LUVTruck.com

Hey everybody. First off, thanks for your time to read my topic. I'll try not to take up too much reading time for you but there are some questions that I need answered of which I would be grateful for. The less sarcasm with the advice, the better. Before I ask, the rig I own is a 75 LUV and here is what I want to make out of it:

Stepside / 350 engine / 4x4 / 5 speed

First question; Is this possible?
Second; (if yes to first) Are all chevy LUV's versatile? I.e. - can I take a dashboard from a 72-81 luv and replace the cracked one I currently have?
Third; (if yes to 1 and 2) Can you help me find what I need?

Pretty much yes yes yes. The sky is the limit if you have the time, money and resources. Go for it, you won't be sorry.

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Too much to do and not enough time or money!
Courage is the other side of fear!
Pain is the weakness leaving the body!

You might as well start out with a 2 wheel drive truck. Dash pads are a problem. Use the search for dash Mostly you should look for a donor Blazer or something to get most of your stuff. Axles are too wide. Look in the 4x4 section for more of that kind of info... Have funn!!!

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

Spend some time using the search option for thread topics, and look over the information section on the main page. V8 swaps are pretty common in these trucks, and the main page has a section showing the Hooker installation instructions. You can also look through the galleries to see what other members have done, some of these trucks are really amazing.

I don't think anyone currently on the site has a 4X4 with a V8, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. If someone has one, they are probably a member here...

I've got a '75 too, that will be getting a 350/350 eventually, and I've also got a '78, clapped out, rust bucket that runs really well. I had a 4x4 but sold it.

There is an incredible amount of information and talent on this board. Take your time, look for your topic in the search before you post, a lot of times you'll find things have been discussed previously. And mostly, have fun

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"If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves" - Thomas Edison

Thanks for the quick response guys.

First off, little off-subject: nukeday, nice signature. I always thought that was a clever-ish, creepy line in that movie.

Anyway, I'm getting a feeling that the 350 + 4x4 is gonna be a hard nut to crack. Do you guys recommend that I go for an engine-4wd project that will be easier? As for exchanging my bed for a stepside, do I have to stick with the same year or can I use any other year?

To PapaG - I would like to stick to 2wd, however, up here in WA, the winters can be terrible sometimes and I would like to get around in much better shape than everyone else.

The v8 4x4's are a lot more work but can be done it you have the patience and in no hurry.
The 2wd are a lot of fun and much easier to deal with.

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Too much to do and not enough time or money!
Courage is the other side of fear!
Pain is the weakness leaving the body!

I've got 4 tubes of sand, about 60# each that I throw in the back of the 2 wheel drive, and a set of studs. We don't get as much snow here in the OR valley as you do, though.

The 4x4 is a pretty rugged little truck, and if you are after more power, read over some of the threads on bolt on 4 cylinder upgrades. TumwaterTaz has a pretty straightforward formula for the 1.8, plus he's running an Impulse engine and 5 speed in his truck. Taz is a great source of mix and match cross reference info from Isuzu to Luv. Watch for posts from 800xl, and rodeobob also, just a couple of the members who provide great technical information. If you need a part and can't find it, watch for posts from ctmandu, he is the 'Indiana Jones' of unobtainium Luv parts. Plus, Mokadeth just ordered up several brand new Offy intakes, contact him for availability.

If you didn't know already, there are some drivetrain and engine parts from newer (80's) Isuzu Troopers/Rodeos/P'ups that will pretty much drop right in to the Luv. Parts are still pretty plentiful here in the NW and generally inexpensive.

Btw, welcome to the site. Looking forward to seeing some photos of your truck

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"If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves" - Thomas Edison

Blackstar...Omak can have some miserable winters...that's for sure.

Down here in Tumwater where I live, it isn't much better because I live way up on a hill and it gets slicker than snot out in the winter. I just load up a bunch of gallon jugs of water in the back of my 2WD stepside for traction and break out the chains when it gets real bad.

If you are going to build up a 4X4, the problem is the transfer case/transmission will only bolt up to a few Isuzu blocks. Putting a 5 speed transfer case out of a newer Trooper can be done, but it aint gonna be easy, and it will bolt up to the same engines your stock 4 speed does. So unless you want to be married to your milwaukie sawsall, your torch, and your welder while you do tons of modding to a Luv - a 4X4 may not be the right way to go if you want a V8 truck.

You can, however, build up a mean little 4-banger that will bolt right up to an Isuzu transmission without too much trouble. There are several options, the biggest being a 2.6, which would give you close to the power of a V8 - but get a lot better gas mileage. Plus no mods will be necessary to the suspension or the drive train because it won't add much weight at all.

As for swapping things over... the pre-75 trucks and the after-75 trucks are a lot different. The engines before 75 are pretty much crap and impossible to find parts for, and there are a few differences in the exterior and the interior that won't fit on a newer truck.

