LUVTruck.com

Has anyone done this conversion? I just picked up a 91 S10 4.3 4X4. Has no bed and the cab is trashed. Wondering how hard it is to do a conversion?

not sure if anyone has done it being that the luv frame is a lot stronger. i have heard it brought up but havent seen it finished.
the frame is likely within 2" of the luv's in most places so it wouldnt be extremely hard just very tedious and time consuming.. might i ask why you want to do the conversion? it would probably be easier to yank out the 4.3 and drivetrain axles and all and throw them under the luv chassis

4.3 + LUV + s10 axles = beast

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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

Im not sure how to handle this project. The engine has a throttle body and computer, would like to keep that If I could. Is there a way to switch over the drivetrain to the luv frame?

Electrical prints are your friend, trace the wiring you need to keep, (depends on your application, year, accessories kept/deleted, etc., ditch the rest...

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



FIAA!

SFPP!

The throttle body is probably about the easiest to swap in as you can use an external fuel pump for the fuel system and the computer and wiring would not be to difficult to convert.
But the problem you will run into is the T-case as the front drive is on the wrong side meaning you will need to fit an earlier model T-case. JFYI i am looking at buying a 87 Chevy 4x4 that has a 208 T-case that i think would fit an s-10 trans and put the front drive where it belongs.

Hope this helps in your process.

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

tj hit the nail on the head. the tbi system is simple to bring along with the engine, im not going to say this is going to be a 1 day swap but neither is swapping bodys. make sure all of the wiring, ecu etc is brought over intact from the s10 and re mounting it into the luv should be no problem.

as a 91 im assuming you have the non balance shaft motor? i have a 91 4.3 from a s10 blazer with a 700r4 im rebuilding to put in my luv but im going to convert it to a carb. the tbi system is pretty simple as far as fuel injection goes and since its computer controlled you can have a tuner pull some extra ponies out of it if you feel its needed.

and i believe he is right about the t case also. i sold the one that came with my tranny because it was driver side diff but i have been told that the cases from a turbo 350 will also fit a 700r4 (adapter possibly?) so that would expand your options a lot.

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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

Anything can be done. It just takes time, money, and will power! Get-er-Done! im tired of reading uncompleted "luv cab on s10 frame" threads! My 80 is on a 86 ford ranger frame. with the TBI 2.9 Ford V6. Im gona be able to cut at lest 50% of the ford wiring. It all just depends on what you want to do with your truck.

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"Project Rangeluv"-Dana 28/7.5 rear, TFI2.9V6 5spd, 86 Ranger frame swap, custom flatbed,Custom luv!
1989 ford bronco II "The Mountain Rig"
My build thread (viewtopic.php?f=33&t=24076)

lol i think we all have faith in him to do it, it would just be beneficial for a 4x4 to be on a frame like the luvs instead of the c channel frame on the s10 it is a lot more rigid and can hangle a lot more stress from hauling, wheeling etc... just a superior frame if it isnt rusted to hell i would try building the luv from the frame up with the 4.3 tranny & case maybe even axles(?) from the s10

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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

Id, use toy or jeep axles. S10 axles are hard to lift. and are not the best. I think they would be easier to swap aswell. All my searching of there web, most S10 people swap straight axles and ditch there stock axles. Post a build thread!

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"Project Rangeluv"-Dana 28/7.5 rear, TFI2.9V6 5spd, 86 Ranger frame swap, custom flatbed,Custom luv!
1989 ford bronco II "The Mountain Rig"
My build thread (viewtopic.php?f=33&t=24076)

lets see some pics of both rigs at the least

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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

brian i have been reading some of your posts and my question is why are you using the stock ecu??? would it not be more benificial to your build to use an aftermarket ecu like a mega squirt?

http://www.microsquirt.info/index.htm

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Friends don't let friends drive stock...
76 mikado, emissions delete, dual alternator, rejetted 1.9 carb swap, non factory body lines
soon non points distributor, single (semi sealed beam) head light conversion

Well I just have the Stock ECU already and that part is really straight forward, that wiring is already on the engine. I dont have to do anything special to it. I'm really just wanting to get it running and driving. The 2.9s were never known to be power plants. I plan for a upgrade in the future to a V8 or diesel. Or ill just upgrade to a 4.0 V6. The 2.9 was never gona stay in it. It just ran good and why not get running and driving first? and then upgrade. (my dad just talked me into painting it first. so thats why its not running yet)

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"Project Rangeluv"-Dana 28/7.5 rear, TFI2.9V6 5spd, 86 Ranger frame swap, custom flatbed,Custom luv!
1989 ford bronco II "The Mountain Rig"
My build thread (viewtopic.php?f=33&t=24076)