LUVTruck.com

When I bought this '80 4x4 for $400 a couple days ago, I planned on just using it for a beater stump jumper, but the more I work on it the more I'm really starting to like it. It's my first mini 4x4 (and first Chevy LUV). The engine and components are easy to get to/work on, and from using the search engine and poking around on this sight, I have found that their is a lot you can do to it.

Just before I got it the last owner replaced: Alternator, cap+rotor, plugs, plug wires, front wheel bearings, passenger front fender,

What I've done so far: Fixed the 4x4 hub (the last owner put it back together wrong, and it wouldn't turn), the front bumper was hanging and bouncing around on two very crappy tack welds to the frame, I drilled and bolted it to the frame, secured the grill that was hanging by a thread, I made a getto slide hammer and pulled as much of the dent out of the hood as I could, and did a quick bondo job, sea-foamed the carb a couple times, and went over all the components the last owner replaced. I also adjusted the stearing gear box to take out the 6" of play in the steering wheel.

Next comes:
1) Sand and primer the rust spots. No cancer (yet) but a lot of surface rust, and some pitting. I want to sand and primer those places to keep it from getting worse.
2)Work out a problem it's having while under load. It misfires/sputters a bit up steep hills. This is probably what the last owner was trying to address with the cap/rotor/plugs/wires. Most of the vacuum lines have been replaced, but I found two that haven't. I still need to check the fuel filter, and address the exhaust leak I found where the manifold meets the tail pipe. I've got to borrow a compression tester and check the cylinders, but I don't think it's a head gasket issue, all the plugs looked great with no fouling on them, no milkshake in the oil, and it is using exactly zero water. I also need to probably replace the fuel filter(s).

I'm hoping the misfiring issue is taken care of between the loss of back pressure at the manifold, 2 vacuum lines, and fuel filter(s). If not I will be looking at other stuff, but I'm starting with the most obvious.

Here are before and after pics of the front end:






I know it's not pretty. I will eventually be looking for a new hood and bumper before doing the $50 paint job I read about here.
I had never even considered owning a Chevy LUV before, but this thing is really starting to grow on me and I'm quickly becoming a fan. Thanks for this web-site. I've had a chance to read about 50 pages of discussions that go in-depth to nearly every issue I've come across with details not contained in any of the three manuals that came with the truck.

Looks like you are making some good headway on it.

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

These are somewhat good trucks to learn how to wrench on, what the manuals wont tell you we here at Luvtruck can fill in the blanks. Thanks for using the search feature, that cuts down on a ton of repeat posts, if you cant find it please ask away.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

Dude, that thing is sweet.

Update:
I fixed the sputtering she was doing under load. I pulled the distributor cap and the points were shot. There were literally NO contacts left. I am really surprised the thing even ran. I tested and replaced the coil also, which might have been the reason the points were so bad. The distributer retaining nut was also loose and the cap was probably moving freely around. I didn't have a timing light, so I timed it the old fashion way with a 12v test light. It took a while, but now it runs like a top. It starts right up with out even touching the throttle, and with about a half of a crank of the engine. It's the best $400 I've ever spent.

Before I take her out wheeling, I'm going to need to replace the tie rods. I took a lot of the slop out of the steering with the steering box adjustment, but It was still a little loose so I climbed underneath while my wife turned the steering wheel, and the upper tie rods are shot. I know I would bust one as soon as I hid a big bump.

One of the main things that led me to build my truck was this site. There are other older Chevy vehicles that I could have bought and tricked out...but none have a site with as many devoted, friendly, knowledgable, and helpful people as the Chevy Luv has here. Or that have as much free helpful info readily available for all of the members either.

(And no other one has very cool window stickers, calenders or t-shirts made that are 100% designed and voted on by all of the members with all the profits going to the website owner to support the site either.)

Congrats on your truck! If you need any parts, give a shout out in the classified here, check Ebay frequently, check on http://car-part.com/ , or http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites.html or you can take a look here: http://www.luvtruck.com/links.php

You can also take a look here for some more tech info:http://www.luvtruck.com/Information.htm.

Welcome aboard!