needed: Tercel "expert"

I found this on a local Craigs, and while I don't expect to even call the folks I did e-mail to try and find out which transmission it has.

http://gainesville.craigslist.org/cto/2549165089.html

My question(s) for the Tercel expert(s) here:

The 1st and 2nd gen. Tercel used longitudinal engines and transmissions, somewhat unusual for a small car...and even more so for a small Toyota. Can the transmission from any other FWD Toyota be used in this car?

Any ideas on how much a rebuilt/used transmission for these would cost? And where would you be likely to find one?

I wouldn't leave it FWD long enough to find out. That thing is BEGGING for a ford 9" and something brutal under the hood.

1982... is that the first year of FWD Tercels? My highschool girlfriend had a base Tercel hatch (with 4-speed) that was definitely RWD. I thought it was a 1982, but I suppose it could have been a 1981.

All Tercels were FWD.

Toyota's first FWD car, at that.

mndsm wrote: I wouldn't leave it FWD long enough to find out. That thing is BEGGING for a ford 9" and something brutal under the hood.

Puerto Rico style!

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: All Tercels were FWD. Toyota's first FWD car, at that.

Hrrrrrm... maybe she had a Starlet, then. It most definitely had a pumpkin under the rear end of the car.

Duke wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: All Tercels were FWD. Toyota's first FWD car, at that.

Hrrrrrm... maybe she had a Starlet, then. It most definitely had a pumpkin under the rear end of the car.

Starlet or Corolla more than likely.

And i want both of them.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

mndsm wrote: I wouldn't leave it FWD long enough to find out. That thing is BEGGING for a ford 9" and something brutal under the hood.

Puerto Rico style!

That was what popped into my head. 26" mickeys stuffed under the thing, 4" stub axles, a pumpkin, a 4 link, ALL the nitrous, and..... who knows what else.

I'm not sure about that particular car, but I've worked on another Tercel from that era, a 2 door and more rounded, if I recall. 2A or 3A motor mounted North-South with a front wheel drive transaxle behind it, Audi style. Those transmissions are not exactly everywhere, and another FWD trans would not work without significant re-engineering, like changing the engine to East-West instead of N-S.

Now, if you pulled the drivetrain, but a 20 valve motor in it and a T50 trans, axle in the back, that would be "interesting."

They used the N-S style transaxle through 1985. They also had an AWD wagon in that (second) generation. Just sayin'.

Put this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsqHroXHsIA&feature=related

In that.

Profit.

yeah, if I really was going to buy a 1st gen. Tercel it would have to be the better looking (though not by much) 2 door hatchback coupe.

As difficult as it is to get another transmission for this car...the seller just e-mailed me and it's an AUTOMATIC.

This is somewhat interesting as Toyota's first FWD car (at least in North America), and this example looks very original, but too bad about the automatic.

This thread and the one about the 454 that needs a home need to get together!

had a good old 3ac powered '85 "5 door" hatch as my first car... I loved that thing... not enough power to run 65mph in 5th gear (had to run 4th and keep it floored) but around town it was a good car.

anyway... for another trans... sure you COULD... but not without a lot of work doubt the engine bay really has enough room width wise.

I always wanted to put a 4afe in it... would require a custom exhaust header but would have been a broad power band and a 75% bump in power (pretty sad when we're talking just over 100hp from the 4afe)... would give a bump in MPG also....

In reply to integraguy:

That was my first car--only it was silver and a coupe.

I'm not an expert, but I'd think finding a newer complete swap might be easier than sourcing a tranny for that one. Those cars have vanished from the northeast.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

mndsm wrote: I wouldn't leave it FWD long enough to find out. That thing is BEGGING for a ford 9" and something brutal under the hood.

Puerto Rico style!

There was only one Puerto Rican running a Toyota at the drag strip(Starlet, kept breaking) the last few times I've gone. All the others were running explodey Hondas and NASTY sounding rotary powered Mazda boxes.

Back in my import drag race days, the Puerto Rican oldschool rotary Mazdas and Toyotas were deafening.

Some were full-blown drag cars and they were only running 14's. The fast ones were kissing low 11's, IIRC. This was in the early 2000's, though.

They were loud.

Most of them were only touching 12s, the Starlet that kept breaking was pulling 14s, an old Civic was putting out more smoke than some of the diesels and never made a run.

I don't think he was one of the Puerto Ricans, or at least not a part of their group, but there was a guy running an old 70s rwd Colt in the 10s. Loudest noise on that thing was the turbo.

Apparently that red car i posted a video of is in the 7s now, trapping 170mph.

Stock chassis. THIS SEEMS SAFE.