LUVTruck.com

I have a 1979 LUV 4x4.. It has had a 5in body lift when I got it. I would like to swap the engine / tranny for something with some power but not break the bank, Its all stock right now with the 1.8 4L and 4 speed tranny.
So what could I drop in with very little problems.. It just need to be stronger the the stock setup... Im hoping to use a Chevy V6 from a camero..

Well if you are looking for power go with a v8 or v6 but I wouldn't classify any of the swaps as easy

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1980 Chevrolet LUV stock 1.8L longbed
1980 Chevrolet LUV parts truck shortbed
1983 Suzuki Gs550 Sportsman
1989 Nissan King cab P/u <totalled> 4/1/06
1986 Full size Chevy P/U
1993 Volvo 850 GTL

the easiest swap is what i did. just get a newer isuzu pup motor and it bolts all up perfectly. its a 2.0 liter. a bit more torgue, and very easy swap.

Being that in CA, will you truck pass smog?

Got any pics you can post of your 2.0 Liter?

thanks!

after january i dont have to worry about smoging mine. but if they dont know that u have a different block, it looks exactly the same. the only difference is the G200 on the side instead of the G180.mines still got a few bugs in it cuz its been sitting for 2 years without a motor. but with the 76 head and the 83 block ive got higher compression and i run 91 octane. i havent took it in to smog it yet but im going to in a few weeks. It the setup seems to run awsome if u know how to set it up.

what year is your truck Max? Didn't they just change the rolling exemption to 75and older or something? I live in Cali and was trying to wait til mine went exempt. The g-200 is fairly cheap too,I got quoted 500 from an engine importer in Berkely.

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Dr. Frankenstein

i got my block complete from pick apart for $80. but a new rebuild would be way better. its a 76 truck, i visited the dmv website and it said once it reaches the 30 year mark its exempt, so until the its all temps. FYI: the 83 motor has a different firing order then the 76. you have to do some tweaking but itll work.

In CA, as of April 1 this year, 1975 and older are exempt. That's where they're freezing it. Here's the link:
http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/StdPage.asp ... oineed.htm

I have a G200 (1.9l) and 2.25" exhaust in my 79 4x4. The good news is that everythings a direct bolt-up, and if you put all the smog stuff back on, smog shouldn't be a problem. The bad news is that it's still a gutless wonder.

Someday I'm going to put a carb and cam on mine (after I pass my smog check which is overdue), in hopes of getting more power, but for now I just live with big rigs out-running me at stop lights.

I wish there were ANY information on swapping a V6 into a 4x4 but I've searched this site and and the www and can't find anything short of changing the whole running gear, including straight front axle, etc. I really want to keep my IFS.

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You went there in that?!?!

Your right on the freeze on the 1975, I for one was trying to get people to write in and oppose the bill, but there is enough left sided nuts in the state
that the bill passed.

Was your g200 worth the swap? I want to put a rebuild in mine and put a
header and weber carb on, but I might just stick with the 1.8, unless theres a good differnce of power between the 2 motors.

i've got a G-200 1.9 liter i don't know what the hell it came out of but when my dad had a stock luv didnt' have any power even after a complete rebuild but i notice a good amount of power in my upgrade i also have a 5speed manual in it too though. BTW mine is a 1977.

its a good swap if u can put the old hemi head. thats why some are powerful and some arent. the older head like for example the 76 head has smaller hemispherical combustion chambers then say the 83 wich im not sure but i think its when they went to the wedge head. having the bigger G200 block gives you higher compression and there for more power.
Im still very confussed with the hole smog thing cuz at the bottom of the page it says "Current law exempts vehicles 30-model-years old and older from the Smog Check program." that means no smogging right??

Sounds like the state is not posting things correctly on their site. If you go
to a local place to smog, they probaly could confirm that 75 is now the cutoff year, but it be nice if there was a loophole.

I just checked your link, about 5 heading under where it says
Do I really need a Smog check it has this small paragrah:

Beginning April 1, 2005, the 30-year rolling exemption will be repealed. Instead, vehicles 1975 model-year and older will be exempt. Therefore, 1976 model-year and newer vehicles will continue to be subject to biennial inspection indefinitely.

yeah i just read that a few minutes ago.......now im bummed cuz i doubt itll ever pass......man that makes me mad!

On my G200; Once upon a time I had a rod bearing go bad. Back then you could still get used imported Japanese motors. They were both the same price so I went with the G200.

It was several weeks for me to do the engine swap so it was hard to compare but I remember I was disappointed that I got no significant improvement. Of course, it was all seat-of-the-pants.

I was not aware of the hemi/wedge head issue. I don't know what I have. I've had the head off this motor (blown head gasket) and the head looks to me to be just like the head from my original motor. Does anyone know how to tell the difference?

If you need to swap the motor anyway, I'd say go for the G200. Otherwise, in my opinion, it's a lot of work and expense for very little improvement.

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You went there in that?!?!