Is this one worth saving?

[j.k]

Hey all - -
Long time reader, first time poster. I've had two wagons over my short 25 year life. I've loved these cars a long time. I got rid of my last about 3 years ago after both the engine and transmission were dead. I've missed driving one since. Anyway, I stumbled across one for sale near me for $250. The catch however is that it doesn't run. Here's what he states in his description of the car. Its an 1983 with 230k miles.

"Water pump went out on it so I parked it for awhile. I got around to replacing the water pump, but when I started it to bleed it something in the housing took out the timing belt. I havn't been able to take it apart further to find out, Passenger CV joint is going out"

I'm by no means a mechanic, but I know of quite a few that would help me out for a couple of cases of beer. Don't get me wrong, i lvoe the cars, and don't want him to scrap it, but at the same time, i could wait and hold out hope for a better one to come along.

Thank-you!

[dlb]

if the water pump went, i would ask how he knows and if it ever overheated. if it did, it could be in need of a head gasket. not the end of the world but another job to add to the "is it worth it" list. timing belt isn't a bad job, CV's are a piece of cake.

if you can have buddies help you out and hopefully show you what they're doing so you can do it yourself next time, i'd shoot the guy an offer.

[Highlander]

It sounds to me like the timing belt tensioner froze up while it sat and that ate the timing belt, there really isn't anything else there to cause the belt to shred. The PO might have been hearing the tensioner rattle as the bearing gave up the ghost, and assumed it was the water pump. If the body is good, I wouldn't hesitate. JMHO

[j.k]

Good news / Bad news
The seller backed out and decided to fix it himself and keep driving it. I told him about the site, and he's going to come check it out! I'll just keep searching!

[Petros]

Welcome to the list JK.

I would say that one is well worth saving, even if it needs a head gasket. I have done much bigger repairst than that on "project" tercels. Saving them from wrecking yards and car crushers.

Good deals are getting more difficult to find, but be patient and you will find one.

where are you at? what is your budget to buy a good runner?

i have one I am going to sell. It runs good but needs a lot of clean up before I am ready to sell it.

[j.k]

I'm in Eastern North Dakota, I'd like to find one that someone is going to junk and I can spend some weekends working on the car, getting back into shape. I'm slowly learning the ins n outs of auto repairs. I just like to tinker, i'm not a mechanic, but there's something about replacing parts and fixing things. No budget really, I'd just like to find one with minimal rust.

[copenhagenfiend]

J.k. I work in North Dakota over towards Dickinson. I've found that Craigslist here is a joke and most people use bismanonline.com - having said that, check these babies out. My next semi free day off I am going over to call dibs on a few. http://bb.bismanonline.com/toyota_tercel_4x4_sr5_parts/ hope the link works and that this post isn't too old!

[judohawk]

That was my Tercel J.K I'm getting a new crank pulley from petros then I'm gonna get it running again.