LUVTruck.com

Just bought me a 72 smoker. I will be doing a HO 350/700 r-4 conversion within a couple of months (after I get moved).
I would like to drop in a slightly better four-banger, but I don't know what engines, from what vehicles, from what years, will bolt in without a conversion.

Thank you for the help, and I hope to contribute to the sight in the future,

Dan Smith

Well first welcome....These guys here are very knowledgable about these kind of things...but you are gonna convert should make SBC powered....

If the plan is to put in a 350 in a couple of months, i wouldn't deal with another 4 cyl motor. Nothing that i know of will just drop in to place of the stock motor. And of course you'll need a new driveshaft. A custom length driveshaft with yokes to mate the trans and the axle can run around 350.00. I would concentrate on the 350 motor conversion. The truck will need some mods to get it to fit and if you shoehorn another 4 cyl motor in to the truck, you may end up modifying the truck that will cause even bigger problems with the V-8. Even if you're in need of transportation, you'd be better off buying a clunker of a car and drive it while you build the V-8 Luv. Once the Luv is Ready, you can sell the clunker and possibly get more money than you paid for it.

_________________
Previous setup: 4.1 Buick V-6/TH 350
Current setup: 400 Small Block Chevy V-8/TH 350
9" ford rear end/short bed/blue
What do Water, Electricity and Humans have in common... They all travel the path of least resistance.

i agree with blue, don't swap until you do the sbc.

Thank you for the info.

Dan Smith

Don't buy a clunker car, do what I did and get another running LUV.

_________________
Resident lurker

if the motor mounts are the same as the later(e.g. intake and exhaust on different sides) engine, a 1.9 out of an s10 or p'up should bolt in

A 72 with a 72-75 motor in it is pretty limited for bolt on motor swaps. The mounts are different from the 76 and newer luvs. Pup/trooper motors are basically the same externally as a 76 LUV motor, so those would also be out.

Best bet would be to squeeze the couple of months out of it and go V8, but if it just can't make it a 72-75 LUV is the the only donor that will have a bolt in motor to swap.