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PostPosted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:58 pm 
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Location: Pottsville, AR
Ok, I've hit the search button and can't find anything, google isn't as wonderful as it claims to be. I just DETONATED the 1.8 in my 80 4x4 so I guess now is the time to start tearing it down to the frame and building my "monster LUV"!! Lol I was thinking of trying to go relatively easy with a 4.3 but if I'm gonna be dumping a butt ton of money into it over a LONG period of time, I'm wondering about a possible smallblock swap into it. I know it's gonna be ALOT of work but thinking of shortcuts to take. What about stripping the drivetrain totally out of it and welding the frame to a full-size frame or the frame of a K-5 or something along those lines? Would it look too queer with the wide stance of the full-size? What about stacking the frame on top of a S-10/Blazer frame where there are many more suspension lift options and parts are more readily available? Just throwing out ideas and looking for different options while still keeping SOME LUV nostalgia. This is gonna be a long, slow project but it's a labor of love for me and this little truck so in the end, it's all gonna be worth it. Any ideas and directions will be thoroughly discussed and thought out.

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80 LUV 4X4 Stock Drivetrain, 3" Body Lift, Shackles & Torsion Twist
99 K2500 7.4l 4l80e all stock


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 7:40 am 
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First off what do you plan to do with your new build? Will it be a weekend play toy,rock crawler or just something different and cool. 4.3s are a great motor for these little truck's and v8's also but the drive train must be planned around what you want to do with the truck. As far as the frame goes it's one of the strongest out there, You could put a Toyota front and rear axles under it with a v8 and have real nice looking truck that looks very close to stock. What size tires do you plan to run? I've got a toyota front axle and a 69 bronco 9" in the rear on mine with a 350 trans 208 TC pushed by a 427 sbc and everything is holding on so far INCLUDING ME.


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:33 am 
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Well it's honestly gonna live up to it's name, Light Utility Vehicle, but I am gonna take it and thrash the hell out it on the trails(if I can find any around here) on the weekends. I've already got 31s on it but I wouldn't mind putting 35's on it. If ya read one of my other posts you'll see where I actually cut the fenders and STUFFED 35's under it. If I go the small block route I will be goin with a stout 383/4L60/205 combination. I want the overdrive for the highway but the good low in 1st gear. And if I get one out of a 93 camaro again, they are mechanical not electrical so no computer and harness to find. I am NO good at fabricating but I can put ANYTHING together so this is all gonna be a HUGE learning curve for me which is why I'm trying to figure out as much as I can before I even start tearing it apart. I already know I'm gonna have to get motor and tranny mounts fabricated for the frame and since I don't have a welder I'm gonna have to find someone to help. I'll be able to do all the cleaning and prep work to get everything ready and then be able to do the final assembly, it's the crap in the middle where I'm gonna need the help.

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80 LUV 4X4 Stock Drivetrain, 3" Body Lift, Shackles & Torsion Twist
99 K2500 7.4l 4l80e all stock


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 3:05 pm 
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Ok I've decided to I'm gonna go with a new chassis and just stack the frames. That seems like the most logical route for me with my very limited fabrication skills. I'm looking into an S-10 chassis to try to keep it all Chevy and they should be a dime a dozen for one. I still wanna put a stout 383 in it so I'll be looking for an early 350 block. Wet dream would be an LS7 but at $13k a motor then having to buy computers and harnesses, I don't see that happening. Goin out tomorrow night to pick up a new bed, I am going to be selling ALL of my running gear to try to help offset some of the costs. Any other insights are welcomed!!

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80 LUV 4X4 Stock Drivetrain, 3" Body Lift, Shackles & Torsion Twist
99 K2500 7.4l 4l80e all stock


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:07 pm 
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Anything can be done, It just takes time/$$$$/fab skills. My 80 is on an 86 ford ranger frame. If you go Toyota you'll have straight axle. S-10 frames are pretty straight like the luv's it would not be hard to just do new mounts. That wouldnt be hard. The ranger frame is way different than the luv frame. and all i did was use 1/2 plate and moved the mount up to the cab and drilled new hole. You also have to think how your gona steer it, im not sure how a S-10 is set up but your gona have to think that threw some. and if you just take the time to do the cab mounts to the S-10 frame, im sure you can buy premade motor mounts and trans mounts for s10 to bolt watever V8 you want inthere. rather than just stacking the frames where you will have to fab motor mounts and figer out your drive lines and all that good stuff. And how to put the frames together. Thats just my .02 cents anyway.

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My build thread (viewtopic.php?f=33&t=24076)


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:40 pm 
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the luv frame is a lot stronger that an S10 frame... if you want it to be a good strong wheeler i would try to get the LUV frame set up for what you want especially if you have a LONG time to build it...
a 4.3 or a 350 will fit without much trouble.. Im going the 4.3 route over the winter and a lot of people have done both the 350 or the 4.3 so you can find buildup threads on the forum for either. the LS1's are getting more common in junk yards in camaro's and such if you want a good cheap aluminum V8 i would do that.

