toyvans and terels

[dapperdan7]

hey guys.i just inherited a beat 83 tercel with a good engine and trans.i am a toyvan fanatic and was curious if the engines were the same since i would like to keep the engine off the tercel.

any help and thanx!

dan

[Typrus]

I very seriously doubt the Previa had the same engine... Lemme search...
Looks like the Previa and the Vans utilized 2.0, 2.2, and 2.4L I-4 engines. Our engine is a 1.5L I-4 Engine. From the little I've read, the I-4 they came with underpowered them. a 3A-C would not be your best bet I'd safely say.

Dunno what to say. Sorry.

[Soutthpaw]

Are you refering to the older Toyota vans? They even came in 4x4 also. look for japanese take out engine for a direct replacement for your van. they run around $500 usually. depending on where u get them from. They did a cool 80's toy van on pimp my ride I think it was... had a full doggie wash system in the back too.

Just checked it was episode 215

http://www.mtv.com/onair/dyn/pimp_my_ri ... ooks.jhtml

[Soutthpaw]

here is a cool site for the vans
http://www.yotavans.org/communicate/feedback.html

[neonsport]

I had a Gen1 Toyota van (1985). It was an SR5, but it didn't have the dual sunroofs and ice maker. I bought it from my aunt and uncle for $800 when no local mechanic could replace a blown water hose behind the engine. It was almost more than I could do as well. I could fill the radiator with water and see the water run from the hose. I could even see the hose, but only from directly undeneath the van, and it couldn't be reached from there. Finally, I removed both the front seats and all the access panels, and then the valve cover, and there it was. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a pair of pliers in there to pop the spring clamps off the hose (it was either 5/16" or 1/2" heater hose), so I had to pry at them with a screwdriver till they came off. Once that was done, it was easy to put a pair of screw clamps on the hose and replace it. The fiberglass insulation in the engine compartment wore about a 2" diameter patch of skin off my right arm. The space was that tight.

The van then blew a different piece of the same diameter hose every week for 6 weeks, at which time I'd replaced them all. Those types of issues should never have been a problem for that van. It was never intended to be sold in the US, but Toyota decided to sell them here after the introduction of the Caravan and Voyager. In Japan, the vans never would have been driven the 100k+ miles mine was before I got it, and wouldn't have been subject to the same level of heat mine suffered in the south.

Another problem it had was alternators. I went through about 4 of them before I realized the power steering was leaking directly into the alternator and burning it out. In a pinch, you can use an alternator from either a FWD Corolla or a Chevy Nova from the mid 80's. They're smaller, but they will bolt in place and work everything fine.

I like the old vans. They have a great turning radius, although it's a strange sensation turning something when you're sitting literally on top of the front wheels. The biggest drawback to them is the extremely short wheelbase. The ride will beat you do death on an even slightly uneven interstate.

And no, they don't share engines with the Tercel.

[offroadTercel]

Hi! I'm actually over at toyotavanpeople.com too!
Imagine that!

[Mac]

do those origional vans even have a name or are they just called a "toyota van" and then renamed the privia later on? i wouldn't mind doing a pimp my ride to one.

[White Lightning]

I bought an '84 Van, and it was great. There are two model names for these vehicles: "Cargo Van" or "LE Van". The LE has seats. Please note it is LE as in Luxury Edition, not as in LeCar!
I bought mine because my brother-in-law's was so good to him. He bought it new in 1986 and recently sold it with over 700 000 KM on it. The engine has never been opened and is still running fine! It passed both AirCare and a Gov't Inspection.
It has always irritated me that Dodge is credited with "inventing the mini-van" when the Toyota Van, also introduced in 1984, was (is) superior in virtually every way. I put over 200 000 KM on mine in a few years of commuting, and it was unstoppable. The poor performance in the snow was easily overcome with good tires and a little weight placed in the back. Although it is an extremely short wheelbase, I found the ride very good. The key here is an upright seating position that was very kind to my 6'3" frame.
Anyways: I rant.
I salivate over these Japanese models that are being imported in droves to this area. They have 4WD, diesel engines, really cool venting roof windows on taller roofs, flush headlights and tons or cool options.