LUVTruck.com

Hello to all, I'm looking for advice on a low budget v-6 swap for my luv. 4cyl finaly passed on. Can't find another and from what I did as a compression test
dry 1) 120 psi, 2) 122 psi, 3) 145psi, 4) 140psi.
Wet 1) 155psi, 2) 155psi, 3) 182psi, 4) 195 psi.
From what I know and what I've been told engine compression rings are toast. Need to get the truck back on the road asap it's killing me to drive the family mini van to work. Anyways would like to know what engines would work rear ends etc, keeping as much stock and little modifcation as possiable and runing a carb set-up. Really don't want fuel infection set-up. Myself and my son's prodject now and if he behaves and helps probably give it to him when the times right. Thanks to all for lending knowledge and wisdom and of corse time.

save some time and money and get a running/driving donor car.Makes the swap alot easier having all the proven parts at your disposal.

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72 luv v-8 owned since 16!
240" rear engine dragster
traded the circle track cars for a blown 496 chevy
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29 dodge 4 dr sedan (project)
84 ranger 2wd "tuff truck" with 350 sbc

There is several ways you can go by using all Isuzu parts:

You can find another 1.8 G180 out of a Luv, Imark , or a Pup and just put that in.

You can upgrade to a 1.9 G200 out of a newer Pup or a factory hp 1.9 G200z from an Impulse that comes stock with taller pistons and stiffer valve springs and a slightly larger cam, and either one will bolt right in.

(Putting a 1.8 G180 head on a 1.9 G200 block will also boost up your compression a bit.)

You can use a newer 2.6 (which is a 4 cylinder engine BTW) with an older 2.3 carb intake/distributor/ignition and it will bolt right in. (As far as how hard the ignition/distributor is to wire up - I'm in the process of figuring all of that out to do this to my truck.)

With either of those combinations, you can bolt a newer Isuzu 5 speed right in and still use your stock rear-end, or switch to a newer heavier Pup rear-end that will bolt right in too.

Add a cam, a header, an electronic distributor/ignition module, etc. - and you will have a light and reasonably fast 4-banger truck with good gas mileage.

As for doing it with non-Isuzu parts:

DON'T use a 2.8 out of an S10 - they are absolutely worthless.

You can use a 4.3/turbo 350 combination, a 4.3/700r4 combination, etc. - and some of the earlier 4.6 versions are non- computerized, which will make it all a lot easier to wire it all up.

You can use a sbc 350/350 turbo combination or whatever transmission you choose too.

Both of these will require you to replace the stock rear-end with something stronger - either an old monza V8 rear-end or a modified ford 9 inch rear-end which is what most folks do.

Doing a V6 or a V8 swap requires quite a bit of modifying to your truck that can be expensive and time consuming, and you will be adding quite a bit of weight in the front of your truck. This can effect handling and gas mileage significantly.

There has been every kind of mod done to a Luv's engine/drivetrain combination that you can possibly imagine by folks that hang out here - from a built 4-banger to a built big block chevy - so it really all depends on how much work, money, and time you want to invest.

Hope this all has helped ya!

I think a Ford 8" from an early 70's Mustang will also go in. Hotrod80 commented on the one in my truck, and I think that's what he said.

Last I heard, V6 engine mounts are no longer made by Hooker.

If the object is to get the truck on the road quickly you could stick with a 4 cyl, there is a lot that can be done inexpensively. As for bolt in interchange-ability, there is some really comprehensive info in this thread:
http://forums.luvtruck.com/viewtopic.ph ... ht=impulse
Both Taz and 800xl (among others) commented, so you know it's good info

Couple more links you might find useful from discussion here:

http://forums.luvtruck.com/viewtopic.php?t=10702
http://forums.luvtruck.com/viewtopic.ph ... ight=isuzu

If you care, there is also the diesel option. Isuzu made a C223 diesel engine and put in in the 81' and up P'up. I think this is the same engine that Chevy used in the '82-84 Chevette.

Good luck, keep us posted on what you end up using...

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

In order to be fair and give credit where credit is really due - 800xl has probably forgot more than I know about all things Isuzu...to be sure. He is the resident "go to" guy around here - not me. And there are a few others like Roadshow Bob, gemracing, etc., that know a heck of a lot more than I do about these little trucks too.

I know a bit about the stock 1.8 G180 and the Impulse 1.9 G200z, swapping out the Luv's old 4 speed/stock rear-end for a newer 5 speed/heavier Isuzu rear-end combo, how to hook up the electronic distributor/ignition module and the 50 amp alternator, and how to beef up and de-smog the G series blocks - but that's pretty much where my sum of Isuzu knowledge about a 2wd Chevy Luv ends.

I've also been tinkering around on old cars and trucks (mostly Chevy) for around 30 years, used to have my own auto repair business years ago, have an associate degree in automotive technology, and was an ASE certified auto technician at one time - but I am by no means remotely close to anything that resembles a Chevy Luv expert.

So take anything I say here with a grain of salt...and my best recommendation is to "trust - but verify" any advice I give ya....lol