LUVTruck.com

On May 11th I went into insulin shock while driving my 94 Astro up I-35 in Texas and took a 50 foot plunge down an embankment. See the weblinks for details. The result: Fractured metatarsal left foot, fractured fibula left leg, fractured (twice) tibia left leg, fractured femur left leg, fractured patella (knee cap) right leg, two fractured ribs and a fractured kneck vertebra. I'm OK at my parents house recovering although I've got enough steel in my left leg the doctors had to write me a note to get through metal detectors and strongly advised me agaist swimming.

So why the personal news? Well, it's interesting if nothing else and it sort of matters with the '75 Luv I'm restoring. Owing to the mess that is my left leg I don't think I'll be driving standards anymore. That said I'd like to know if anyone has some good info on Isuzu auto trannies. I'm looking for a bolt up to a G200. Is there one that has overdrive and if so what flywheel do I need? Will the AT flywheel for a Luv work with a later model (say 82-88) Isuzu tranny and will one of those flywheels work with a Luv tranny? Also, if you have a flywheel to sell I'm intersted.

Khy in Austin

http://www.kvue.com/news/vess/stories/0 ... e277e.html
http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=8306861

van looked bad ...but glade your around to talk about it... sorry no help on the auto stuff

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My old but now gone Luv...

Thanks. The swelling has gone down a lot and I'm really not in that much pain now. The 1.8L is being rebuilt right now. Put it in the shop a few days before my Dukes of Hazard audition. Lucky me I'll have something to drive since the Astro was primary transportation. The 4.3 was a total loss according to the wrecker.

Glad to hear your all right and on the mend.



You want the box out of an impulse with a G200Z EFI motor in it. That will get you the right flex plate etc for it to bolt up to the back of a G180Z or G200Z.
Its an Asin-Warner 03-72L (these boxes were also used behind 4Z series motors 2L 2.3L & 2.6L in the impulse and pup, but the crank bolt pattern is different so is the flex plate etc) The box was also used buy toyota i think.



Dont ask me about the wirring. Its a bit of a mystery. The Overdrive is electronic and the converter lock is electronic too. As far as i am aware the box was only used in EFI vehicles (Impulse and 2.6L pups) and it relys on some sort of speed signal through a control box.
There are (retrotech) conversion kits available for the converter lock on the TH700 one would assume that would work with this box. Provided the overdrive is hydraulic on the AW box and the overdrive on and off button is just an electric override to stop shifting into 4th.

I would suggest you grab the complete drive line out of an Impulse or Pup and put the engine trans and EFI in your luv. Worth doing. With the Pup mounts it should all drop right in. The 2L impulse turbo is a bit more complicated but not hard if youve got a few pup bits off a 2.3 or 2.6L. That way you get the trans and the better go of the EFi motor.


Sounds like your limited to a bit of 'bum' time so sitting at a workbench stripping back a wiring harness and soldering a few wires etc could be just the ticket to keeping your mind on the ball.

Also, if you get the drive line from an Impulse with the 5 link rear suspension, the diff center will go into your luv diff housing. Its a 3.9 ratio and manual impulses should have LSD. (but they were a piss weak excuse for LSD)


Bob.

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Current project, 1979 KB Isuzu Ute.

Daily driver, '86 Rodeo Spacecab.
Chasing parts for Isuzu Impulse.

Rodeobob,

Thanks for the info. I'll print your reply and tkae it with me when I go the the local boneyards. My search of craigslist so far hasn't turned up much in the way of Isuzu trannies. Feeling better and stronger every day.

Khy

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'78 1.8L 4-speed Fleetside

The only thing more beautiful than a sunset is a sunrise.

Honestly i would scour the classifides and even damaged vehicle auctions etc and pick up something you could pull the whole drive line out of.
A RWD Impulse or a 2.6L pup.

Sell off what your not needing to offset the cost.


Did you guys get the 2.3L pickup with an auto tranny option??? Thats a carby motor.

But to bolt it up to the G180Z from a Luv you will still need the gear off the rear of a G200Z.


My plan was to work on a 4 speed auto behind a G161Z conversion. I have an I-mark here with a 3 speed auto in it. I was going to pull stuff apart and have a measure etc and see what it would take to fit up the 4 speed from behind a 2L Turbo Impulse motor.

Bob.

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Current project, 1979 KB Isuzu Ute.

Daily driver, '86 Rodeo Spacecab.
Chasing parts for Isuzu Impulse.

Bob,

I have nothing but time on my hands and I'm spending a lot of it on Craigslist. I was mistaken when I said 'bolt up to a G200 motor.' What I have is a G180 but it souns as if the bell housing pattern is the same. If the overdrive proves to difficult to wire up, I'll just go with a 3 speed. I was sort of hoping for a manual overdrive that you can just shift into OD. Anyway, the whole auto tranny won't work unless I find a flywheel which is proving difficult. Would the Pup flywheel or the Implulse flywheel work on the G180?

Khy

Have you tried an auto parts store yet? It may be something you don't need to find used. You may be able to get new or rebuilt from a store.

