Older Toyota thread
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This is a thread for older cars that could have a long life ahead of them, if properly looked after.
I just picked up a 1986 Toyota Tercel. It's only been owned by my grandfather, and used as a commuter vehicle in a small city it's entire life.
Only 127 000 KM's (78 914 miles) on the odometer, everything stock, aside from maintenance work that's been done over the years. Very little rust, everything works.
Old Toyotas are known to last forever, I plan on using this car as a project car and a city driver.
What would be some good preventative maintenance to keep this car running? I don't want sink tons of money into it for cosmetic mods, I'm happy with keeping it looking stock, with the exception of an aftermarket stereo.
I'll be touching up the hidden rusty spots with anti-rust paint, I've already given it a wash/wax/vacuum. It's had a recent oil change/radiator flush. The timing belt, alternator/ignition coil look brand new. I think I'll be replacing all the radiator/vacuum hoses. It had a brake flush and pad change recently as well.
Although it's gutless, it's fun to drive this little car around. The lack of power steering is a distinctly different feeling than what I'm used to. I hope to give this car a long happy life.
Looks like you've already taken care of the usual stuff. Just stay on top of it and change the usual fluids, timing belts and whatnot and it'll run for nearly forever.
I've got a 98 and a 99. 99 I bought over a year ago with almost 260 on it, 310k now and I got myself a second one a few months ago, 98 110k and no rust. I hoon the fuck out of the older to me one, some minor offroading etc, and beat it down gravel roads. It's in better shape then most with only minor rust spots. Fucking love these things man. Also, if you have the 13" tires it'll beast in winter. Also, I'd change your trans fluid too. Mine are both manual and I got some good redline mt90 for em(manual calls for 75w90).
>>13811939
Pics
>>13812104
Forgot pics again, ffs.
>>13812136
>>13812149
>>13812241
>>13811939
Nice, I'm guessing you have the 4WD model. I'll make sure to change my transmission fluid soon.
Unfortunately I have the 2WD automatic, but it's in such good condition I'm not complaining.
I've seen many videos of those 4WD tercels just tearing it up offroad. For example.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0A-RE38MBc
>>13812256
Nope, fwd. Lack of an antirollbar and most of the weight over the front end means that the traction is quite good even with a hanging rear wheel.
I'm going to put my question in here for now, since I did recently buy an older Toyota. It's a 1993 2wd 5 speed pickup. It's totally stock apart from added leaf springs, and I'm wondering if it's possible to put a cab over camper on it. I'm pretty clueless about all this stuff so this might be very stupid.
Generally what I've read is that it's not a good idea to put these campers on small trucks. But it has been done, and I want to find out if it's possible without causing problems for the truck.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/rvs/5279295898.html
The camper I'm looking at is a mini six-pac, with a weight of just under 1400 lbs. I'm open to taking out the fridge, oven or other heavy things I don't really need. The "Consumer Guide Automotive" website says the truck has a payload of 1860. I obviously need to verify this number, but is this reasonable? With myself and my belongings I'm sure I'll be getting near the max weight. Do the leaf springs help enough? Do I need air bags?
Any info would be great, thanks
Im pretty jealous OP.
Used to own a 94 Tercel, had 256k miles when i sold it. Only sold it cause the trans was going out (A/T) and it wouldnt pass Smog.
Kinda want to pick up a 4wd model or find a 2wd and convert it.
Pic of my old 94
>>13812625
I'd go for the smallest camper you can find because you have to realize that although it has a payload of 1860 what height was the tested payload? Camper is a very high COG.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/5288706182.html
Should i check this Tercel out?
How hard would it be to work on?
>>13812756
Yeah, this is just about the smallest camper I can get at this price range. The height is definitely a concern, but is the main appeal. The other thing I'm looking at is a cabover shell, but they are just so rare. But for $2,000 I'd have a new, much lighter, customizable camper.
http://belairshells.com/wood-n-alum
Is there anything else like this out there? I saw a couple (socaltruck, tradesman) but they seem to be more limited and more expensive.
>>13813091
That's beautiful. Pretty sure the ad was up a month + ago when I was looking for cars in the area though.
>>13813159
Yeah that ad has been up for awhile. I think i remember seeing it about a month or two ago.
Also the guy has 2 other Tercels in his garage that you can see in the pic which makes me think the engine is fucked and hes trying to get rid of it.
>>13813091
God damn, def go check it out.
>TFW rust belt so anything pre 2000 is non-existent.
>If it exists they charge x200 "GARAGE KEPT" NO LOWBALLERS
>>13812663
4efte swap that shit mang.
