LUVTruck.com

hi, im really new here and was wondering if any of you could help me out.

ive been looking at buying a luv for a long while, and since winter is soon approaching, i think now would be a good time to get myself a small truck. i live in salt lake, and since it snows here, i need a 4wd truck. i managed to find one down south with about 250,000 on the engine, but i know NOTHING about these trucks other than that they were made to compete with the trucks toyota and isuzu were importing to the us.

ive worked on cars my whole life, but ive always been more specialized on older cars. my question is this:
are there any specific points or items i should be looking at when i buy my luv? the truck im looking at now has an inline 4 with 4wd. body seems to be pretty straight, but according to the seller, the starter is bad and the clutch pedal assembly needs to be tack welded back into place.

help me out somebody!

thanks in advance!

pics of the truck in question:

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

Welcome to the site...you're at the right place.

250,000 is alot of miles on anything but if it's in good shape, runs fine and is a price you like what the heck, buy it. I have a 79 4X4 and the starter isn't that difficult to replace. (been there) There are alot worse vehicles to work on. The clutch pedal assembly is a typical issue with these trucks and there are several threads out here with repairs on the subject. Just do a search out here and you will find alot of info on it. I have never had a problem with either of mine but I know I will eventually.

As far as what to look for...typical used vehicle issues. Leaking seals, (front end, rear end, front axles, rear main seal,,,etc) Almost everyone out here changes out their original carbs for a Weber but I am still running the original Hitachi Carbs on my '79 4wd (currently in my shop waiting for enough time for an engine rebuild) and '81 2wd. When they start giving me trouble and I can't get them to straighten out with a rebuild then I will switch to a Weber I'm sure. There's to much positive info out here on them to question using one. There is more information out here than a one person could find out in a lifetime of working on his own. Spend some time and look around and you will be amazed.

By the way, Isuzu made the Luv. The valve cover has isuzu stamped on it.

Good luck,
Karl

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In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

thanks! any electrical issues known to exist? electricity is both my bane and friend

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

My father in law, who is a very wise man, has a rule that he won't ever buy a vehicle that doesn't run. This is to ensure that he doesn't buy something that is a money pit with clogged fuel lines, burnt pistons, etc. The "bad starter" is a potential red flag to me, because that means he can't show you it runs. If I were you I'd make sure it runs. The clutch can be fixed regardless, like they said there's many threads on here about fixing the broken bracket.

That is a wise way of thinking!

Yhe only time you buy a vehicle you can't hear run is if you know it's a project. Mine didn't run at all when I bought it, but purrs as of yesterday!

well, for 350 i figure i cant really go wrong,
i did manage to find another one, but the lady is asking more since it has less mileage.

im still trying to decide since the guy who has the one in the pictures is about an hour south of me and if i go, i might as well go ready to buy it. he says that he had been driving it everyday, but when the starter went bad, he parked it and started driving his other truck. i dunno. if the tags match.....

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

You can always try push starting it. Tell the seller you would really like to hear it run before swapping cash. If he wants the money I'm sure he'll put on his boots.

There are a few electrical gremelins though I have only had one of them. I have read a few threads where guys had issues with the Fuse Box corroding. I haven't had that problem yet. The fuel pump runs from the Alternator closing a circuit in the external voltage regulator which goes through a relay on the fender then powering the fuel pump. I just read a thread out here about switching to a one wire alternator and rewiring the pump with a crash and rollover sensor in the line for safety. I plan to do this to my '79 when I perform open heart surgery on the engine.

_________________
In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

Why didn't I think of that?!? Probably gotta pour some gas in the carb, though

ok, so i went to check out the one that this lady has up in holliday. the body is in decent shape, and the interior is not bad either, but while i was driving it, i started smelling coolant.

long story short, i found a small leak between the head and the block on the driver side of the engine. called checker and found a rebuild kit for 70 bucks and has all the gaskets for the head. lady wanted 500 willing to drop to 400.

i still want to take a look at the 4wd one down south in santaquin, but that wont happen until at least this weekend...or tonight...who knows?

anyone have any advice when checking out a 4wd system?

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

As for the 4wd system, make sure the hubs move freely, locking and unlocking. Check the cv-axles, look close at the boots, make sure they aren't torn or about to tear. If they are, you are going to want to pull them and either reboot them or replace them. Make sure that the shifter moves freely and stays in place. There should be a spring that holds it in place (no you won't be able to see it unless you remove the shifter boot). Check to make sure the front drive shaft is ok, no play in the ujoints.

As for being able to get it started, push starting these things is usually quite easy. I have done it many a time by myself.

I'm sure I've forgottten something in regards to the 4wd system, if so, someone else will chime in. If I remember something I'll come back and add it.

Good luck.

Chad

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Do the day don't let the day do you!

thanks for the info guys!

looks like ive made my decision already. im going for the 2wd here in holliday. after checking it out though, looks like its going to need a cyl head job. found a rebuild kit here for 60 bucks. beyond that, it will also need a new front clip. sometime before 86, (when the lady's dad bought it) it was crashed in the front. not horribly bad, but a new fender, front core support, and bumper are in order.

hey anyone done their own cyl head job? i know i'll have to take it to a machine shop, but its beena while since ive done one.

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

Cylinder head. I've only pulled one on my Luv so I will probably forget something but the main thing that stands out with me is to make sure you keep your camshaft timing chain sprocket and timing chain together. Wire the chain to the sprocket in about three places. While removing the head make sure you keep the chain from falling off the crankshaft sprocket as well.

Just a thought but the two heater hoses run across the back of the engine (behind the valve cover and firewall). Make sure it isn't one of these causing the problem before you pull the head. Probably not but it can't hurt to check.

_________________
In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk