Blast from the Past (toyota content)

[rodekyll]

I went in to the shop over the weekend and one of the kids was working on one of my favorite POS imports -- the '71 Toyota Corolla 3kc.  This is the deluxe model with the undercoating and sound insulation.  1100cc slant4, 4-speed, 12" rims, 2-door.  I owned one in the 80s and worked on them when they were new issue.  This one has 51k on it and was last tagged in '92.  It's been under a tarp in the Sitka damp since.

I gave the kid some pointers, helped him get it started (he had no idea what points were, and installed the battery backwards), and dug out my old shop manual for him. 

Next day he asks if I want it -- it doesn't fit his 'image' -- $200 - $400  I was tempted.  But it has some frame rot and other issues that I don't think I want to take on at this point of my career.  It's what they called a "california car" as opposed to a "federal model", so it has the extra smog pump stuff from the era that you can't eradicate without replacing both manifolds and the carb.  I don't have parking for it, and I'm eyeballs deep in the trike project.  A distraction at this point would probably mean neither build would be completed.  On the other hand, parts are still available and are dirt cheap.  When I put a modern 3kc and 5-speed in mine, it pushed 50mpg in the Seattle commute.  It's got no modern 'stuff' like abs and airbags.

I'm torn.   :-\

[Mark West]

My Sister bought a 73 Corolla when she first moved to CA. It had 160k on when she bought it for $500.00. I told her she was nuts. She ended up putting another 100k on that car with the only problem being the distributor crapping out, which was fixed with a junkyard replacement for about 20 bucks. After all that, I believe she sold it for $500.00 as it was still running strong although using a quart about every 1500 miles.

[rodekyll]

Mine was still a good car when I sold it.  I got married and between the two of us we had a surplus of vehicles.  I visited it some 10 years after to -- yes -- replace the distributor for them.

[ridingron]

... When I put a modern 3kc and 5-speed in mine, it pushed 50mpg in the Seattle commute. ...

I had a '77 Corolla with a 3kc (I think) and 5 speed. I regularly got low 40's mpg with the air conditioner on and driving it like a hot rod. I put 170K miles and sold it. Flying down the highway and having the AC kick on was like putting the brakes on. I didn't realize how unusual it was to have a car AC with thermostat controller.

[rodekyll]

In a tangent to both this and Pete's sloppage plate topic -- when I worked for Datsun I invented a device that would sense engine load (by vacuum) and disconnect the 'lectric clutch in the a/c compressor when the power was needed for the road.  Back then A/C was a dealer-added farkle and there was no standardization or serious design to accomodate it.  A Datsun factory rep asked me what I was doing, and shortly thereafter the cutout became standard on the small 4-bangers with A/C.  I got nothing.  Still do.

[steven c]

 I had a 741/2 MGB (rubber bumpers but still had the twin SU's) in the late 90's with an aftermarket AC, you turn that sucker on and it was like you grabbed the parking brake! I removed it figure save a couple of pounds.

[rodekyll]

Nope , THE most extreme example of A/C induced powerus interuptus was a 1980 Fiat 128 sedan . Took 3 of the 4 cylinders to power the A/C compressor .

  Dusty

Don't you mean the 850 coupe?  A/C was fortunately only needed for the first 8 months of 850 ownership.  Then the floorboards rotted out, adequately venting the cabin even after the windows rusted closed.  Removing the bits upset the weight and balance so badly that it was unstable in the curves.   **C

[boatdetective]

Well, you poor timers- i was the proud (well...not that proud) owner of a 1976 Toyo Corona (like the cigar). What a rusty sh*tbox. However, it ran like a champ. Turned me into a Toyota buyer and I'm driving a 2012 Rav 4 today.

[Arizona Wayne]

Well, you poor timers- i was the proud (well...not that proud) owner of a 1976 Toyo Corona (like the cigar). What a rusty sh*tbox. However, it ran like a champ. Turned me into a Toyota buyer and I'm driving a 2012 Rav 4 today.

Interesting, since my 1st Toyota was a new `75 Corona wagon after I lost faith in my former Volvos.   Since then we have owned Toyotas and now drive a used `01 Rav4 w/130K miles on the odo.  None of my Toyotas in 40 years of use, new or used have ever disappointed me.  :bow