LUVTruck.com

i got a 318 and tranny just sitting here and being a mopar man.But don't get me wrong I love my luv but i've got it and the urge and was wondering if anyone else has done this or has attempted this swap(bastardrization) and yes i know i should expect alot of crap for mentioning this but hey if ya got a welder,torch,grinder,and a sledge hammer u can make it fit lol

And whats wrong with putting a different brand motor in a LUV? Nothing. The little pentestar motor should fit pretty darn easy and being a mopar guy you know that it will run a long time.Suggestion put at least a 3.42 geared S-10 rear end in the trk so you can enjoy the fuel milage the 318 can deliver use a 3.08 if you can find one. And being a little different just adds character.

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

You betcha. go for it. 318 mighty good engine. Actually like it better than the 360 myself.

I want my next luv to be a milage truck. Hoping to find a decent 2 wheeler to put my 307 in with a 700 or 200 r4 and s 10 rear with 290 or higher gears like in my old el camino. Will cruise right down the highway and still start off fairly good.

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Too much to do and not enough time or money!
Courage is the other side of fear!
Pain is the weakness leaving the body!

A 307 is a good motor despite the bad rap it got from not having any torq(3 1/4 stroke) and it will rev well past what stock valve springs will go but my suggestion is to run a 3.42-3.73 rear gear and you will still have a low cruise RPM.I did thes in a S-10 with 3.73s a 305 700R4 with A/C and would get 28-30 on the open road cruising.

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

Thanks a bunch. I can live with 25 mpg. Want my next one to be a flat bed also.

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Too much to do and not enough time or money!
Courage is the other side of fear!
Pain is the weakness leaving the body!

I would not worry about what motor you decide to install. These trucks are all Isuzu and the only thing Chevy about them is the emblems.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

No can do. You put a Mopar in there and we'll ban you from this site!

JK

My Dad test drove a new Dodge van in about 1976 that had I think a 318 in it. It was gutless. My dad kept stabbing it to try and make it go and the salesman was nervous. My Dad says, "I think we'll go with the Chevy."
I'm sure any V8 will make a LUV fly. Good luck, and keep us posted.

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

yeah depending on the year of the 318 they can be gutless i'll agree but i built a 318 for my 79' duster that put out 300 to 350 horse.if i'm going through all this i'm not going to have a punanny wagon like the guy running round up here w/just a 305 i'm gonna make ppl cring when they see her comin side pipes 8inch wide rubbers nice kragars possibly hook flamethrowers going all old school just like the cars back in the 70's when i was a kid.still going over paint schemes though oh well it'll come to me there's plenty of time for that later
plus i still have a 73' and 74' sitting there waiting on me crazy i owned a 79' long time a go now i have the 1st 3 yrs of production