LUVTruck.com

Hi folks, like the site. A buddy and I are planning a little swap, thought I'd pop in for a little learning.

We just happen to have between the two of us, a '73 Cadillac 472 and a '77 2wd LUV. The floor pan in the LUV is rusted out, the motor has a warped head and pretty much trashed motor, but the rest of the rig is in good shape.

The plan is to remove the cab and box from the LUV frame, get the Caddy motor secured and work the bugs out of the rolling chassis, then attach the cab and build a new floor pan/firewall to accommodate the new power train.

Things I think we will have to contend with: exhaust, steering shaft, oil pan (the Caddy sump is in the rear... good or bad?,) and of course all of the other stuff like drive shaft, wiring, linkages, etc, but we've got a laundry list of stuff we'll have to fab. We plan to use the stock rear axle until it dies (it'll get a fluid change before takeoff, but that's about it.)

I'd like a little info, however, namely the distance between the frame rails where the stock motor mounts are, also the distance between the motor mounts and the transmission cross-member, follow that with the distance from the radiator to the fire wall. I've looked at the frame drawings and exterior dimensions from this site, very helpful, I'm just looking for those other dimensions as I try to mock this thing up on paper.

The 472 is 3.5" longer than the 350, rather much taller, and 2.5" wider (valve cover to valve cover) so I know a little modification will be in order. Other general info, the starter is on the right side, and the distributor is in the FRONT (at least we have that going for us...)

We're a couple of college guys looking to piss away our last few dollars before going back to school, so this will be a "full time job" type of thing for us during the month of August (after we paint and sell the '83 Tbird project next week.) Any insights or general comments into this whole thing are entirely welcome, and yes, I did do a search and found one other question about this particular swap... no one seemed too enthused

Josh

well the stock 10bolt isuzu will last about 1 lap around the block trhen it will go boom realy good! Sounds like a cool idea, you definatley have ALOT of work ahead of you, a 350 is a tight fit width wise.

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

i say one of the first things you are gonna have to do, is ditch the torsion bars one the front in order to get that beast in there
and like mepr said....have another rearend standing by

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I like my steak like I like my women, young, tender and bloody.

All I need is my weed, women, and wine. -Edge City Outlaws

I should mention the motor is only 45 lbs heavier than a small-block Chevy (and lighter than a 454!) I think I can crank the torsion bars up all the way and still not be dragging the front crossmember in the dirt... right?

I don't think it is so much the weight as having room to run the exhaust. It is a pretty tight fit with with a small block! A Caddy engine? HHMMM Might look into coil springs up front to free all kinds of room for exhaust pipes to run.

Rick

you might try to find you a weld up kit for the headers. when i was younger it was the olds 455 in any small car we could find but still running a small block in the luv!!