LUVTruck.com

I have a 1980 Chevy luv 4x4 that I am in the proses of rebuilding its engine. I would like to get the most out of my little truck as is with out to much modifications to the body and frame other than that I am open to any ideas. The luv will be used as a daily driver and to go off-roading !

weber carb by redline.
Header. Emissions delete if no smog test needed to drive.
When replacing the exhaust manifold there is a smog pipe i believe is the A.I.R. intake pipe that connects to the manifold on the back you got to bend it shut.Also plug all vacum lines that are not needed.
You can lift with a body lift. This means cutting new holes for shifter and steering column. crank the torsion bars up. and also move the leaf springs above the axle for higher lift.
86 trooper power steering box for power steering is pretty much bolt in. Also 86 trooper control arms will give you a smoother ride when
torsion bars are cranked. Isuzu electric distributor give you a little more power. can get almost double the stock hp out of these guys with all the bells and whistles. thats all i can think of and good luck and happy hunting for these parts.

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1980 Chevy LUV 4x4 Weberfied Sold
1974 Chevy LUV 4x4 Weberfied

A couple of things where I disagree with mazeman02's suggestions:
1. Don't SOA the rear, you will get twice the lift that you can get out of the t-bar crank, you'll never get it level. Helper springs are best, longer shackles next or a combo.
2. '86 Trooper p-steering box will probably work, but all the mounting bracketry is for a different engine, '84 or '85 on the other hand is the same.
3. All the suggested mods will help with power but twice the horsepower is unrealistic & it would be at too high rpms for something used as a daily driver and for off road.

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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.

SOA will create problems
On mine i used Trooper upper control arms and leaf springs to rebuild my back springs.
Electronic dist should be first mod,Weber,headers,and a reground cam expect about 125 horse about the same as a stock Trooper 2.6 witch will fit with a little effort.
Trooper power steering will bolt on using the smog pump mount.

Check some of my post as i posted pics of most above.

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

I will take it in to consideration but I live in California and any modification to the engine have to go through a smog rep, at least where I live. But 86 trooper power steering boxes will bolt right up to the 1980 luv with out to much problems.

Start with the electronic dist. as it will make your engine run much smoother and would help you pass smog. It is proably the single best thing you can do to improve the running of your truck.

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

Thanks, I will do that

rockauto has them for cheap i got mine there and have loved the dang thing, i had to adjust my points on the old one a few times and finally got fed up with it and went electornic

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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

are they at a decent price

they've got one left for $55. They're normally $115.

https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carc ... Bchevrolet

i will look into it thanks

you might want to check with them and make sure that's the electronic distributor they're selling.

i bought one for an 85 pup so it is electronic. make sure you dont buy the really early pup because it wont be any better than the stocker is

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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

https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carc ... ttype,7108

then this would be the one you need. 1 left at 87 dollars.

Another option for a street truck would be the Pertronics convesion. Drops right in, easy to wire.

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The light at the end of the tunnel, may just be a train coming!

When i did my SOA I also put a body lift on that i built it sat perfectly level. I know a guy who's 1.8l puts out over 200 horsepower daily driver still gets 31 mpg. he said mods that wont change the frame getting bigger leafs would cause you to move the hangars and re weld on the frame.

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1980 Chevy LUV 4x4 Weberfied Sold
1974 Chevy LUV 4x4 Weberfied

for 200 horsepower he would need to be running 10+ psi of boost and a great tune... not possible without boost or nitrous

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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

X 2

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