LUVTruck.com

Can I swap the 5 speed and rear end from an 86 Trooper into my 4x4 1980 LUV? What about the transfer case, etc. are they different.

Help, extreme newbie rookie alert here!

the 5 speed swap from an 86 trooper is pretty much the only way to go for a 4x4 luv. the 5 speed will bolt right up to a luv block. is the engine the 2.3 or 2.6?? 2.3 has a carb. 2.6 is EFI

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Luvless
1980 Mikado-Sold.

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

I'm pretty sure this one has a carb, I haven't seen it yet

alrighty if it is the 2.3 it will just save you a bit of effort of swapping parts to one.
either engine 2.6 or 2.3 will fit in the luv also (if the engine is running)

the luv rear end is pretty good for a stock motor but i would say if you have the trooper rear put it in to the luv. it will likly need driveline shortening modifications to make everything line up where it needs to be but it would be worth the effort. the 5 speed from the trooper will make a big difference is highway RPM from a 1:1 ratio 4th to a .855 ratio 5th.

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Luvless
1980 Mikado-Sold.

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

Ok, sounds like a plan then. The Trooper I bought is being sold because the owner let it run out of oil and locked the engine, all other running gear should be fine.

So, with a (wow, DIRT cheap!) parts rig, what exact drive train related parts should I scrounge off of it before taking it to the crusher? Do I need to change the front axle as well? Is the shifter, linkage, and other assosiated 5 speed changeover stuff a direct swap or do I need to buy special parts like slave cyl. and assosiated parts to make it work? I really prefer not to do anything custom as I am not very familiar with these trucks yet.

Will the entire LUV body and bed bolt onto the trooper frame without any serious mods?
My original 1.8 engine is already in mid rebuild so I will probably leave it as is. I plan to run a header, better intake, carb, and ignition but will be leaving the truck otherwise pretty much stock.

use the "search" and look around at all of the trooper part swap threads on the forum. you will find any information you could possibly need

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Luvless
1980 Mikado-Sold.

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

An '86 gasTrooper tranny & attached t-case will bolt right up to the LUV engine, it is a cable clutch like the Luv. You will need to relocate the tranny crossmember & use the Trooper shifters, cut new holes for them, maybe go to buckets.
The Trooper rear has 4.56 gears, your LUV has 4.10s, the trooper thirds will fit but you have to change both, the front is a lot of trouble.
The Trooper & LUV both have about the same track and wheelbase, so with some work the truck body could be fitted, but your LUV will have more value left as is.
Make sure to get the front splined yoke of the Trooper driveshaft, the 5sp is different than the LUV.

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'78 Chevy LUV,1.9,4sp,headers,31's,SAS Dana 30,Dana 20,SOA rear w/Aussie Locker, rough body, bought new 12/4/78.
'87 Trooper,2.3,5sp,headers,31's,ball joint flip & spacer,Aussie Locker rear,Superwinch hubs,brush guard w/5.5K winch,more to come.

Have to swap the front as well huh? Hmmm, sounding like a major project now, maybe I'll have to re-think this deal, hacking the floor for a different shifter doesn't appeal to me much either.

Check my posts on the 5 speed swap from the Trooper.

If you get the Trooper you will need the trans/transfer,front drive shaft (bolts right in),and the trans X Member for the swap.

Also save the front upper control arms and rear springs for a lift.

And now the good part save the steering box with the pitman arm and the pump with all hoses. Use the smog pump mount off your G 180 and putting the power steering can be installed in about 4 hrs. The only other part needed is a Toyota steer U joint to adapt the steer column to the box.

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

Home with my $200.00 prize...... Rod exited the oil pan so the block and crank are likely junk, all else is there and complete to rape and pilage

Those tires and wheels will fit and are lighter then the steel wheels.

Save the intake/carb,filter assy. and the dist. as that is what you need to do the 2.6 install or sell to some one who is doing a 2.6 install.

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

Can I use the head off this engine on my 1.8? If so is it a reccomended swap? I see that the distributor is at the rear of the engine, will it work in my 1.8? I was hoping to swap my 80 LUV to electronic ignition.

On the wheels and tires, yes that was the plan, they are 15.00" rims and in really nice shape (my stockers are 14.00"), the center caps cover the wheel hub, do I just leave them off the fronts?

*I'm trying to figure out an easy way to gut the running gear and still have a way to transport the rest to the wrecking yard. Looks like a job for captain sawsall right now! Kind of a shame, the Trooper is nice looking than my Luv!

Neither the head nor the distributor from the 2.3 will fit the 1.8 LUV engine, they are completely different design.

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'78 Chevy LUV,1.9,4sp,headers,31's,SAS Dana 30,Dana 20,SOA rear w/Aussie Locker, rough body, bought new 12/4/78.
'87 Trooper,2.3,5sp,headers,31's,ball joint flip & spacer,Aussie Locker rear,Superwinch hubs,brush guard w/5.5K winch,more to come.

Ok, so........Again, extreme rookie here.

My list of stiff to grab before I send this heap to the crusher:

Power steering box, pump, brackets, hoses, bolts, and smog pump bracket/bolts
Rear differential
Front differential
Wheels
All drive shafts
5 Speed Trans
Upper control arms
Rear Leaf springs (are they the same config as a Luv?)
Trans crossmember (is that a bolt in or do I need a torch?)
Save the Head for someone needing one for a 2.6 project
Intake, Carb & Filter for someone who needs one
Distributor for someone who needs one

Anything else?
On the stuff I don't need but am supposed to "save", what are the rough values of these parts in good used condition?