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:10 am 
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I would stay with the Luv frame if I could just take your time because any way you go it's going to take alot of fab work. Steering will always be a problem to hook up no matter which way you go, check out the projects-n-builds section and the search section and you'll get alot of help.


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PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:26 am 
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Thanks Smokey, I'm actually weighing out the pros and cons of both right now. There is a shop here in Northwest Arkansas that claims to do SAS's and I called them yesterday but they never got back in touch with me. Guess the word LUV scared em :?: I was thinking that steering shouldn't be TOO difficult on the frame stack if I used the Luv's column and such and used a collaring sleeve to go around it and a stub or partial shaft coming off the gear box of the donor frame. Either way I go there is going to be power steering so that takes alot of stress off the steering column itself and puts it on the linkages after the steering gear box.

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80 LUV 4X4 Stock Drivetrain, 3" Body Lift, Shackles & Torsion Twist
99 K2500 7.4l 4l80e all stock


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PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 6:17 pm 
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You'll do fine just keep in mind what you want to do with the truck and remember the higher you go with the lift the more bump steer you're gonna get if you put the steering box on the frame. Another way would to look at is to go with rack-n-pinion with power steering and have no bump steer just a thought. Just take your time and think it all the way through first even write it down on paper so you can see it and go over it to keep you on track believe me it helps.


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PostPosted: Sat Dec 24, 2011 6:50 pm 
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Ok well here's an update, I went over to Andy's house and got the bed. It was a pain in the ass with what limited tools we had there but after a couple hours we got it off and loaded into the back of my Silverado. Very nice fit if I do say so myself!! Lol I contacted a fab shop in NW Arkansas and they said they would be able to do the fab work for a SAS for me, I would have to supply the axles and tires and wheels. (Thinking 35's, maybe 38's, Toyota axles) the guy I talked to said to get a steering gear box out of a 2wd full size and he'd mount it on the frame and do a crossover steer on it. I would try it but I'm not a welder, never have been and would not really want to trust myself to do that. The one muffler I welded to a vehicle was SCARY!! But it didn't leak so it was all good. Anyway, took off the old bed and lightbar today, I don't really want to mount the other until I at least get the underside sandblasted and coated. I did notice that one of the crossmembers just in front of the bumper is bent, I don't know if maybe I tried to pull something before with it or if it was already like that years ago but I'm sure it's easily fixed. It got too dark too early so I didn't have a chance to take any pics but I'll take some tomorrow maybe. It isn't much progress but at least it's progress!! Also, there is a junkyard here that has like 6 LUV's, most of them 4x's but a couple 2x's. I have dibs on a front brush guard, a couple fenders and I want to get a few small interior parts but nothing major. Andy has dibs on a front bumper but other than that, between all of them there is a plethora of LUV parts. I have some pics so text me if you want me to send them.

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80 LUV 4X4 Stock Drivetrain, 3" Body Lift, Shackles & Torsion Twist
99 K2500 7.4l 4l80e all stock


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PostPosted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 9:20 am 
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Well it's too much of a pain to post the pics to the thread so I'll just say screw it and post the link to the photobucket. Fenders are off, found out the last owner rattle canned the hood blue cuz my purple was still under it. If I'm gonna attempt body work I need a 6" DA sander, little freaking die grinder takes FOREVER!!! Lol Anyway, not much new, if ya know anyone looking for a bed or some fenders that are already cut up let me know, otherwise they are gonna go for scrap. Hate to see em shredded but I have no use for em and I don't want em in the yard too long!

http://m557.photobucket.com/albums/jims ... 20Uploads/

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80 LUV 4X4 Stock Drivetrain, 3" Body Lift, Shackles & Torsion Twist
99 K2500 7.4l 4l80e all stock


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PostPosted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 8:12 pm 
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You can do your own cross over steer using a Trooper power steer box and a cross over kit for the Toyota axles.

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PostPosted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 11:23 pm 
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Don't stack frames, that's retarded. Going by what you say you want to do with the truck, my parts list would look like this.

Toyota axles
84-85 are the better years for the fronts, as they are gusseted a little better than previous years
Find a rear out of an IFS truck, they are a little wider than the earlier versions

Springs
For the rear, find some 63" springs out of the back of an old chevy pickup/suburban. These will give you plenty of flex
For the front use a set of Toyota rear springs, you will have to add some springs to the pack for the weight of the small block

Steering
I would find a steering box out of an astro van. It has a forward swing pitman arm, and will be easier to package than a typical chevy box. You could also use a IFS toyota box
There are a butt load of companies out there that make high steer arms and crossover steering kits for toyotas, find one you like


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 3:45 pm 
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Dont worry, Im not stacking frames, Im using my LUV frame and doing a solid axle swap. Youre saying to use the rear axle out of an IFS because its wider?? I thought I was looking for the axles out of a 79-85 because they were the same track as the stock LUV axles so that there was less fabwork that needed to be done?? No Im not trying to argue about be because you are obviously ALOT more knowledgable about this than me, as is pretty much anyone in here, and I greatly appreciate the shopping list to look for, Im just noticing a contradiction of knowledge here and Im trying to make sense of it.