The 75 and on trucks are all just about identical up to late 80 when the body style changed to look more like an S10. Putting a 5 speed and a newer rear-end from a mid-80's Pup in a 2wd truck in these years is pretty much a direct bolt-in. And there are a few other goodies you can add under the hood from a newer Isuzu that make a big difference too.

The stepside beds were a dealer add-on aftermarket option and are getting difficult to find (but not impossible) and will fit on any Luv.

So there you have it - you are only controlled by your money, your time, your skill level, and your ambition when it comes to tinkering with a Luv to turn out one helluva good-lookin' fun little truck to drive. And you won't find a better or smarter bunch of folks to help you sort it all out than there is here.

So roll up your sleeves, crack open a cold beer, and get to it...lol

You guys are great. My dad always told me that if I wanted to learn anything about mechanicin', a good chevy luv truck is an all around great start for up and coming mechanics. You guys give great advice with little or no sarcasm and you don't down on newcomers. I will always recommend anyone with a luv truck to this site.

So, this is what I have for my shoppin' list so far:

5 sp. transmission (older or newer Trooper?)
2.6 4 cyl engine (also from a trooper?)
higher rear end (izuzu pup)
stepside bed (difficult, but not impossible to find)

The dashboard only needs to be re-upholstered and padded from what I have read and observed from other posts in this site. If I understood them correctly, the large cracks and busted seams in the padding are merely cosmetic and aren't permanant (sp?) cracks to the frame of the dash. I know I don't have pics on my truck yet, but I will have them pretty soon.

What about the 4wd part, or did I miss that part entirely? Any suggestions that you guys can make, would be helpful. Again, thanks for the advice so far, especially you, Taz.

is your trooper a 4x4 if so there you go you can get all the stuff from it and if not you can get a toy 4x4 frame and put the luv on it or like i wont to do i am going to (if i ever get there) i got a set of 1/2 ton 6 lug chevy full size axles get them narrowed and put them under my luv just a idea

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http://www.facebook.com/ez.cracker
dangerous-toys4life
73 3-door avalanche bdydropped on 18s
86 1-ton 4x crewcab short bd 15"lift
75 k-5 2x
94 king cab

Me personally, I've haven't been a big fan of 4X4's or for putting a V8 in a small vehicle for a while now - but I'm an old fart. I don't drag race or play in the mud anymore because my wife and my budget keeps me on a short leash....lol

I don't ever knock others for doing that - more power to 'em. But I'm personally into building a potent cute little truck that is fun to drive, still turns heads, but doesn't need to constantly pull in and guzzle at the gas pumps. By all means - don't let my wife, my budget or the fact that I'm an old geezer stop you if that's what you want to do...lol

But if you want an extremely powerful and fast 4X4 truck, putting together a Luv 4X4 with a V8 is a pretty big goal for the average guy that doesn't have Jay Leno $$. Building up a potent 4-banger 4X4 Luv is a lot cheaper and easier.

Putting together a 2WD V8 Luv is easier and cheaper too, and putting together a 2WD 4-banger Luv with some testicular fortitude is about the same expense.

It is all controlled mainly by your skill level, your wallet, your time and energy, and what you want to achieve in the end.

If you're looking to fix up a 2wd...the 2.6 , 5speed, and heavier rear-end you can snag from a mid-80's Pup, the 2.3 parts you'll have to do a bit hunting for, and the step-side bed you'll have to look all over for - but it all can be done.

The 2.6 with an older 2.3 intake and misc other 2.3 parts will give you the biggest 4-banger you can possibly bolt up to stock Isuzu parts like a 5 speed in a 2WD or a 4 speed in a 4X4.

Or you can put whatever bigger small block V8 or V6 engine/tranny/rear-end combo you want in a 2WD Luv - it's all up to you.

Hey Blackstar,check this out.

http://wenatchee.craigslist.org/car/453686202.html

Might be gone by now,but I think all the extra parts and the stepside would be worth trailoring at that price.

Good luck!

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"You can't please everyone,so you've got to please yourself"

dash looked good from the pics

I hope it's still there. That isn't bad for what it's worth. I gotta get to it fast though. Snowfall's underway and there aren't too many people I know that would be willing to trailer it up here through the snow. Thanks Ripper. Ugotluv is right too, that dash is immaculate for how old the vehicle is.

Budbondo, the trooper that I think I can harvest is an early 90's. It's a rig that belonged to my brother, engine blew out, but the rest is good. Is the harvest for the project still possible or should I look for an earlier year?

Unfortunately it's gone.
I couldn't resist and e-mailed this person last night with a couple of questions.

The reply I got was simple and to the point.


SOLD

That was it.
No "Sorry it has been sold" or anything of the sort.

Makes me appreciate the friendly and helpful folks here just that much more.

I'll keep my eyes open for others up in this area.

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"You can't please everyone,so you've got to please yourself"

Looks like someone built the truck you were thinking about, and it's relatively cheap...

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/car/494343362.html

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"If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves" - Thomas Edison