LUVTruck.com

hows it going everyone?! so recently i picked up 2 luvs. a 72' and a 74'...one frame is 4x4 the other 2wd..now they are complete minus the engine and tranny..ones even got a sun roof..now my plan for the 2wd is just to leave the rust clear coat it or satin black some 17" stock silverado wheels bucket seats,stereo and suicide shifter...basically stock but a semi rat rod look..now granted i am only 21 so ive only been into imports an bagged trucks so i have the suspension covered..im taking the front clip off the 72' so i can have the 4 headlights.putting it on the 74' cab(has the sun roof) using the grill off the 74(it has the 5 or 6 skinny bars) just shortening it to fit the 4 headlights and the 74' bed since it has the lights next to the tailgate..throwing all that on the 2wd frame..17'' stock silverado wheels probly polished..dash in the 74 is clean and black so im leaving that in might try and fit the 72' cluster into the 74'..torsion bar dropping the front hopefully with drop spindles(if i can find them or have a buddy fab them) if possible 4-5'' total and lowering back with drop shocks and and 4-5" blocks..replacing the sunroof glass and windshield (both have good rear slider glass)..satin black or keep it rusty with a good clear coat,leaving the stock steering wheel throwing in some old chevy bucket seats or possible doing some civic seats re-done to look like old chevy seats.scuffing up any chrome trim re-mounting the front turn signals off the 74' clip onto the 72', freshening up the lights..6k hids with either yellow high beams or regular 6k hids.. redoing the door panels red and black with black bandanas sewn on to be the handles to close the door and getting some old slightly rusted chrome window cranks..4" above dash height suicide shift with removable brass knuckles shifter(never know when youll need them lol)..keyless entry with kill switched( i live in Tucson,AZ its not nice here)..possibly a keg looking gas tank mounted in the bed..all new bushing and joints..cleaning up the frame doing it gloss black or raw with a clear coat..maybe a little red and white pin striping..no tint no ugly 20'..factory look stereo deck with aux cord hidden in glove box make a nice center console for either 2 8'' subs or 1 10'' sub and calling it a day for looks... NOW FOR THE BIG QUESTION!!! since im new to the luvs ( granted ive worked on other chevys just not a luv) what motor is more readily available that will be a direct bolt in with out fabbing anything(i cant weld - i know you can put the 1.9l isuzu motor in but im looking for a sohc motor i can drop in do some add ons nothing too $$$$ ( i set a $2500 total budget given the fact i can do everything my self minus porting/ polishing and boring the block and shaving the head) and still make about 135-145whp? i need it to get out of its own way since its freeway driving to work and i live in Tucson, AZ so they dont know how to drive here...

IF ANYBODY CAN REPLY BACK WITH A LIST OF PARTS ID NEED FOR THE MOTOR TO MAKE CLOSE TO THAT MUCH HP AND WHAT YEAR RANG OF ISUZU MOTORS AND TRANNIES I COULD DROP IN OR EVEN A PLACE I CAN PICK UP THE STOCK MOTOR/PARTS AT FOR A GOOD PRICE! WHAT REAR END GEARS/REAR END SWAP ID NEED SINCE I KNOW GEARING IS IMPORTANT( IM JUST USED TO LITTLE HONDAS 4.25 GEARING) AND IF ITS POSSIBLE TO DO A POSI REAR END!..keep in mind im doing a 1-1/2" straight pipe exhaust either coming out the very back or y-piped out the bed floor so i should still have back pressure THANKS GUYS!

also once im done with the parts i need from the 4x4 ill be selling whatever parts someone needs.

i forgot to mention im picking both up for $100

You might double check the year on the 4x4 truck. There wasn't a factory 4x4 LUV until 79. If yours has a straight axle in front then it could be a 74 with an aftermarket conversion. If it is an independent front then it either isn't a 74 and its a 79 or 80 or the body has been swapped onto a new frame. You also mention 2 and 4 headlights, another clue that one of the trucks may be newer. 78 and newer have two headlights, a 72 and a 74 should both have 4 headlight setups. Tail lights on the sides of the bed is also a clue, 75 and newer have that. 72s have round tail lights under the tailgate and 73-74 have rectangle tail lights under the tailgate.

