LUVTruck.com

I have a 79 that currently is powered by a G200 with MSD StreetFire ignition, Grumpy's cam, Weber carb, Pacesetter header, 2 1/4 pipe and a Flowmaster muffler. I still have the stock Luv trans and rearend. I'm not really looking to race, but really looking for street performance and sound. Is it really worth the $$$ to swap in a V6 or is it better to just replace the trans and diff? I would really like to get everyones opinion on this.

_________________
1979 Luv 2wd, rebuilt impulse G200, Weber 32/36, Offy intake, Delta cam, Pacesetter header, Flowmaster, 2 1/4 inch pipe, lowered 4 inches, Bed shortened 10 inches, 1997 Tahoe wheels with 225/50R16 Toyo Proxes.

I vote V8. A stock one will make at least as much HP as a hopped up V6, and parts are easier to find...

_________________
If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

I second the V8 nomination. I think the V8 swap is easier since it has been done so much. A V8 swap doesn't have to be a drag truck. You can go for mild build and have a very reliable and still mostly stock truck that is fun as hell to drive. I am a little biased having a 307 in my luv, plus I have driven small block chevys for 35 years.

_________________


Three Amigos

the 4.3l V6 is ez to do .



s10 headers.



1st startup



geting on it sum .

http://www.youtube.com/user/farmerjoe25 ... dwL9Tc8Rqw

_________________


4.3l V6. 5 speed MT 2.55 in the back.

depends on skill level and type of V6 desired.

for best bang for buck,

V8

A.j.

_________________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykgDNjeTa0g

Thanks for all the feedback, I really appreciate it. I guess was I leaning towards the V6 because it is lighter and takes up less space. plus, the Buick V6 has the distributor up front so I can mount the engine back more for better balance of weight. The SBC idea is not totally out of the question though.

_________________
1979 Luv 2wd, rebuilt impulse G200, Weber 32/36, Offy intake, Delta cam, Pacesetter header, Flowmaster, 2 1/4 inch pipe, lowered 4 inches, Bed shortened 10 inches, 1997 Tahoe wheels with 225/50R16 Toyo Proxes.

Two questions come to mind, if you like it the way it is, why the change? If you have made up your mind to make a change, which combo do you lean toward? I can tell you from experience that driving a V8 Luv is about the most fun you can have with your clothes on. The expressions on the faces of the people I have surprised still make me smile. Besides you can buy 350/350 parts about as cheap as Luv parts or cheaper. As far as the disrtibutor is concerned, just get yourself an 8 lb. firewall indentation maker, they do the job really well.

_________________
I want to be different like everybody else.

I now have 3 luvs 1st is a 73 with a wicked 500hp sbc 350turbo fast as hell and fun. 2nd is 72 total stock for now. 3rd is a 75 with a 262 or 4.3l for the people that dont know they are the same with a 4L60E. I like the v6 out of them all the hp is around 300 with about 350 tourqe. it keeps up with the v8 till late 1st gear. gas milage is better 23 plus mpg around town with a heavy foot. Alot lighter and more space under hood dont have to mess with headers cutting them to fit around frame. yes the 73 is set up for drag but it is street legal. i drive the 75 the most. I am running the multiport efi on the v6 with a mild cam, headers, cold air intake, reprogrammed ecm for timing, fuel, and trans shifting firmness and shift point, stock rearend. Didn't have to mod for the radiator just ran short water pump and electric fan. power steering was the only rear big mod i had to do with AC. sound super and easy to drive but if you want to play with the kids and their import 4cyl it will eat them up. so do what you want and just think it through dont rush it or you will make a mess out of it. if you are doing it for drifting make sure you convert to disc brakes and relocate your E brake to a pull handle with bucket seats. just my thought on the matter.

_________________
LIVE HARD PLAY HARDER
THANK A POLICE OFFICER THEY PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE FOR YOU AND ASK FOR NOTHING IN RETURN!!!

