LUVTruck.com

Needed a 'wheelbarrow with a motor', and picked up a '78 for $200. Rockers are rusty, paint is garbage, and it needs pretty much every component replaced in the front end. Blower isn't working, no radio, mirrors flop all over and the driver's door hinges are shot. The scabbed in buckets are out of a Toyota (I think) and the driver's side is actually set about 2" higher than the passenger side for the amp that once lived under it. It's just plain ugly. But hey, it runs pretty strong, and it stops, all the lights work and the title is mine. I was looking at it a bit closer today, and I think it may have been a Mikado, as there are small holes on all four fenders for what must have once been factory flares. It was originally yellow, and is now mostly blue.

Been back yard wrenching off and on for about 25 years. Figure I'll do the front end work myself and maybe a little body work to keep the rain out. The $50 paint job thread here is very interesting too. Not really up for a project, but that's what I got anyway...haha..

I'll have some pics up after I make some more posts. Already have a thread going on my heater cables. Glad to see there is such a huge knowledge base for these trucks in the NW!

Welcome to the site.

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If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

Yea, welcome. Flares were aftermarket only. Not a Mikado thing.

Well, what started as a cheap effort to solve a hauling need has turned into some sort of obsession. I DIG this truck. After playing with it a bit last week, just cleaning stuff up and playing around, I'm enamored with the dumb thing. It runs really strong, and with the crappy cap and Tijuana inspired accessories removed, it actually goes down the road pretty well. I can't see anything so far that I can't work on, and that's a refreshing change. While I love my old Saab 900, it's a challenge some days to get in the Swedish mindset. Something about these early Japanese trucks rings with simplicity and utility. My dad has had Datsun trucks since I was a kid in San Diego, and now has about six 320 series trucks out at his place, plus a couple of 520's. I always hated the carb's in those things and so I never really got interested. This LUV is a different story...

I've already spent more on front end parts than I paid for the truck...hahaha...guess I've been 'bit'...

And so begins the journey...



Welcome aboard

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FIAA: Color Guard

Here are some photos of the truck after I swapped the tires, pulled of the metal door visors and the cap. I will probably be removing the sun visor and mirrors in the near future. Anyone interested in the outside Visor?

http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/n ... interval=5

Could someone confirm for me that I have early doors? The truck is titled as a '78, but from all the pics here on the site, I think these doors are from an earlier model...

I'm interested.

_________________
If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

and if mytmouz dont i will

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My old but now gone Luv...

I'm working on it, Catmandu.

_________________
If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

no problem... figured i would get in line is all

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My old but now gone Luv...

Yep...those are the early doors...wing windows and all.

BTW...not bad for a starter truck though....good score.

Now when you get the front-end done, you can start on the drive train and the engine, then the body, then the interior, etc. ...lol

And yep...I'd say you have definitely been infected with the luv virus...but the good news is there is a lot of stuff out there in parts-land that you can find to really trick your truck out and personalize it the way you want pretty easily.

Congratulations and welcome aboard!

I have to agree it is easy to get the LUVBUG. LOL I can't seem to stop dreaming up new ways I want to do things. Glad I'm not the only one who got bit. Looks like a good score for the money. Good luck and welcome from Texas!!!