You don't have to pull the entire front off the older 4 light truck to get them swapped over to the truck with 2 head lights. The screw holes are all there in the newer truck to mount the older lights. I have a 79 with 4 lights and all I needed was the trim, head light buckets, lights, and grill. I also grabbed the wiring from the donor truck for the four lights. Put flat spade connctors on the three wires and then you can just plug them into the single connector for the 2 light truck. Even makes it easy to undo if you change your mind later.

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95 Isuzu Trooper Daily Driver
86 Isuzu Trooper reliable backup
77 LUV 2wd stock beltway blaster (resting)
79 4x4 LUV project: 2.6L, 5spd, 31s (eventually)

MEPR: Man, my 4x4 makes all other LUVs look good

The year is very important when you start talking about engines too. 75 and older have a completely different engine and transmission than the 76 and later trucks. The older engine has exhaust and intake on the same side of the head. The motor mounts are different and definitely not bolt in compatible with the newer engines. (and potential upgrades) With fabrication work though anything is possible.

The 76 and newer truck opens up a bunch of options. The 1.9L G200 is a tiny step up. Next would be Isuzu 2.3L 4ZD1 which did come in a carb form. Next up would be a 2.6L 4ZE1 Isuzu from 88 and newer Isuzus. Never shipped with a carb, but the 4ZD1 carb intake will fit. The 4Z motors do need a little bit of firewall clearance for the distributor, but motor mounts bolt up.

A good simple setup if you can collect all the parts: 4ZE1 2.6L block and head, 4ZD1 intake and distributor/coil, weber 32/36 DGEV carb or better yet a 38 DGES. You could add a reground cam from Delta Cams, a header, and the biggest radiator you can fit in there.

Transmission options are out there too. 5 Spds from 86 or 87 Isuzu Troopers fit with some work for a 4x4 with a cable activate clutch.

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95 Isuzu Trooper Daily Driver
86 Isuzu Trooper reliable backup
77 LUV 2wd stock beltway blaster (resting)
79 4x4 LUV project: 2.6L, 5spd, 31s (eventually)

MEPR: Man, my 4x4 makes all other LUVs look good

Look on ebay. There are so many turbos its ridiculous. There was even a guy on here that found a turbo and manifold that would fit. Redo the exhaust piping and throw on an intercooler and viola 160hp at the crank. The 72' through 75' motors are perfect for this as they are low compression and you would only be turning that hp when you needed it. Just make sure your motor is in fairly good shape cause' from what I could tell parts for these are getting scarce. You may want to throw in a high duration cam (you'll have to get yours reground) especially if your going to port. It would probably be better to get a 38/38 weber to keep up with the amount of air being rammed in it.

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Fortune favors the well prepared!

thanks for the repost guys! i actually ran the vin of what they said was a 74..turns out its an 80... i never picked up the 4wd truck due to the hassle of getting where it was at..so i got the 80 cab and a 73-74 bed even though the cab hangs down lower.lights on bed are under tailgate... i have a change to pick up a 01 5.3l silverado motor but would need to fab so i think i might go with the 4ZE1 route since the plan has changed as far as HP numbers..there anyway i can tell what year the frame is? and the other truck did have independent front suspension..also i read up on the rear end ratio..i drive the freeway to work so i dont want to top out at 60..if i can find a rear end to use then i might throw the rx-7 rear end idea out the window(only had that idea so itd have negative camber at all 4 corners)

heres some pictures of the truck i figured id post

a few more pics

You work fast!

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1978 LUV Mikado - all stock with automatic/AC

haha ive actually had the truck for a month but i had to move it into my yard so i started pulling everything..i took the doors fenders and grill off the 3rd day i had it..then 4 days ago pulled the cab and only yesterday i pulled the bed,exhaust and drive shaft

started some clean up