1983 Toyota Tercel review from North America

I deliver pizzas for a local company and a co-worker gave me the car after it stopped working for him. I installed a new $300 distributor and got it running only to find it had NO brakes. so I replaced everything but the rotors and drums. brakes are great now. I drove it for a few nights when it developed a bad oil leak. my brother and I replaced the oil pan gasket and we thought that fixed it but it continued to leak from the bell housing area... rear main seal. so right now the engine is pulled, going to hot tank it. the rotating assembly was in great condition so we are going to cross-hatch the block, re-ring and install new bearings, gaskets and o-rings. my brother did some mild porting and polishing of the head; more removing casting marks, smoothing the bowls and removing built up carbon. we are going to gasket match the intake and exhaust when we get the new gasket. while the motor is out I am going to detail the engine bay and fix any broken connectors, vacuum hose, steering rack boots, and clean up the k-member, steering, and transmission. other than that, its getting all new belts, radiator hoses, basically going to replace anything that rubber, fuel filter and pump.

HERE ARE SOME PICS:

http://s62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/maddddness/84ToyotaTercel/

LOTS OF HIGH DETAIL PICS.

Its got a top of the line sound and security system. (when I find a car, doesn't matter what it is, I go all out. plus this car is will be my work car, that means at least 60/hours a week driving it)

The rocker panels are buggered. the driver side has serious cancer. the shocks are completely blown out so the ride is a bit bouncy. that will be taken care of after the rebuild.

I was driving a 1978 Pontiac Grand Prix 301ci V8 automatic when I got the Toyota. since I have to pay for my own gas I figured the Tercel would be an improvement in MPG. I was unfortunate to find out that the Yota got 9mpg...my GP... 15.

From what I gathered of the history of the car it was initially well taken care of. but the previous 2 years before I had it it was just a delivery car beater (don't fix it until its completely broke).

When we cracked the intake/exhaust manifolds and the head off we found thick carbon encrusted deposits everywhere. the exhaust valves couldn't seat... or seal. the backsides of the valves were covered in 7-8mm of carbon. the inside of the #1 exhaust runner had a 2-3mm carbon build up along its entire inner diameter. things like the egr banjo bolt were completely blocked. the flapper valve in the exhaust manifold was stuck blocking off the #1&2 cylinders. we guessed the engine in its current state was putting out...25-30 hp.

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN!!!