by "Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
Published 03/01/2017 at 00:32
by "Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
Published 03/01/2017 at 00:32
Tags: Tercel project
; Lunchbox
; Tercel
STARS: 15
For starters: Hat tip to opponaut Huzer who suggested I take it in to a tire shop for a free rotation to unstuck my incredibly immovable lugnuts. Thank you. On to the show. I got my lugs off with a hollow metal pipe and a 21mm socket joined to a stubby wrench with a minimum of fuss thanks to the above suggestion.
Starting on the right, I made several mistakes. I forgot to block up the suspension before removing the shock. And then I didn’t loosen the bottom bolt before the top. I think you might guess where this is going.
During the slow removal of the top two nuts, I was a little surprised how much tension there was but just thought the threads might be messed up. Of course on the second nut right at the end— *BANG!* The top washers are launched with the pressure of a final arbitrarily worth 50% of your final grade in an upper division course that is absolutely required for your degree. In fact, I still can’t find them. Didn’t lose my eye so let’s call this a win! In addition, the suspension drops six inches and now I can’t get my wheel back on without getting out another jack and blocking up the suspension, like I ought to have done in the first place.
Now for more praise: I LOVE KYB. They actually tied down the shock with this plastic strap. When I last ordered shocks, they were Monroes, which did not come strapped down and were a fucking nightmare to get on. And they were also not the right size. UGHHHH. So with these, it was easy as putting in the bottom bolt, pointing through the upper shock tower opening, and cutting the strap. Act quickly, though. And don’t forget your new lower washers. Because once you cut that strap you have about 2 or 3 seconds.
Naturally, the left side was much quicker, because I had learned from aforementioned flubs. If I hadn’t become so rusty over the years on DIY stuff, this would been a 30 minute job altogether.
The shocks I took off were in rough shape. The passenger side — the one that launched the washers — will not compress at all. But the driver’s side will not decompress!
Hoping this is the first step towards many improvements over the next few months. I have to make this a worthy camping vehicle, then maybe I can justify buying an overpriced inclinometer on eBay!
Thanks for reading.
"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
03/01/2017 at 00:36, STARS: 0
tbf it’s a good Toyota
"facw" (facw)
03/01/2017 at 01:05, STARS: 0
I feel like you should have more jack stands...
"Berang" (berang)
03/01/2017 at 01:07, STARS: 0
What did I learn about tercels today
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/01/2017 at 01:08, STARS: 0
I have several. Not necessary for a quicker job where I don’t crawl under the car.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/01/2017 at 01:09, STARS: 3
New shocks add five horsepower.
"smobgirl" (smobgirl)
03/01/2017 at 01:11, STARS: 0
Appreciated this!
I saw a Tercel so beautiful the other day I wanted to turn around and follow the owner home. I was driving home from work and saw a shiny small black wagon coming toward me and had a “hey, that’s a nifty little wagon, wonder what -” (catch sight of back window) “- that’s a TERCEL?!?” moment. Clearly repainted but it looked nicer than new.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/01/2017 at 01:15, STARS: 1
I had you in mind when I wrote this! Stupid easy job. And this coming from a man whose automotive expertise is largely defined by my ability to change the oil.
PS: 14mm on lower bolt and on upper nuts. you’ll need two 14mm wrenches, 14mm socket, and vice grips.
"Berang" (berang)
03/01/2017 at 01:17, STARS: 0
did they come with stickers?
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/01/2017 at 01:18, STARS: 0
No :(
"smobgirl" (smobgirl)
03/01/2017 at 01:20, STARS: 0
Very much appreciated. I have a mental block about royally screwing something up but in reality I know I’m perfectly capable of doing this sort of stuff. It helps more hearing your analysis than (other) random people on the internet.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/01/2017 at 01:30, STARS: 1
The fronts will be the real challenge. Three shops didn’t want to even work on it. Fine, I’ll do it myself. Eventually.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
03/01/2017 at 05:07, STARS: 0
well done.
did you take it for a quick spin to feel the ride improvement.
"The Lurktastic Opponaught" (oppolurker)
03/01/2017 at 06:20, STARS: 1
Thanks. I’m still looking to buy one this summer. I’ve gone back and forth between he FiST, FoST, and WRX, and I keep coming back to an SR5 Tercel. There’s just something about it. Thanks for keeping one on the road.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
03/01/2017 at 07:21, STARS: 2
False. Use jack stands every damn time.
"Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
03/01/2017 at 08:23, STARS: 0
In Ohio I think all Tercels have rusted to pieces. Funny you were replacing rear shocks because when I worked in a Toyota dealer there was a recall in the 80s for rusting out control arms. I recall that most every one in the Midwest received new shocks as well.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/01/2017 at 08:51, STARS: 2
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/01/2017 at 08:53, STARS: 1
I do what I can.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
03/01/2017 at 11:37, STARS: 0
No jack stands? You, sir, live life on the edge.
Edit: I see this has already been discussed. Carry on.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
03/01/2017 at 11:53, STARS: 0
What did you fit as replacement shocks? I am partial to KYB, myself.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
03/01/2017 at 11:57, STARS: 1
Shocks -- and even struts -- are my favorite job because it’s honest wrench turning and suffers fools gladly and you get a huge drivability reward when you’re finished. It’s not like paying a trillion dollars to replace some gizmo to make the Check Engine light go off and the car doesn’t drive any differently. Struts can be pretty laborious with compressing the springs and all, but again, huge ROI in the Drivability Department. Shops love that stuff because they can do the job in about 0:02 and charge you hours of labor.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
03/01/2017 at 11:59, STARS: 0
Why didn’t they want to replace the front struts? They should have salivated at the prospect. When you do them, be sure to replace the top mounts and the dust boots. That adds about $40 per side, but the entire strut turns on that top mount and they are likely quite worn. Assuming that your car has McPherson front struts...
As I was saying to smobgirl, big ROI in drivability.
That looks like a great dog, BTW.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
03/01/2017 at 12:02, STARS: 1
I’ve done many shocks and struts and that shock launching would have surprised me. From your description, it sounds like the extended shock was limiting the suspension travel; not what I would have expected.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/01/2017 at 12:27, STARS: 0
Not yet
"The Lurktastic Opponaught" (oppolurker)
03/01/2017 at 12:45, STARS: 0
I don’t believe me either, mostly because the purchase is contingent upon money that doesn’t exist yet.
"smobgirl" (smobgirl)
03/01/2017 at 13:09, STARS: 1
Sounds good to me! I hear you on the gizmos, my dad has been chasing a possible electric problem in his CRX for years and has yet to track it down. Car has lots of new parts if he ever gets it running again though!
"Frank W. Doom" (frankwdoom)
03/01/2017 at 13:51, STARS: 0
star for dog.
"The Lurktastic Opponaught" (oppolurker)
03/01/2017 at 18:26, STARS: 0
Sorry to bother again. Would you mind sharing some of the other things that you’ve run across to watch out for in these cars?
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/01/2017 at 21:13, STARS: 0
I’d be happy to, but are you you’re prepared for the longest reply ever? You should pull up a chair and maybe make yourself a snack.
"The Lurktastic Opponaught" (oppolurker)
03/02/2017 at 05:57, STARS: 0
I am. I’m strongly considering chasing first car nostalgia here, and I wanted to do what I could to avoid known (catastrophic) issues. Shopping cars this old is not something I’m skilled at, so I’m trying to learn from others that know more about this than I do.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/02/2017 at 08:39, STARS: 1
Alright, you asked for it.
This is now my third Tercel. The first was a cute project, the second was a money pit of futility. Mechanically, these are very simple, robust vehicles. You should focus your efforts on finding the cleanest one out there. Because the rust is real. And cosmetic bits are very difficult to find. You can find mechanical parts without too much trouble. But if you need a mudflap, tail light, or a badge, or a new backseat, good luck. An extreme example: If you find one with a visible rust and wear that runs well, but then you find one that’s immaculate with a blown engine, BUY THE ONE WITH THE BLOWN ENGINE AND FIX IT UP.
Rust is the enemy. Check the doors, the tailgate, the hood, check the doors AGAIN, crawl underneath, look under the battery box (typical for any old car), watch out for resprays. You won’t find a rust-free one, just make sure you don’t have any spots you can push through with just your finger.
Probably much more to say but that’s all I got now at 5:30am
"The Lurktastic Opponaught" (oppolurker)
03/02/2017 at 09:51, STARS: 0
Thanks. Knowing which rust trouble spots to watch for is what I was most curious about, as that’s what killed mine 20 years ago. If this pipe dream happens, I’m going to look in California and the southwest for a cleanish example, as every one I’ve found up in my area is a stiff breeze away from crumbling.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/02/2017 at 10:01, STARS: 0
Sad story: I tried to buy one from California last fall (it was PERFECT) but was hastily outbid.
"Orange Torana" (justified-and-ancient)
03/23/2017 at 08:28, STARS: 0
Sir, Have you joined us yet on Tercel4wd.com ? I am one of the administrators of the forum we just turned over 95,000 posts. We have a lot of information and parts to share and a lot of members in Everett and surrounds. Have you replaced your transmission oil yet?