4x4 Automatic in Maryland

[CathodeRayTube]

I recently discovered a non-sr5 automatic on a local junkyards lot, it has 106k and everything seems to work good, clean title, has minimal rust it looks like, just some considerable rust on the front fenders and that looks to be about it. i test drove it. they wanted $500 but i asked if they would take 400 and they said yes. considering that it runs and drives fine, i think its a much better deal than the dented rustier junkyard one with a bad clutch with 112k in PA that i looked at and described in another recent thread on here that the guy wanted 500 for... but its an automatic...do you guys think i should snap this one up?

other questions, is the auto tranny in these things of the lock-up veriety? as in it locks together at high speed and bypasses the tourque converter to be more efficiant?

also, what actually is the horsepower and tourque of the 3A?

[ARCHINSTL]

If you have a place to store it inside - and if you plan on keeping your present Wagon for years - I'd get it. I would be a source of spares for decades to come - or you could sell the non-AT parts to others here.
106K on the motor makes it one of the younger cars here - and I'd think that the use of the AT over the years would make for less wear and tear on the motor (observation is anecdotal - not empirical).
My OM does not mention anything about it being a lock-up type, nor does the '86 sales brochure I have; maybe someone with more savvy can comment. Anything in the FSM here? The sales brochure just mentions that it is an "automatic overdrive," whatever that is; I've never owned an AT car.
Tom M.

[tercel4wdrules]

I recently discovered a non-sr5 automatic on a local junkyards lot, it has 106k and everything seems to work good, clean title, has minimal rust it looks like, just some considerable rust on the front fenders and that looks to be about it. i test drove it. they wanted $500 but i asked if they would take 400 and they said yes. considering that it runs and drives fine, i think its a much better deal than the dented rustier junkyard one with a bad clutch with 112k in PA that i looked at and described in another recent thread on here that the guy wanted 500 for... but its an automatic...do you guys think i should snap this one up?

other questions, is the auto tranny in these things of the lock-up veriety? as in it locks together at high speed and bypasses the tourque converter to be more efficiant?

also, what actually is the horsepower and tourque of the 3A?

The automatics never came in SR5 trim. I just got an automatic T4WD, but it's not running right now so I can't comment on it. Apparently they get worse gas mileage and have a bit less oomph, not to mention the little engine is buzzing crazily at highway speeds.

The horsepower and torque of the 3A engine is 62 bhp at 4800 rpm and 76 lb-ft of torque at 2800 rpm, needless to say, the car can definitely use a bit more power...

[takza]

The horsepower and torque of the 3A engine is 62 bhp at 4800 rpm and 76 lb-ft of torque at 2800 rpm, needless to say, the car can definitely use a bit more power...

More modern engines tend to have their hp and torque numbers about the same and rev higher. With a 4x4...torque is more important anyway. And hp is calculated from torque. I can manage around a 20% gain in "power" by advancing the ignition...I'm probably measuring torque when timing it in 5th gear.

[CathodeRayTube]

Well this is now sitting in my driveway, got it for $350. everything seems to be in good working order on it. no significant rust except the drivers side fender...passenger side is fine..go figure.. there seems to be alot less rust underneeth also and none in the rocker panels...but im too far into the first one in the garage to just forget it and go with the new one with less rust. probably would be more of a PITA to swap the trannys anyway. i still plan to get yet another parts car still for a spare manual tranny...

also, i figured out some of the local legal crap as well as some measurements and technical stuff about swapping in a VW diesel. the engine of choice is going to be a 1.6 IDI turbo. from a late 80s/early 90s passat or golf. basically it looks all clear. the engine will fit in the T4 engine bay, and i can leagally have the fuel type switched over to diesel and be emissions exempt alltogether.

stay tuned.