'85 Tercel Wagon 4x4 Kingsport, Tn $500 OBO

[packratt]

Posting this for a friend.

It's a 85 wagon 5speed 4x4. 4A motor from a 86 Corolla has been swapped in. Something in the front transaxle has failed, my best guess is the spider gears.

If there is any interest contact elrond@rivendell-farm.com

Will be going to the scrapper 3/30 if no interest is expressed.

[Petros]

what kind of shape is the rest of the car in?

If it is in good shape, it would be a shame to scrap it. IF it is a rust bucket, it might only be worth the parts.

I might be able to scrap up a spare trans if that is all it needs, might be worth a look. Can you post pictures?

[packratt]

Body isn't in bad shape with the exception of the hatchback door. The car used to be his daughters and one of her friends backed it into something.

To the best of my knowledge the only damage was done to the door shell. Other that that, I believe the car is rust free. I'm 6 hours from the car so I can't walk out and look it over.

We agree it would be a shame to scrap it, it's been a faithful little car, hence the post on here.

I'll try to get him to send me some pics.

[Petros]

I have to make another trip to Austin next month or so, and I have a "extra" later trans in my garage that I could ship to TN, fly there and do the trans swap. And than drive the Tercel to Austin, and from there back to Puget Sound. Not sure if it is worth the effort, but it would be a fun way to drive through a part of the country I have not been before. Spring would be a good time to do the trip like that.

Do you know if the car is otherwise good enough to drive it cross country? I will of course give it a good once over before I hit the road, and carry all my tools and critical spare parts. IT is about 18 hours road time from Kingsport to Austin, and another 40 hours or so back to Seattle area via California. Market for used Tercel4wd is pretty good around here.

What do you think?

[dirklc]

Petros, I'm in Cincinnati which is ~4.5 hrs north of Kingsport. I could meet you there if you needed an extra set of hands + tools.

[andrewrenow]

Whoa! You must really really love these cars petros. I admire your love for cars like this. I hope I can meet you someday.

[packratt]

While I admire your zeal, I think it would be a foolhardy enterprise.

There are no facilities or tools to perform a trans replacement on site and the owner is physically unable to assist. Ground is very rough and uneven.

Drivetrain wise it would need tires and alignment. I replaced ball joints, inner tie rods and outer tie rods < 1000 miles ago. As the owner drove the car <20 miles a week and used used tires toe in was set by mach 1 eyeball and test drive. Brakes should be fine.

Clutch has at worst 10,000 miles probably closer to 5000.

Motor was high mileage but running and didn't have a hole in the side of the block. Has not had enough miles put on it since install that I would be willing to hop in the car and drive cross country. Owner is disabled and only used the car to run out to the store and post office.

If you are really interested I would look into having the car shipped or renting a U-haul and trailering it.

If you take into account:
current price of gas and quantity needed for a cross country trip plus motel and food
air fare into a small regional airport (expensive)
motel and food cost during trans swap (better figure on 2-3 days been raining about every other day for months)
freight cost to get trans to Kingsport



I'll try to get some pics up in the next couple days. The owner's back went out on him and he's doing good to get out of bed much less to go out and take pics.

[dlb]

packratt, have you posted the car on the local craigslist and whatever other similar local sites? they usually move pretty quickly, especially when they're cheap.

[Petros]

None of those are really problems for me, I can bring or rent locally everything I need for a trans swap. As long as I can do the work where the car sits (even on gravel or grass), and can camp out either in the back of the car, or sack out on the floor out of the weather in my sleeping bag (saves motel cost).

Cost to bring it home would be: one way air fair; $150 (with advanced purchase), ship trans cost, $140, gas to drive it home, $400, misc car parts expenses $150 (tune-up, oil change, plus used tires, etc.). Food would be about the same as I have at home, only slightly higher for convenience (I do not eat out much, would rather buy at a supermarket and make it on the way). I have people I know along the way I can usually visit and sack out on their couch or spare bed, more fun visiting and saves hotel costs. That means I can get it home for less than $1400 (depending how much he will take for a Tercel with a bad trans, $500 is a bit high). If the body and interior is in decent shape I can sell it for $2000 or more locally. And I have to go to Austin anyway, which will cost me about $300 round trip min anyway.

The only reason to do it would be to take a road trip for fun, combine it with a trip I have to take, and most importantly save a Tercel4wd from going to the crusher .

The only draw back really is it would add about a week or week and a half of extra time away from home, since I am self employed that is the most expensive part about the trip, the time I am not earning money.

[saltyman413]

If you're flying into tri-cities I might be able to give you a ride. I live in Johnson City and would love to help save a tercel from the crusher. If I had the resources I would get it and fix it myself.