>>13812625
That looks really cozy but I'd be sketched out by the rust around the strut towers if you added weight. I was in the backseat of an old Audi when I was a kid and had the shock pop out under the rear window just inches from my head, shit was surreal.
Here's my pride and joy.
>>13813244
Got rid of it years ago, even if i still had it it wouldnt be worth it
Also hnggg
http://bend.craigslist.org/cto/5258732164.html
>Had one of these as the family car growing up
>Total stripper; didn't even come with a radio.
>Learned to drive stick in it at ~115k miles
>Then drove it daily for 3 years as a teen
>Lasted another 6 years before it finally rusted out, still running on original clutch
These cars are virtually indestructible aside from rust. As long as it's been maintained (sounds like it), it'll last as long as the body does. Take good care of it and it'll be with you for a long time.
I have never owned a car before. I think this one is pretty great:
http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/cto/5275633706.html
All of my friends think its great too, including a few that actually know stuff about cars. My mom and all of her adult friends think I should blow my $5,000 in savings and take out an auto loan to get a $10,000 car with very few miles and a newer year. Are they an idiot, or am I? Pic related.
My mom drove a brown '80s Tercel when I was a kid. It was a manual, dunno if it was four- or five-speed.
Enjoy it, they're great cars!
>>13812625
I've mostly seen campers on the 1-ton dually Hilux.
>>13815003
no disrespect to friends/family but i would highly advise you to get it inspected by a garage.
you want everything, condition of ball joints, wheel bearings, any knocks, squeaks, rumbles.
my personal advice is to get the older car, dont go into a loan.
>>13815003
if you're getting a used car. don't get a loan, that's a terrible idea.
the reason many prefer to buy used (besides the better price) is that you usually don't need a loan.
My advice is there are a lot of better cars out there for less than 5000$. look harder and read the sticky.
I drive old toyotas almost exclusively. I have the 80's toyota fever.
Ke55
ta22 Dohc
te71 levin dohc
ae86 levin
ta60 JDM dohc
84 hilux 5mge+sidepipe
ga61
ma61
uzs131
i love these old RWD corolla so much, but it's a shame that they're pretty much extinct in my area.
>>13812625
Id rather pull a small camper so I could disconnect it at camp. I drive a built up hilux and it's still an utter dog with a full load, you will hate life with the weight and wind resistance of a cabover on that for the whole trip. Also a mini trailer may have brakes, the tiny brakes on 2wd 4cyl. Hilux are not great.
Might be able to pick up a running 4WD Tercel fully optioned for 1k, the catch is the throw out bearing might be on its way out.
Anyone know how difficult itd be to replace that?
Im somewhat mechanically inclined, ive changed the timing belt, water pump, and most of the cooling system on my truck.
>>13818176
Not too bad, they're simple for a transverse and setup. Pull cv axles, disconnect prop shaft. Disconnect hoses and wires, disconnect mounts. pull engine/trans as unit. Swap clutch on the floor and reverse to install. You will need a cherry picker. You can sometimes support the engine with a t-bar and just pull the trans but it's usually easier to just pull the whole thing. I also suggest getting the flywheel resurfaced, replacing the engine rear main seal, the trans input and output seals while you're in there.
A while back I picked up a 94 Corolla for $1500 to replace my Jetta as my mom's DD.
>54k original miles
>everything works aside from the OEM head unit, and the speakers kind of suck
It has some odd noises here and there because it had a front end accident at some point but it runs great. Should have many more miles ahead of it.
>>13818282
Yeah buddy
>>13818236
>mfw
Ugh i dont have the space to do any of that.
Pretty sure my dad wouldnt be too happy with having me do all of that in the garage either.
>>13818336
>mfw i fucked up a mfw
>>13818282
....dx?
180k miles and still running strong, doing my best to keep in tact
>>13821296
Why hide the details, anon?
>>13821304
Sorry for shit pic, back needs a paint job though, I can still take a clearer pic tomorrow though.
My cute Seca. Not that old I guess
320'000 ks still going strong
>>13822348
Do you strap down your groceries on the flatbed as well?
How hard would it be to fix a '98 sienna that's been sitting for ~4 years and had problems before it was parked
From what I remember
>exhaust and engine area smelled like dead bugs when the engine was on
>rear suspension was constantly fucked, shocks on both sides blew, then the strut assembly itself broke
>HVAC completely nonfunctional
>random sounds from engine on acceleration, sluggish
>>13821147
Yeah DX. Electric everything. AC cold as fuck.
>>13822351
I have a tray with sides I'm putting on next week
