LUVTruck.com

im looking into putting some axles under my chev luv. id like to keep a 4cylinder in it preferably the stock one but i want to run 35's or 38. and just run super low gearing all i need is 45mph. what axles are good to use. yota axles are frekin spendy. any way how much do will it cost if i do all the work. i have people who have done this on full size fords. what will the total cost look like and what time are we talking being out of service?

If thats what you are looking for do rockwells.They have 5.72 gearing and I think the smallest tire you can run with them is a 35, it will cost a bit for the axles but for somthing with low gears that can run a 35 or 38 without breaking thats a good choice.

Id go with some narrowed dana 60's with stronger axles and u-joints.

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1975 V8 Luv
1980 Bagged Luv

Are you wanting to go 4x4 or just straight axle. If just a straight axle you can get one made using early chevy car or truck spindles, king pins, they had 6 lug hubs.
When the Luv first came out there were several companies that converted them to 4WD. They used jeep Dana running gear, 44 axles with a detached transfer case.

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The light at the end of the tunnel, may just be a train coming!

Toyota axles are the only ones with the same track as a LUV (54"), Jeep CJ will be close. Everything else is wider, like 60"(Wagoneer) to 66"(Chevy pickup). Having something narrowed is really expensive. Figure $300 each for axles.
About 5.29 gears are as low as you can get without going to a bigger ring gear. New gears, installed, with a locker- $750.00 minimum each axle.
'70-ish Ford 3/4 ton "High Riders" had divorced Dana 20 transfer cases(u-joint yokes in and out)- you can connect a 2wd tranny with a short shaft. Dana 300's (2.7 reduction) also were available with all yolks, but are rarer. $300 minimum, add $700 for crawler gears installed.
Tires & wheels that size- $400 each. Don't forget power steering- you just added 1000 pounds of parts. Then you can see if the 4 cylinder really has enough juice, if not add $2,000 for a motor/tranny swap.
Cheapest way; Toyota front(4.10 gears) SOA stock rear(4.10), stock tranny & remote transfer or 4xtranny/transfer, max 33" tires: $2,000.

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'78 Chevy LUV,1.9,4sp,headers,31's,SAS Dana 30,Dana 20,SOA rear w/Aussie Locker, rough body, bought new 12/4/78.
'87 Trooper,2.3,5sp,headers,31's,ball joint flip & spacer,Aussie Locker rear,Superwinch hubs,brush guard w/5.5K winch,more to come.

So will a toyota SA spring hanger kit work on the LUV trucks? I know that the steering and all of that stuff would have to be worked out...unless the majority of a toyota SA conversion kit would work. Just trying to get an idea so I can see what I want to do.

Cam

I just got done doing this swap. Well, this swap + chevy 4.3 engine, Dana 20 transfer case and toyota axles. Here's what I've run into:

I used toyota lift springs in the front (3"? Maybe more). This caused me to have to mount the Toyota front spring hanger forward of the luv frame. I welded a 2" square piece of tubing onto the luv frame and then welded the spring hanger onto that. The toyota axles + springs seem to be a bit wider than the luv frame, so I had to weld the shackles for the front springs a little outside of the frame, like 1/2" each side. However, the front tires sit squarely in the tire wells, so it worked out all right.

If you're going with a lift, you might as well get better rear springs as well. I opted for the 63" chevy springs from a 1/2 ton pickup. 1996 or 1998 I think. I had to lengthen the rear of the frame a little bit becasue of this, and weld on new hangers for the rear springs. However, these springs are really flexy and give a good amount of lift over the stock springs. Mounted them on top of the rear axle, of course. I think that the stock springs are mounted on the bottom? (??) It's been a while since I've seen a stock luv.

Anyways, i'd skip the dana 20 transfer case idea if I were you. I've got a divorced one right now, but it causes some major clearance issues with the body of the truck. However, I'm not running any sort of body lift. If you like the way body lifts look (I don't) then you probably could put a dana 20 back there no problem. My major issue with the setup is that because the dana 20 is somewhat tall I have to run it below the transmission. The driveshaft coming from the tranny (TH350) to transfer case is at a 14 degree slant because I had to mount the transfer case so far down. Also, when you go with the divorced transfer case you're going to have some wicked angle on the rear driveline, so you'd better be prepared to get double cardmon joints on the transfer case side of that driveline.

I think you probably could run with the stock drivetrain for a while. In that case maybe you could simply get away with putting a flange on the stock driveline(s) to convert them to the toyota bolt pattern.

