'81 Tercel

[irowiki]

From big o tires I have 175/70 R13

They said the stock sizes weren't made anymore.

Good to know about the incompatibility between gens for the rims.

[Mark]

I swapped out the tires with 2 155's from my hatchback and 2 newish second-hand 155's from a local tire shop. Including the swap, the 4 wheel/tire balancing/install , the 2 used tires and tax it came to $120. I can't imagine having one of those cars where people have to pay hundreds of dollars per tire.

Most of my spare time in the daylight hours in the evening has been spent stripping out my hatchback, but I did manage to fix the one obvious mechanical problem on the '81. It had a rough idle and the exhaust smelt like inefficient combustion. I assumed it was the usual Auxiliary Acceleration Pump wrecked diaphragm. When I pulled off the vacuum hose, fuel actually dripped out of it. I capped off the lines and now it runs quiet and smooth and the exhaust smells as pleasant as exhaust can smell. So far I don't think I've had a Tercel where that AAP wasn't busted. It's a useless feature anyway. It might be useful for drag racers in the arctic.

[Mark]

I think all the tercel engines I have say "3A" on them, but they're all 3AC since they all have a cat. I'm going to have to figure out the wiring for the distributor. I assume yours was a replacement distributor?

I just found out that neither my old '83 hatchback or my '81 have a cat. It looked like there was, but when I took the exhaust off my '83 and looked down it, I could see that it was just a resonator.

[dlb]

It's a useless feature anyway. It might be useful for drag racers in the arctic.

haha. i've only had to replace one, and it was really easy. i've never disabled it so i don't know if i'd notice a difference or not but i think for most conservative drivers (which i definitely am), you are probably right.

[irowiki]

So Mark, how's the 81 handle with the auto?

[irowiki]

Hey Mark, we found an 82 Tercel in excellent shape and grabbed the trunk latch for you. Want it?

[Mark]

So Mark, how's the 81 handle with the auto?

Sorry, I've been away on a ship (until Dec.). I don't have internet access unless I'm in a port (in San Diego today). If I don't respond quickly in the next few months blame internet connectivity and not my manners.
The sedan handles great. Of course I don't speed around corners or anything. I haven't been driving it long enough to figure out fuel economy.

[Mark]

Hey Mark, we found an 82 Tercel in excellent shape and grabbed the trunk latch for you. Want it?

Does it need a seperate key? The latching/locking mechanism on mine works fine. It was the round plastic handle on it that was missing. I ended up using the one off my late '83 hatchback. It doesn't fit perfectly, but I'm fine with it. Thanks for the offer, though. If it doesn't need a seperate key I might try for it. Of course you might have to wait a few months until I reply on this forum again.

[irowiki]

It needs another key which I don't have but you might be able to detach the plastic part! Mull it over and let me know in a few months.