LUVTruck.com

So i bought a 79 chevy luv when in college cheap in wyoming and brought it home and now its sitting until i have time and money to do what i want however ive debated rebuilding the engine and restoring to factory and making it my little show off truck but i have also thought of making it a sexy offroading toy. ive been leaning more towards the offroad toy however have some questions and concerns. It is the 2wd mikado and obviously for offroad i need 4wd. now ive had some people say i can convert and others say just get a different truck screw that thing but i want it. i like the luv. ive also been told to just swap frames to somthing else and keep the body so my first question is with it being a 79 chevy luv long bed what other trucks have a similiar frame i could swap to to make it 4wd and look good and then something i could lift. also if i make it for offroading id want something more than the 1.8 isuzu so my 2nd question is what have some others done engine swap wise that has worked good and why you like that different engine.

either way i will be doing custom work inside the cab and also a wicked paintjob just stuck in the go big or go original and help and personal stories or links would be great

Alright heres some misc info i have gathered on the topic
If starting with a 2wd you should use the front straight axle from a toyota with some fabrication.
engine and trams from an isuzu trooper or pickup 2.3 would be easiest to do for the power gained i think, the stock 4x4 sucks in terms of swapability unless its an isuzu engine/trans either 1.9, 2.3 or 2.6 4cyl
I started with a 4x4 wanted a 4.3 v6 and tried to keep it 4x4 with the stock front end but didnt wanna do a straight axle or a lift so i ended up going rwd because of clearance problems.

There are a good few options. Jeep cherokee xj axles are close to stock width as well as toyota axles
There is also a 2.2 diesel called a c223 that came in troopers that would be great for wheeling.

Keep the stock frame you arent gonna find anything that fits well that is nearly as strong. The stock frame is really beefy

Cant say i wouldnt like to see another luv cleaned up. There are so few good running ones left

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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