LUVTruck.com

Even though I am very new to this site, I've enjoyed reading all the posts and the wealth of information that has helped me alot. But at this time my son has a 1980 Luv 4x4 with an engine problem. We just picked it up a week ago used, of course. I had to put a started on it. It wouldn't start. I put the usual tune-up stuff on it (plugs, point, cap, etc.) and it started, but runs rough, won't idle, no power. I've played with the timing a little to no avail. The carburator is new, it has headers, but has a miss somewhere causing it to run rough. A friend came over and listened to it and said it could be something like a blown head gasket, loose rocker arms, etc. Any help would be deeply appreciated. By the way, it's a 1.8 liter. Thanks again.

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A 1980 luv that chevy 4x4

theres a few other things you should check. Fuel filter may be plugged and i would adjust the valves too. To check if the head gasket is blown just get it running a little and see if it smokes white. Also you can pull the sparkplugs and if they have coolant on em then its gone.

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...

yeah what MEPR said....and if you have a compression tester that could help also.

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03Cobra

How long did your truck set before you bought it? If it set for a long period of time , your fuel could have water in it , or it could have turned to varnish. When my head gasket went bad , i didnt have any smoke...just a severe case of not much power...mine was blown between 2-3. That was about 3 years ago.

thats the first time i've heard that. i thought all luvs blew between 3 and 4.

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1980 luv sport 4x4 Just a memory now
Frame rusted from the inside. Truck stripped and now looking for a new donor in southern ohio

sounds sort of similar to what mine was doing, after a couple of trail runs, it had no power, wouldnt even take off in 4low 1 gear. sounded like was running strong on 1 cylinder. smoke bad also, but not like it would with a blown head gasket. also had a tremendous amount of blow-by. upon teardown, we found the problem. i snapped 3 of the top piston rings, adn they chewed up the ring lands on my pistons. only 1 of the pistons was in decent shape. o well, im gettin it rebuilt, and it should be out of machining later this week.

i was going to say, no power+blowby=shot rings. But you found the problem so, good luck whith your rebuild.

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...

The engine doesn't smoke at all. I'm not sure how long it set before I bought it. When my friend was over we went through the firing order to make sure it was OK. No crossed wires, etc. But the 3 and 4 cylinders act like they're not firing all the time. Could that be a valve adjustment? When I got it there was not rear drive shaft. It was in the bed along with a junk starter. I am in the process of finding either another drive shaft or an end so I can get this drive shaft put back. I can lock in the front hubs and put it in first and it will move but just starts running real rough. I really appreciate all of your help. What do you think with this added information?

Thanks a bunch.

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A 1980 luv that chevy 4x4

Ran a compression test on the truck. cylinders 1 and 2 were 120 pounds. cylinders 3 and 4 the gauge didn't move. But it usually starts right up, just a rough running, won't reach hardly any rpms. None of the plugs looked oil fouled. What do ya'll think? Blown head gasket or what?

Thanks again for helping me out.

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A 1980 luv that chevy 4x4

Hey man,

Sounds like you need a rebuild or a new engine!

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-1981 Chevy LUV, 283SBC, T350 Trans, White In Colour, Long Box, Never Ending Project!
-2001 F-350 Superduty XLT 7.3L Diesel Auto, Ext. Cab, Long Box, White In Colour
-1998 F-150 XL 4.2L V6 5spd , Reg. Cab, Flareside SB, Red In Colour

It could be a case of someone adjusted the valves way way too tight, but I'd lean toward headgasket. Might as well pull the valve cover and take a look, and then you're already part way there to pull the head as well.

It could be seriously bad rings, bent/burnt/broken valves, or damaged pistons, but head and head gasket problems are much more common. Only real way to find out is to pull the head and start looking.

check your valves. If they are good the n youll be better off rebuilding it than trying to find the problem.

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...

thanks alot for yall's help, ill check the head, and go from there. ill let you know what happens

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A 1980 luv that chevy 4x4

Hey is one for all you Luv Nuts out there. Tonight after replacing my spark plug wires, I was coming home off the highway(go small towns go) and as soon as i turned a corner, I lost all my power(ie i press the gas pedal and it didn't rev or go)I still had power(ie elecical juice) when i stopped the truck on the curb, i did smell alot of gas in the air. Though here is alittle aobut my trucks history. I bought it from a guy who hauled jsut about everything on it(like boats) an really replaced well..nothing i guess..he sold it cause he had too many carsand blah blah blah. well, lets see. i took it off roading once( ok around in a dirt pit) and suddley i got blow back?(ie popping noises everytime i tried to go past 50). Well it hought i must be the muffler pipes(as the guy put a can soup? body around the flex plate or something like that). Also, He never cleaned/or replaced the spark plugs so i guess he may have done something with the carb to mix the gas/air ratio up higer so the plugs could catch easier. Now could someone tell me if i should spend more cash on it, or jsut sell it to the J-yard?
Thanks

i broke the vaccum line from the intake to the brake booster 1 time.lost power and idled liked crap.might check that being it only cost me $5