Hello and Merry Christmas,

I'm a little late on answering this, hope it is still of use?
One important question about swapping any engine is what about the rear end ratio! Here in So Cal you have to be able to run 70 mph minimum in order to keep from getting run over. If you do not plan on changing the rear end to a higher ratio one, FORGET about using the Buick V6s! They feature a very inadequate oiling sytem and the engine will run out of oil very quickly at high way speeds!! I realize there are exceptions and surely some guys are going to say their Buick V6 will run all day at 4,000 RPMs plus, but I haven't had that luck with mine! If you can locate a OD transmission this helps. A sbc, 700R4, and 3:42 gears are perfect!!
One other suggestion is to find a LUV diesel rear end with 3:42 gears, or better yet shop around and find a 70s Maverick or Comet rear end complete, change the spring pads, (weld some new ones on), make a new driveshaft and go! These are usually 3:00 ratio and are only 2" wider than the stock LUV rear end. (54") Off course you will have to swap wheels to the Ford 5 bolt or redrill the axles to 6 hole Luv pattern
Just suggestions because it makes one unhappy to build something you can't drive comfortably!
The pictures of the V6 above are beautiful, wonder what trans and rear end he is using?
The trick is to plan the whole package before building!!! Fiqure the cost and then DOUBLE it!
Good luck.

Thanks for the info! I had heard about the oil issue before and was kind of concerned but was assured by the local machine shop that he could remedy that issue. I was planning on using a 200-4R trans and an S10 rear with shortened K5 blazer axles. my uncle builds drag racing rearends and offered the use of his shop to cut to length and re-spline the axles. I now think that the sbc is the way I want to go, I'm just concerned about the weight of the sbc, the firewall to dist clearance and which radiator to use. Any feedback on these issues?

_________________
1979 Luv 2wd, rebuilt impulse G200, Weber 32/36, Offy intake, Delta cam, Pacesetter header, Flowmaster, 2 1/4 inch pipe, lowered 4 inches, Bed shortened 10 inches, 1997 Tahoe wheels with 225/50R16 Toyo Proxes.

I use a crab cap (big Ford) cap on my crank trigger set up, before that, I had a small cap MSD, no firewall bashing, and I have a short style water pump set up on mine, with a low mount alternator, the crank trigger eye, a vacuum pump, and an electric water pump drive on mine. Tight but fits. Somewhere on the board is a thread about a radiator size and mod to the firewall so it will fit...

_________________
If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

I've actually got an Lt1 I plan on dropping in a LUV but the only problem is I plan on moving in about a month so that idea will more than likely be put off for a while but I want to go with an Lt1 because it has a cleaner look and has no distributor so you can move it further back or just not worry about the firewall issue too much. Granted the EFI is hell to work with I still prefer the Lt1 or LS1 and then you can throw on a supercharger and have one hell of a sleeper! Plus my Lt1 was originally in a 1966 Chevy C10 and I pulled about 27mpg out of it on the highway. I don't know how I did but I did. But the in town mileage was about 8mpg mostly because I have a heavy (understatement) foot.


And I know this is a month late post but still.

_________________
When in doubt floor it. If you can't floor it then you've doubted yourself.

Thanks for all of the info. I have decided to keep the G200 that is in it for a while. I purchased an Offy intake from Mokadeth and I am pleased with the results. I will probably do a swap in the future, but I am now on the hunt for another LUV for my wife.

_________________
1979 Luv 2wd, rebuilt impulse G200, Weber 32/36, Offy intake, Delta cam, Pacesetter header, Flowmaster, 2 1/4 inch pipe, lowered 4 inches, Bed shortened 10 inches, 1997 Tahoe wheels with 225/50R16 Toyo Proxes.

very nice. those g200's are pretty good for being a 1.9 liter 4 cylinder for sure! i would look for a 5 speed trans for it and keep that engine going till it dies and throw in something bigger. with your intake cam carb and ignition upgrades a turbo wouldnt be out of the question since they made turbo g200's for the Impulse. check out ozgemini.com for info on how to effectively hop up your g200

_________________
Luvless
1980 Mikado-Sold.

1993 Lexus SC400 my Daily
2004 Yamaha WR250F my new love in life
2016 Toyota Camry my girls ride