Faults:

Water Pump

Shocks

Froom brake pads / rotors turned

Rear drum brakes

Oil pump

PCV valve

Belts

Tires

Clutch

Clutch master & slave cylinder

Brake master cylinder

Leaky window & trunk seals.

General Comments:

This car was a fairly rough example of a rugged economy Corolla from the Carter era. I've gradually resurrected it and used it as a daily commuter for a 100-mile round trip.

Corners beautifully with new shocks - parallel parks in any spot (and you get a minor upper body workout too) - comes to life slightly with a new clutch. Beats most construction vehicles off the line.

Conquers flat highways easily - has some trouble passing on hills.

Shifts and handles potholes like a truck. Desperately wants a 5th gear. Difficult to shift into reverse - you need to wait a second or two from neutral.

Gets 22 - 26 mpg - not bad for no fuel injection, but not stellar for its size.

Carburetor hates anything resembling cold weather starts.

Faults:

Slight oil leak from spark plug sleeves.

Split hose from thermostat to water pump.

Slight wear to front seats.

Badly repaired rust beginning to re-surface.

General Comments:

Considering the small capacity of the 1300cc 4K engine, it is quite zippy both on the highway and around town. The ever-reliable 4K engine is essentially bulletproof and seems to go on and on.. Recently I drove the car from Gold Coast to Lismore, and from Brisbane to Gympie within the same week and it didn't miss a beat. The 4-speed gearbox isn't really suited to the highway, however, due to the relatively short gearing, but seems happy to cruise at 100-110 kph.

Rust is quite an issue with this model corolla, although due to the previous owner badly repairing the existing rust, it has re-surfaced. Considering its age, there isn't all that much rust there.

Because I am a larger person, the cabin isn't all that spacious, nor comfortable. However, for its age and genre.. its quite well equipped and would rival any other car of its age.

Overall, I am quite happy with this vehicle. After all, for AU$1200 its hard to find a one-owner vehicle with low kilometres (143,000) and 8 months registration, isn't it?

Faults:

Most recently, oil in cyl 4, could use head work.

2 clutches in 260000 miles.

2 front brake jobs win 260000 miles.

1 water pump in 260000 miles.

1 radiator due to user error.

2 clutch slave cyl due to wrong part (pre 79 slaves fail, wrong size)

Rust around back hatch.

Uphostry... all of it shot after 200,000 miles.

General Comments:

Stock it had a top speed of 120mph, which I timed on man trips to California. Best time Seattle to L.A. was 14hours. Shockingly it seemed to handle better then a 1988 Celica all track turbo. There are many upgrades to improve the stock engine, not the least of which is a DOHC.

I averaged 30mpg most of it's life, my old 76 without a cat got 40 with the right gas. Last check it was closer to 28mph.

To this day it's operational, though a rebuilt head would be in order at this point. The compression tested solid after 340,000 miles.

Faults:

Starter motor failed at 200,000 kilometers.

Had to replace the radiator.

General Comments:

After the 5 speed was installed this cars performance was improved vastly.

Great for rally, better with a turbo, but its hard to find the right turbo motor to fit the block.

Faults:

Water jacket sprung a leak under normal usage.

The rust was getting a bit out of control in the doors, boot, wheel arches, front guards and sills and underneath the boot.

Leaking water in the boot.

Would not start due to ballast resistor failing.

Replaced 3 manifold gaskets in 3 months due to stupid apprentice mechanics.

Rear wheel bearings decided to lock up whilst just driving along home, drove into gutter.

General Comments:

She's a lovely piece of motoring history, very good in the mud, great rally car, has never failed in the 4 years I've had it.

Handles great at high speed, great to get sideways.

The seats are great for vinyl and are very comfortable very cold in the winter inside and very hot in the summer due to the black interior.

The instruments were clear and concise and the functions such as wipers and heater were in good places, good driving position, visibility is good.