LUVTruck.com

...I know someone who has a 90 Chevy Conversion van, and wants to get rid of it. He says it has all sorts of problems, but the 350 V8 is great in it. He has offered it to me FREE as long as I take it off his hands. I bet you all get this a lot, but is the the engine that bolts in to the LUV?

I got my LUV last year for the purpose of learning about cars because the best way to learn something, is to get down and dirty with it, and screw it up a few times. Pardon me for being such an enginenoob, but if someone wouldn't mind helping me out with this, i would greatly appriciate it.

I imagine if I follow through with this swap, I will ask plenty of questions along the way, so get ready.

If it works, then part 2 of the equation is trying to convince my dad to let me have it... that would make vehicle number 3 for me, and vehicle number 10 or so at my house... its all good though because we live out in the country with no homeowners association!

Thanks!

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-1979 LUV 4x4

That eng. and trans. would be great in your LUV. You may want to rebuild them first, and that will cost a few bucks.
A V8 swap is not for the newbie mechanic either. There is welding involved, and I know I would have to go at it myself very cautiously. so my swap turns out right.

Also, before yopu even start, do you have to pass a smog test where you live?

Thank Goodness NO!

like I said... the best way to learn things is to screw them up. My first computer I ever built, I pluged the motherboard in backwards on a 486 and fried the thing. It's not about the end result, its how you get there.

And like i said, My dad has to agree on it before it can even get started. Who knows if that will even happen.

Thanks for the heads up though.

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-1979 LUV 4x4

there used to be a v-8 bolt in swap kit,I believe hooker header sold it.I'm sure someone else knows for sure.Just yank the motor out and scrap the rest of it then it won't be a eyesore to your dad

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72 luv v-8 owned since 16!
240" rear engine dragster
traded the circle track cars for a blown 496 chevy
[color=#FF8000]
29 dodge 4 dr sedan (project)
84 ranger 2wd "tuff truck" with 350 sbc

Man if you can get a FREE 350 i would jump on it. That motor should be a four bolt main also. Very Very strong motor. I pulled my motor out of a van like that and thats what mine was. Even if you dont put it in your LUV rebiuld and and sell it.

jeggs/summit should have the kit you need to call them.
good luck

You will want to swap the intake and add a carb to the 350, I believe it is computer controlled. Also it is possible it has a 700r4 trans, that means it has a overdrive and a little bit harder to install.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

Thanks for all your responses... although the only words I understood were easy, hard, weld, and power.

My dad said "maybe" but he wants to talk it over with my mom first to make sure she won't mind having 10 cars around this summer.

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-1979 LUV 4x4

Good one.

Seriously though, you can check out "LUVTruck.com's V8 Engine Swap Article" on this page: http://www.luvtruck.com/Information.htm

well, in case you want an update, I checked out the conversion van today. The tires were not actually flat, like they were said to be, instead they had just been burried, I assume because the van had sat on the soft ground for so long. The battery was shot, which was what I had expected. Wouldn't hold a charge either. I put it in my LUV, and jumped my LUV, and drove it around for 15 minutes to charge it, but didn't help.

The LUV battery (and my aftermarket 1-wire Chrome 100A Alternator) couldn't jump it. My other vehicle is a 2000 Saturn SL. I have the "elite" series battery in it, and it was rated more CA than the dead battery in the van, so I used it to jump the van. Since there wasn't a battery to hold a small amount of juice connected to the van, I had to do two sets of jumper cables before the engine would turn over. I got the engine to start, and it sounded beautiful! Unfourtinatly I couldn't drive it because as soon as I disconnected the jumper cables, the van died.

The battery has a 36 month free replacement at Sams, and it is on month 31. So tomorrow morning I'm going to get a new battery, and see if I can drive this van a little, and check for more issues.

Other than that, the body is really bad... talk about rust! but the interior is flawless! I kind of like the inside actually.

Anyway, jsut thought I'd let you all know.

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-1979 LUV 4x4

Sorry to resurect a three year old thread, but it's my thread, so it's okay right?

I originally made this post living in an apartment on a college campus. I ended up securing the Van, fixing it, tagging it, and using it for the last couple years. It's got almost 200k miles on it, but the engine/transmission are still going strong. The problem it had was having back when I first got it was related to the fuel pump.

Anyway, now I am graduated from college, married to a women who has told me that she will not ever allow me to sell my truck (she loves it as much as I do) and have a house with a two car garage stall.

Just last week I decided it was time to start what I dreamed about starting three years ago, and work on the V8 LUV.

The van has a 700R4 tranny, and a 350 V8. I'm ready to get the eyesoar off my property, so this weekend me and my younger brother (18 years old) started disassembling the van.

I still don't know much about vehicles, but I have confidence in the swap, and I know how to use the internet . In the last 3 years, I've
+Changed the clutch on my saturn (required me to pull the engine)
+Changed the clutch on my brother's saturn (also required an engine pull)
+Installed a Webber, Offy, and Headers on the LUV. (Pulled the engine, but not really sure why... I could've done it without pulling it).

I own an engine hoist, and have access to an engine stand.

Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say, is I have been away from the forums for the last couple years due to graduation, finding a full time job, getting married, buying a house, etc... but now I'm dedicated and ready to make this LUV fast!

Here's a picture of my progress of pulling the engine from the van.

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-1979 LUV 4x4

Cool. Congrats on the house, wife, job, and education. Your doing batter than most these days.
I would say you have the experience to do this. There will be welding involved for the motor mounts and such. Search around this site. There are lots and lots of threads about what and what not to do when doing a V8 swap. Good luck!

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

Just to let you know, powerbyace.com has engine conversion adapters that will bolt to the stock engine mount location, so no welding and their are a lot cheaper than the kits sold on summit. Im using their adapters for a 4.3L V6 conversion, i bought both the engine and transmission mounts (plus the bolt kits) for about the same price as the Hooker engine mount kit.

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Chevys, Harley Davidsons, and Blonds.....I only ride the best.
DEATH BEFORE LIFT!!!

I appriciate the confidence rondog. Looks like I have quite a bit of research to do in the next couple weeks.

Rock on Blackhooter! I don't own a welder, and I've never welded, but I have a buddy at work who has offered to let me borrow his, however you find might be better anyway! I'm not to the point of ordering parts to make the swap work just yet, but I'll keep the link you pointed out in mind. Until the van is out of the garage and turned to scrap metal, that's where my focus will be.

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-1979 LUV 4x4

No problem, o ya and if you do order from ACE the "DOAN cushions" were kinda tricky to figure out at first, especially to find online. (at least for me) Here is a link to the AutoZone web page for the DOAN 2142 "cushion".
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/catalog/parts/partsShelf.jsp?categoryDisplayName=Collision,+Body+Parts+%26+Hardware&fromType=parts&fromString=search&parentId=43-0&currentPage=1&filterByKeyWord=2142&isSearchByPartNumber=true&navValue=14300154&categoryNValue=14399999&fromWhere=&itemId=154-0&displayName=Motor+Mount&searchText=2142

Good luck with the van, im in the same boat. Pulling my engine out of a 91 astro, absolutely hate working on vans BTW.

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Chevys, Harley Davidsons, and Blonds.....I only ride the best.
DEATH BEFORE LIFT!!!