Total cost for mine is right around $2800.

That includes:
4.3 TBI Engine
700R4 Tranny (not using currently)
Truck
Shocks
Shock Hoops
Axles
Hi-Steer
Toyota Power Steering Box
Brake Lines (braided)
Paint (for frame)
Misc tools, nuts & bolts, steel, etc that I had to buy
Shackles + spring hangers

Basically everything i've got into the truck.

it's early in the morning. May have missed something. Ask if you have any questions.

Here is another bit of info on the toyota axle swap; Due to the fact that the luv already has the correct steering box for a cross over steer all you need is a Trooper power steer setup and about 20 min. of welding and presto you have the preferred Toyota cross over steer system.

I am looking at maybe doing this on my 4X4 with the Trooper 5spd as well.

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

What size tires are you running? Just wondering if suspension lift is going to be enough, or if I will have to do a body lift. I don't like body lifts at all either. I may just trim some body panels, if need be.

I will be doing rear lift springs as well. I will probably use some toyota springs, so I may not have to lenghten the rear of the frame. Yea, I will definately do the spring over axle...and the stock one on the LUV are spring under.

I have no plans of running a divorced transfer case...I just don't really like them personally. I will probably use the stock drivetrain if I rebuild my motor. I am still debating on whether or not to rebuild the engine...or do a 4.3 or 350 swap. I may rebuild the engine for the time being so that I can play with it and do everything.

I am glad that someone has done this. I have seen that they have been finished, but haven't been able to get a hold of anyone to get details. I'm sure that once I get into this, you will be getting more questions than you will want to answer! Thanks...you will be hearing from me in the future.

Cam

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1980 Chevy LUV 4x4

That is very good to know. I am contemplating the 5sp swap too. I just don't want to put a ton of money into this engine and another transmission if I am going to swap to a 4.3 or 350 and a 700R4.

Cam

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1980 Chevy LUV 4x4

Keep your eyes out for the pre 88 Trooper (86-87) for the easiest trans to put in and the rear springs will lift the back at least 3's like mine plus they have the power steer system you want.I think the older Troopers have the power steering to that will fit but i am not sure as mine was a 87 Trooper that i got the chassis out of.

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

I'm assuming that 3' (feet) lift is supposed to be 3" (inches) Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I will definately keep an eye out for a trooper. Did you SAS the front of your LUV with the Trooper stuff? About how much lift do you have, and what size tires are you running?

Cam

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1980 Chevy LUV 4x4

Oops on the lift and no as of now i just turned up the T-bars but i am going to use the trooper upper control arms with new ball joints and spacers as well as the power steering and new lower ball joints and i am going to see if the trooper steer linkage will fit as it has better tie rod ends. When i do all of this i will also re index the T-bars as well.

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

I'm running 35's right now. I think that I mounted the front axle a little too far back, when the front springs are compressed, the front tires rub the fenders a little bit when turning. I need to trim them a little bit, but other than that, no problem. I know you could at least fit 38's in the back, but IMHO that's a bit too much for such a small truck.

I'm using a toyota power steering pump for my setup. When using the luv pump, the pitman arm extended back a little too far to work really well with the crossover steering. Also, i figured if I was giong to be turning the wheels a lot when the truck wasn't moving (which I do) I'd like the power steering. The toyota steering box mounts on the outside of the frame, so I had to fab mounts for it and drill holes though the frame, which I sleeved w/ steel pipe. Works fine and steering (even in the tightest spots) is effortless.

fixer_up - Are you useing the LUV rear axle, or a Toyota one?

Cam

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1980 Chevy LUV 4x4

I'm using the toyota rear axle. Bought the toyota axles as a matching set.

Had to remount the spring perches on the axle as well. Angled them to match the driveline.

If memory serves the early (pre factory) 4WD LUVs used dana 44 front axle, no extention to frame for springs, stock LUV rear, with cradle made for a Dana 20 transfer case. Did a V8 conversion on several with out moving the transfer case using production fenderwell headers.

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The light at the end of the tunnel, may just be a train coming!

fixer_up - I see where you used the toyota power steering box. Did you have to get the rest of the stuff from a toyota (pump, reservoir, etc.) or do you not need all of that stuff?

Cam

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1980 Chevy LUV 4x4

Also, did you make the front spring hanger or did you buy one from a kit?

Cam

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1980 Chevy LUV 4x4