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 Post subject: Mabel The '78 Mikado
PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:41 pm 
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Location: The Lone Star State
I figure it's time I started a build thread to keep all of my status updates in one place. So here we go...

This is my 1978 Chevrolet Luv I scored a great deal on a year ago. It's a nice specimen with only 48,000 miles on it, everything works (including the factory a/c) and it has almost zero rust. I wasn't looking for a classic at the time but you don't just pass on an opportunity like this.

A couple of pictures taken a few weeks after I bought her:
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A few months after I purchased it the 33 year old fuel system started giving me trouble, keep in mind this truck is probably 95% original. While I was in there I figured it was time for an Offenhausr intake manifold, pacesetter header, Weber 32/36, new exhaust, and a Pertronix Ignitor with 40,000v coil. It pepped the little 1.9l up quite a bit and made a fun to drive truck even better.

Engine bay shortly after installing the new manifolds and carb...and removing the smog junk:
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The interior was wonderful when I bought it, one of the things about the truck that convinced me to buy. Even though the stock upholstery was perfect the dash was cracked, some of the plastic had faded, and the silver trim had rubbed off in a lot of places. So, I touched everything up, installed a tach and a couple of other useful gauges, and covered the old worn dash with a plastic dash cap. The factory rubber floor mats were replaced with some coco mats:

Before:
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After:
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And just today I installed a set of switch panels out of a '72 Luv. They don't have words labeling the switches and they have illuminated rings around the switches and ignition:
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The switch on the right is going to control a (yet to be installed) set of foglights:
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I have also acquired a complete set of NOS dogdish hubcaps for a killer deal on ebay that I prefer to the chrome caps mine came with:
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So that's one year into my project. I have a front airdam and cab visor that I'll be painting and installing in the coming months. I'm probably going to lower it a bit and eventually swap the front torsion bars out for coilovers when time and money allow.

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1978 Mikado *Weber 32/36*Offenhauser intake manifold*Pacesetter header*Custom exhaust*Pertronix Ignitor & Flamethrower 40,000v coil*
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 Post subject: Re: Mabel The '78 Mikado
PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:19 pm 
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da LUV masta
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Location: So Cal
Very nice

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 Post subject: Re: Mabel The '78 Mikado
PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 3:13 am 
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da LUV masta
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Location: Tomball, Texas
Yes, very nice truck!

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1978 LUV Mikado - all stock with automatic/AC


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 Post subject: Re: Mabel The '78 Mikado
PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:55 am 
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Thanks. I touched up my grill and headlight bezels with a fresh coat of black paint. Also Decided to paint the bow tie to better match the white/black/chrome theme I have going.

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1978 Mikado *Weber 32/36*Offenhauser intake manifold*Pacesetter header*Custom exhaust*Pertronix Ignitor & Flamethrower 40,000v coil*
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 Post subject: Re: Mabel The '78 Mikado
PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:07 pm 
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Can't wait to see those hubcaps on! Do they require a special wheel or will they fit the stock steelies?

SRAD

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 Post subject: Re: Mabel The '78 Mikado
PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 10:09 pm 
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They snap on the little nubs that stick out of the stock steelies. The wheels are getting repainted and a couple of tires are going to be replaced then I'll pop em on. I'm just waiting on the humidity to drop so I can get a decent coat on. Hopefully next week.

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1978 Mikado *Weber 32/36*Offenhauser intake manifold*Pacesetter header*Custom exhaust*Pertronix Ignitor & Flamethrower 40,000v coil*
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 Post subject: Re: Mabel The '78 Mikado
PostPosted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:19 am 
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Joined: Sun Jun 06, 2004 11:48 pm
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Location: Whittier, (So). Cal.
I have those caps. I had to grind a little bit of the nubs off on mine. The cap went on easy and tight, but was impossible to remove without screwing up the cap. So I ground a bit off to make it easier to remove them.
Also a beauty ring on the painted wheel with those caps looks pretty nice. That's what's on mine. Just a cheap plastic beauty ring, I saw at the auto parts store.

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 Post subject: Re: Mabel The '78 Mikado
PostPosted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 3:37 pm 
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Look what I found...NOS, still in the box.

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1978 Mikado *Weber 32/36*Offenhauser intake manifold*Pacesetter header*Custom exhaust*Pertronix Ignitor & Flamethrower 40,000v coil*
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 Post subject: Re: Mabel The '78 Mikado
PostPosted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 3:43 pm 
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Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:52 am
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Location: Hot Springs AR
Wow, The holy grail of tube grilles! Karl will mess his pants! 8)

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 Post subject: Re: Mabel The '78 Mikado
PostPosted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 7:46 pm 
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Nice Grille!!! A rare find indeed!!! I have the same one in my truck and when I seen this one on E-Bay, I knew it wouldn't last!!! Enjoy!!! :D


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 Post subject: Re: Mabel The '78 Mikado
PostPosted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:52 pm 
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badknight wrote:
Nice Grille!!! A rare find indeed!!! I have the same one in my truck and when I seen this one on E-Bay, I knew it wouldn't last!!! Enjoy!!! :D


The view counter only got to 6 :lol:

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1978 Mikado *Weber 32/36*Offenhauser intake manifold*Pacesetter header*Custom exhaust*Pertronix Ignitor & Flamethrower 40,000v coil*
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 Post subject: Re: Mabel The '78 Mikado
PostPosted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:56 pm 
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Location: Great Falls, MT
That is one nice clean LUV. Great find on the grill.

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2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
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1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
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 Post subject: Re: Mabel The '78 Mikado
PostPosted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 11:59 pm 
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Feel the Steel
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Location: Y Omen
Did it come from Billings Montana? I was just there 2 days before he listed it.

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 Post subject: Re: Mabel The '78 Mikado
PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 9:06 am 
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TILTED wrote:
Did it come from Billings Montana? I was just there 2 days before he listed it.

Yep, same one.

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1978 Mikado *Weber 32/36*Offenhauser intake manifold*Pacesetter header*Custom exhaust*Pertronix Ignitor & Flamethrower 40,000v coil*
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 Post subject: Re: Mabel The '78 Mikado
PostPosted: Mon May 21, 2012 12:01 pm 
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The ol' lady and I headed out to Garner State Park for a few nights of camping and the LUV, and the new topper, served us well.

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