyota Celica 2.0 GTi - with JDM 3S-GE and AC (everyday ride)
'84 Toyota Celica 2.0 XT RWD - 21R engine (3S-GE swap project)
'86 Toyota Celica 2.0 GT FWD - 1st gen 3S-GE 110 kWt (just keeping it for collection)
Yes, I have owned both. The All-trac Corolla is full time AWD, it has less visibility, less ground clearnace. Ride is soft, much less like a rough road car than the Tercel. I had both my Tercel and the All trac for a year, drove the all-trac daily for six months while I was looking for a replacement trans for the Tercel. I considered selling the Tercel and keeping the All-trac since my wife did not want to drive it. But I decided I liked driving the Tercel more, it is lighter and sportier (better handling, lighter and more responsive once gas filled struts and 14" alloys are installed).
The AFE engine actually has a great torque curve, it rises and levels out at about 2800 rpm and stays up there until past 5500 rpms. Unlike the 4age that peaks and drops off at high rpm, the 4AFE engine is perfectly suited to off road use. I think because the Corolla all-trac is so much heavier, especially in the auto-trans version, it makes this otherwise good engine feel sluggish. The one I had I bought cheap, it had over 380k miles on it (!), and needed a rebuild, but I drove it home. New rings, seals, bearings and a rebuilt head, engine was good to go another 300k miles. The current owner is still driving it and loves it.
