About To Look At A 1980 Fastback For Around $1000

[jackbyo]

Hey hey

 

So a girl I vaguely know had a 1980 corolla bought for her to learn to drive on, but it's been in her garage for years instead.

Now, it's definitely outta rego and probably needs a few things to get the road worthy cert, but she's probably gonna let it go for $1000.

All she could tell me is that it's 1980, pale blue, 2 door (couldnt remember if it's fastback or coupe) and that it's a great car.

It would be my first car, but I've decided I want an old rolla to learn mechanical and body stuff on becasue they are so sweet

 

I've been reading lots today and have deduced a few things from the wiki page and here

 

Being 1980 2 door from Australia, it's either a E30, E35 or E55. I'm keen on any.

I'm not sure if it will be 3K or 4K engine. Wiki says that 3k was made till 77 and 4k after that, but i know that here in aus we were a bit behind the rest of the world and made E30s in 1981 while everywhere else had started on E70s or some such, so maybe engines were the same?

 

So how do I tell if it's 3k or 4k?

Reading the K engine guide here I think I'm hoping for a 3K which have the more desirable pistons.

I know I should look for any rust, but what else should I look for??

 

cheers

[Evan G]

3k has a push in oil cap, 4k has a screw on oil cap

[Redwarf]

Evan, every 3 K I've ever owned had a screw in.......

 

19080 it's going to be a KE55S with a 4K. Don't be disappointed, there's no substitute for cubic inches!

 

They traditionally rust around the rear wheel arches and in the rear guards. Look for something that looks like mayonaise in the oil cap and in the radiator water. Minor engine oil leaks should be okay, once again, traditionally they can leak a bit of oil.

 

If it looks okay, it should be okay.

Edited April 26, 2010 by Redwarf

[wde_bdy]

...

Edited October 16, 2010 by wde_bdy

[jackbyo]

what's a dizzy?

 

Thanks everyone. I might be seeing it today or tomorrow, i'll put some pics up

[wde_bdy]

...

Edited October 16, 2010 by wde_bdy

[Sloth]

Evan, every 3 K I've ever owned had a screw in.......

 

19080 it's going to be a KE55S with a 4K. Don't be disappointed, there's no substitute for cubic inches!

 

They traditionally rust around the rear wheel arches and in the rear guards. Look for something that looks like mayonaise in the oil cap and in the radiator water. Minor engine oil leaks should be okay, once again, traditionally they can leak a bit of oil.

 

If it looks okay, it should be okay.

 

"There's no replacement for displacement" :wink:

 

 

When I took my KE55 on the track last year one of the marshals stopped me as I was about to go on saying that he thought the engine was leaking oil. Another marshal though said "nah, it's ok, it's a Corolla they're supposed to do that".

 

Just make sure before you get it rego'd that you clean up all the oil leaks just before you drive it into the mechanic. I made that mistake for my sprinter and then I had to get them all "fixed" before they would issue the RWC.

[jackbyo]

Hey guys!!

 

Thanks for all the responses!

 

well I went to have a look today. Only the boyfriend (both are non drivers) was there and the car is practically buried in junk in the garage. I could just manage to squeeze an arm through to pop the hood

 

Saw the plate saying that it's a KE55 with a 4K-C (cheers red dwarf).

I looked hard for rust where I could. Couldnt see any in the engine bay, was a slight peppering on one rear wheel arch and a little bit more on the other rear wheel arch, but getting under the back of it I couldn't see any.

Rego ran out in 08,

Odometer read just 47,500 or so kms, which correct me if I'm wrong, but isnt that damn low for a 30 year old car?

 

Anyways, he said he'll clean the garage in the next couple days and push it out and I can come have a better look.

I figured I'd bring a jerry can of petrol and see if she'll start. Anything else I should do before I try to start it? Change the oil for instance?

 

Oh yeah and the owners friend, who is my friend, told me that the owner told my friend that she would let it go for $850 !

 

should I just jump on this before anyone else has a chance to see it???

 

Thanks heaps guys!

[springersrolla]

sounds like a good little car take a fully charged battery and a can of fuel and some aerostart and sandpaper or wire brush. Pull out the plugs one by one and give them a clean up quickly crank the engine to make sure your getting spark to the plugs and then take the aircleaner off and drop a cap of fuel down the carby. Shouldn't have much drama starting it. As for rust check out bottoms of front guards near the doors. The A pillers right near the windscreen inside the door and around the windscreen rubber themselves. Also lift the boot rubber up and check for rust in the weather strip real. Boots are common to rust in the bottom behind the wheel. Good luck with it mate