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

I haven't gone to the auto parts store yet. I'm kinda out in the sticks here and as my neck is in a pretty restrictive collar I can't drive. I'm wondering, though, if there is a G200 flywheel I could use if the G180 is not available. Parts for the G180's are pretty tough to find. My guess is that they would just swap out but I'm nowhere near the Luv these days to look at the bolt patters and all. If anyone knows if the flywheels are interchangeable I love to here it. By the way, I went to the boneyard where my van is and saw it for the first time up close. The thing hit nose down and bent the frame behind the seats at about 80 degrees. The nose was flattened from the top of the windshield to the front of the tires which were under the seats. No need to ask anymore what happened to my legs. I took a peek into the driver's compartment but freaked when I saw all the blood. I'm a Gulf War vet and have seen my share of gore but it was never my own gore. All I can say is wear your seatbelts and that as soon as I can I'm going to rig an aftermarket airbag in my Luv. That thing no doubt saved my life. The wrecker had a 74 Luv with a 400 small block too. We talked Luvtrucks for a while. It was a nice, straight ride but needed paint and detailing.

try these places, they have luv/isuzu auto trans and may sell just flywheel
Atlas Foreign Used Auto Parts TX(Pasadena) 1-800-801-0297
Hwy 6 Auto Salvage TX(Nevada) 1-972-843-4500
Manuel's Used Auto Parts TX(Pasadena) 1-800-435-5748

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My old but now gone Luv...

The Isuzu autos should bolt up just fine, but just for the sake of knowledge, all the US and Canadian LUVs ran Allison Turbo Hydramatic 200s in em. It might be eaiser to find one of those than an Isuzu auto here in the states...

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...

also try this if you want
http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/pts/701656946.html

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My old but now gone Luv...

Nah i still say if you look you will find. A few memebers on here have EFI G200s out of Impulses in their Luvs.

A 4 speed auto is bound to turn up with the gear to bolt it too a G180Z/G200Z. They are not that uncommon. The box itself is common, its is just the drive plate that you need as it is different from the TH200 box. Different spigot bush, 6 bolts to hold the converter on instead of 3. Different spacing from the rear of the block.


BTW both the G180Z and G200Z are the same and have a 6 bolt crank pattern. I am not 100% sure but blokes have told me that they have used the G***Z manual flywheel on the twin cam motor so one could assume that the 4 speed auto from behind a twin cam G200W would also work behind a G180Z.
4ZC1 Turbo 2L, 4ZD1 2.3L and 4ZE1 2.6L have an 8 bolt crank pattern.


I still say buy a whole donor vehicle.

would be the go.

If you bought a 2.6L EFi Auto Pup and you want to carb it, carby and manifold and distributor off a 2.3L (pup, trooper) will work. Remove the ballast resistor from the coil circuit (id go with the 2.3L coil), a simple mod to the alternator wirirng to omit the external regulator and fit the banjo fuel inlet fitting off the Luv carb to the 2.3L one. Plate over the spot for the fuel pump under the carby.
Use the TH700 converter lock kit and i woud say you could just wire up a simple realy and switch for switching overdrive.


If youve got a bit of spare green and have a mechanical aptitude, buy youself an Impulse workshop manual off eBay or craigs list. Have a read through it. The 4 speed Auto trans is fully covered, it has all sorts of complicated diagrams for the fluid flow etc.

Bob.

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Current project, 1979 KB Isuzu Ute.

Daily driver, '86 Rodeo Spacecab.
Chasing parts for Isuzu Impulse.

If the salvage yard has a V8 luv check and see if it has Headers please....Did you talk price on the truck.

Also, you could think of a different engine and tranny swap. People have done V6 swap from GM RWD cars. 4 cyls would be ok too.

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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.

The salvage yard guy didn't sound as if he wanted to sell or part out his Luv. It was under a carport with some other nice looking and rare rides that he probably collected being a wrecker. One of his cars was an MGB that looked like it was early 50's. The other was a very nice red and white Toronado in near mint condition. As for V8 swaps or V6 I think I'm going to stick with a 4 to limit my HP. Given that I can't guarentee that I'll never have another low blood sugar while driving, I figure that less HP means I'll do less damage to myself and possibly others should I have another accident. Right now I have my eye on a 84 Pup on craigslist. It may be a while before I can do the work to get the Luv running. The Pup is weathered looking and I can always use the drivetrain for my Luv or another I buy. Also, look at my posting "V8 kit for cheap." It's in the classifieds on Luvtruck. Some guy in the bay area has mounts, coolers and headers for only $200.

I hear you on low blood sugar. I have had it only happen at home... I am lucky I guess. You know what they say, check it check it. Do you take insulin? I do 4 times a day. I have had to for about 5 years or so... Been diabetic since I was 40, I am 55 now

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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.

Been on insulin since I was diagnosed ten years ago. Low blood sugars are a problem for me as I get no symptoms. This is about the sixth wreck I've had but by far the worst. The others were one vehicle as well and were only fender benders. This time I'm putting a roll bar in the Luv. A pound or two more pressure on my head when my neck snapped and I'd be one dead Luv owner right now. Roll bar good.

I just get real sweaty hot.. Real hot... I know now what is happening. I used to get shaky. Been on insulin for 4 or 5 year now.

A good little swap is the 215 Buick-Olds engine. Rover bought the engine rights from GM. Most Rover engines are based on that one. 215's are getting harder to find, but the Rovers are common. Most 215's came with a powerglide transmission. Some did come with a 4 speed, and I think all were available with 4 barrel carbs too. They use these engines in MG's and other English car engine swaps.

This is a all aluminum engine. This is what was first used in Vega V8 swaps. The Buick and Olds are a little different. I don't remember what off my head. Could use just about any transmission with it. I think it weighs like 300 lbs

Richard

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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.

On the roll bar, put some braces, bars between the rear loop and the front on top. We lost a fellow racer with a bad flip over. It scraped his head open. Bruce Allen who raced pro stock. He he was a real nice guy and a hell of a driver... He remembered you and would talk to every one.

I was helping my buddy on their record holding 63 Corvette. Morrow, Culper and Campise. We held 4 records at one time.
Oscar Campise has been my life long friend. I help with his family race cars now .

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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.