LUVTruck.com

I just traded my X-box which I never played for a complete, yet not running 86 p'up. It sucked a valve, and I'm thinking about fixing it and swappin' in the 2.3.

But for now, I want to put in the 5 speed manual tranny, has anyone done this particular tranny before? Or am I gonna be shootin' in the dark?

I'm not sure what the gearing will be, but it shouldn't be too different from what I have now, just with an extra gear so I can finally go free-way speeds without red-line rpms.

Thanks.

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Richard Barnes Salt Lake, Utah
1980 Luv Mikado 4X4
http://geocities.com/luvtruck2004/

I assume the truck is a 4x4? If yes, then it would be pretty much exactly like a Trooper of the same year. There are a couple of people here running that setup. Try searching for "trooper 5spd" and see what comes up. Basically, a little fab work on tranny mounts, use the 5spd front driveline, shorten the luv rear driveline, and be prepared to cut a hole for the 4x4 shifter. Nothing too complex. The other thing to look into is the power steering, it should swap over without too much trouble.

If its a 2WD then you will have no way of getting power to the front short of fabricating a divorced transfer case onto it. The t-case is integral to the tranny on both the 4spd LUV and the 5spd isuzu. Even if you took both transmissions completely apart, the case of the 4spd won't hold all the 5spd parts. Just an FYI.

Still it sounds like a great deal. The 2.3 could have damage to the block and most likely will have damage to the head, so that might not be rebuildable. (only way to find out is to start wrenching) Even if that is the case, you can find them in a lot of Isuzus around. Having the complete truck you could just pick up a cheap motor with a blown head gasket, fix that and clean it up, swap over all the other loose stuff from the pup, and you're good to go.

Gearing on the 5spd 4x4 transmission in 86 is exactly the same 1-4, slightly lower in reverse I think, and the same for T-case low range. 5th is an overdrive and really helps running faster than 60-65. My 86 trooper did 65 at about 2800-2900RPM. Also, the speedo gear is one or two more teeth, so it should help account for larger tires if you have them. The 2WD 5spd I have no ratio info on, but I bet it is pretty close to the same as well.

Wow, that is the first time I have had one reply with an answer to every question and enough information to totally shut me up. congrats. I'll search for those posts. It's a 4X4.

Thanks a lot.

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Richard Barnes Salt Lake, Utah
1980 Luv Mikado 4X4
http://geocities.com/luvtruck2004/

I went over to look at the truck today.

It's got a two-piece rear driveline, but it has the same wheel base as mine, so theoretically I shouldn't need to trim my driveline, right?

It's got a bolt-on crossmember. Couldn't find anything on the search about attaching the crossmemeber to my truck, know how that works?

Park brake assembly is totally different. Has anyone installed a handbrake between the bucket seats, I think that would make the linkage easier.

It does have power steering, but how would I attach the pump to my truck? I didn't get a chance to look too close at that set-up, it got too dark.

The more I look at this the more I wish I hadn't already used my vacation for this year.

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Richard Barnes Salt Lake, Utah
1980 Luv Mikado 4X4
http://geocities.com/luvtruck2004/

The 5 spd is a little longer than the 4 spd, so you need a shorter driveline in order to make it work.

The e-brake is another story. The LUV has part of the assembly mounted on the rear trans crossmember. You have to make some mods to that cross member in order to make the 5 spd fit, so you have to work up something to mount the cable stuff to. I have not done this myself, but it seems like between the two trucks and a welder it shouldn't be hard to come up with something.

The most informative post on this subject is probably this one:
http://forums.luvtruck.com/viewtopic.ph ... pd+trooper

This one has a bit more info too:
http://forums.luvtruck.com/viewtopic.ph ... pd+trooper

I hads a 5sp put in my 80 luv 4x4. Fiirst the mechanic wled on tabs on the sides of the frame so the removed crossmemebver could be used.

Next a braket was made for the E-brake calbe and bold to the rear of the trannsmisson.

Dont knwo about the power steering. Try a search for that

Cool, so that means when I start this I know who to bug when I run into a problem. I'll probably start on it after I fix my moms Volks so I have a backup ride. I'll keep you posted.

_________________
Richard Barnes Salt Lake, Utah
1980 Luv Mikado 4X4
http://geocities.com/luvtruck2004/