LUVTruck.com

I have a 1980 4x4 4 speed. My rear end is toast and I need to look for a swap. I'm having trouble finding the stock replacement for the rear end thats affordable. Is there a swap that will fit into my otherwise stock setup? I do not know the gear ratios for my existing unit.

You have 4.10 gears. Any Isuzu 10-bolt third member of that ratio from early LUV through Isuzu P'up & pickup until the rears came with RAB will fit into your axle housing, and 4.10 was by far the most common gearing. That will be the easist & chapest fix. Look on car-part.com for used parts in your area, use "rear axle assembly" to find the part, then try to buy just the third member. Also check craigslist, I saw a whole LUV axle assembly there for $50 last month.
If you need a whole axle assembly the best fit other than a LUV/P'up is a '79-'85 4x4 Toyota- it's the right width & lug pattern and probably has the right gears, but needs the spring pads relocated and some e-brake mods.
S-10s are about the right width but have 5-lugs & 4.10 gears are rare.

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'78 Chevy LUV,1.9,4sp,headers,31's,SAS Dana 30,Dana 20,SOA rear w/Aussie Locker, rough body, bought new 12/4/78.
'87 Trooper,2.3,5sp,headers,31's,ball joint flip & spacer,Aussie Locker rear,Superwinch hubs,brush guard w/5.5K winch,more to come.

Where are you located? I'm selling my whole axle assembly with SOA conversion. Oldest mine is probably the one you saw. Hah. Hell man, if you're in my area I'll sell it for $20 for a homie on luvtruck. I'm in Tulsa btw.

im gonna go by his name and assume he's from portland oregon "PDX" shipping would be hell!

my chilton manual says the automatics had the 4.10 and the manuals have 4.56 (not sure if this is completely correct but thats what the manual says) could have been interchanged by options at dealer not sure.

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Luvless
1980 Mikado-Sold.

1993 Lexus SC400 my Daily
2004 Yamaha WR250F my new love in life
2016 Toyota Camry my girls ride

4x4 LUVs only came with 4.10 gears and manual trannies, & at least in '78 & '79 2wd w/auto trannies came with 3.73 gears, so Chilton is not always correct.
Dudeus- craigslist ad I saw was Tulsa, probably yours, I am in Fayetteville.
BTW- had a 10-bolt 3rd shipped to Alabama a couple years ago, $40 Ups, will be more now, just the 3rd weighs about 40 lbs. & sounds like that's all gforcepdx needs.

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'78 Chevy LUV,1.9,4sp,headers,31's,SAS Dana 30,Dana 20,SOA rear w/Aussie Locker, rough body, bought new 12/4/78.
'87 Trooper,2.3,5sp,headers,31's,ball joint flip & spacer,Aussie Locker rear,Superwinch hubs,brush guard w/5.5K winch,more to come.

"haynes" manual whoops. but yeah not always gonna be completely accurate.

one other question for ya since its partially relevant.
what locking hubs came stock on the 80 4x4s? mine are superwinch but i have seen a couple on different luvs.

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Luvless
1980 Mikado-Sold.

1993 Lexus SC400 my Daily
2004 Yamaha WR250F my new love in life
2016 Toyota Camry my girls ride

You want it? I need to get it out of the garage...