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80 LUV 4X4 Stock Drivetrain, 3" Body Lift, Shackles & Torsion Twist
99 K2500 7.4l 4l80e all stock


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 5:55 pm 
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Well Ive decided Im giving up my Camaros for the sake of the LUV. Im selling my brother my 95 Convertible for $1500 which should pay for axles and some other things, then I'm taking the LT1 and 4L60 outta the Z to use in the LUV. Since I have the complete cars and everything for them, the swap should just be a matter of taking things outta the Z and moving them to the truck. Ill have to figure something out for a fuel pump and stuff like that but as I do more investigating I'll figure more out of what exactly I need. I already have $6000 just in machine-work on the motor and another $3500 in the rebuild of the trans so I know they are both stout enough for anything I choose to run under them, I'm thinking go big or go home so I wanna run 38's under it. Hopefully the TOY axles will hold up to everything. Everything is packaged rather neatly on the LT1's, not as nicely as the LS1 but cleaner than an old Vortec or LQ9 motor. Fans may be able to be used from the Z, who knows, maybe even the seats?? Center console?? I dont see much out of the dash being able to be used but thats ok. Im just excited that I have a motor and trans for the swap, now for the games to really begin!! lol

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80 LUV 4X4 Stock Drivetrain, 3" Body Lift, Shackles & Torsion Twist
99 K2500 7.4l 4l80e all stock


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 9:44 pm 
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Early Toyota axles are 1" narrower than a stock luv axle I believe. IFS yota rears are only 3" wider than the early versions. Depending on how hard you abuse them Toy axles will hold up fine to 38's. The birfield will be the weak link, but you can buy lifetime warranty replacements from bobby long that are significantly stronger than stock


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 10:27 pm 
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Another option for stronger birfields would be Trail-Gear Dirty 30's They hold up to the same abuse as the bobby long axle sets.

Im a diehard toyota fan and pretty much the guru between 79-95 (ive worked for a toyota specialist shop).

To make the toyota axles hold up to the abuse of 37-38's your going to need, Hysteer steering kit (Trail-Gear or Marlin Crawler or Allpro etc). You will need to add knuckle ball gussets to keep the toyota knuckle balls from bending. If you use a 83 and older front axle you will need to buy the upper gusset for the top of the axle. The front pumpkin needs to have a stronger diff cover welded to it, it is thin and after a few hits on the rocks the ring gear eats through the metal and you loose your gear oil. The ring gear on the toyota third member is pretty stout w/ 4.10,4.37,4.88 (Stronger) and 5.29's (A smidge weaker but its how the gear is setup). On the rear IFS axle is pretty strong, not very many people break axle shafts on 38's but it occasionally will let go. Usually the ring gear gets broke before the axle shafts. Get a rear diff cover.

If you need any info on the toyota front or rear axle just message me Ill get you the info you need.


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PostPosted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 8:10 pm 
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Damnitt!! He backed out!! Anyone interested in a Camaro or two??

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80 LUV 4X4 Stock Drivetrain, 3" Body Lift, Shackles & Torsion Twist
99 K2500 7.4l 4l80e all stock


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PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 5:05 pm 
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I run 38's on my 80 Luv and the front is a Toyota and the rear is a 79
bronco 9" with about 650hp for mud racing and to clear the 38's you've got to raise the front alot. Look on projects-n-builds at Smokey's v8 4x4 and you'll see how high you got to go,I coiled springed mine to get the height I needed for the tire to clear the floor board and what you see is with a 3" body lift also.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 1:07 pm 
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Hey smoke, that's an awesome runner. You have a true offroad LUV!! Your truck is set up for strictly mud running, I'm looking more for something I can drive back and forth to work, then if I want to go play, drive it out to the trails and beat it up some. I'm wondering if I would be able to get the lift I need out of leafs in the front. I sure as hell don't want to put blocks up there, but if I get the springs rearched if that would help or not? If you notice in the pictures I already have a 3" Body lift on it and I dont really want to go anymore than that because then, in my opinion, it just looks retarded, probably as retarded as some believe stacking frames is. I have seen stacked frames and ones that are done right and I think that when done right, they look good, are strong and reliable. Whole - 63" Springs out of an old Chevy? Old as in 73-87? 67-72? 60-66? Or am I going even older? Also, will I be moving the perches to accomodate them? I havent been able to do anymore work to the truck because Im currently out of work and pennyless so there really isnt anything I can do to it but Im trying to get as much info as I can before I start any of the hard work to it.

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80 LUV 4X4 Stock Drivetrain, 3" Body Lift, Shackles & Torsion Twist
99 K2500 7.4l 4l80e all stock


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