LUVTruck.com

I've finally began the process I wanted to start on 3 years ago, but had lacked the expertise, tools, resources, and space to do so. I'm getting started on my V8 LUV swap.

Anyway, I've read the document on the home page on the Beer Budget V8 LUV, but I still have some questions about my driveshaft & rear-end selection.

First Question:
The document states as long as I'm pushing under 300hp, an S truck rear end should suffice. My question to you, is how much should I assume my stock 350 TBI w/ 700r4 will produce? I want to keep it TBI if possible, and I am thinking about getting a megasquirt to do the trick. (my profession is programming, so anything computer-wise is cool for me). Assume that I'm like any other guy, I'll be happy with my 350 TBI setup for a little while, but likely I'll start trying to push it with performance parts.

Second Question:
Driveshaft - I have a driveshaft from the donor vehicle (90' 3/4 ton Van G20) sitting on my garage floor. I don't know much about rearend/driveshafts. I do know that whatever I do, I'll have to get a shop to modify it. Will this driveshaft do me any good at all, or should I just pull the driveshaft off the S truck I get a rearend from.

Third Question: (bonus question).
It's time to get rid of the van. obviousally I want to get rid of it in a way that makes me as much money as possible. I have quite a bit of things to buy for the LUV, and money isn't always easy to come by, so whatever I make pawning the van, I can easily justify spending on making the LUV even better. I've heard scrap metal prices are fairly high. I've called vehicle junk yards, and most won't give me a dime for the van. I've been told to try to sell the Stock Rally wheels. I've already got someone committed to buying the tires once I get it finished (tires are only 6,000 miles used). What else could I likely part off, and put on ebay/craigslist to get some doh for? The radiator is full of copper, so that would be neat to scrap. What do you all think? It also has all stock A/C components and the compressor worked before I took the system apart (it was out of coolant, but if you shorted out the low pressure sensor, the compressor would kick on and spin).

Let me know

PS. here is where I'm at now in the swap process.

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-1979 LUV 4x4

as far as the van, sell as many parts as you can, scrap price won't be too different, and the items sold should fetch some coin. I wouldn't ditch the stock LUV rear end at the power level you are at, (I have been in the 9's on the stockers, a few times). And just get a shop to put an end on the stock LUV driveshaft to take the 700r yoke, and you should be set...

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If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

Seriously?

I don't know much about rear ends, but besides a stronger rear end, would I gain anything going with an S rear end, or a ford 9, etc...

I bought this thing stock, and it was too slow, so I offy/electronic dist/headers/webber'd the thing, just to find that it's a little faster, but it's still just a slow truck. I have high hopes for the 350, and will likely "show off" as much as I can when it's all said and done.

You're suggestion is much appriciated!

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-1979 LUV 4x4

What you will gain the most from a rear end swap at the power level you are at is less money in your pocket. I never broke a stock rear end with street tires, bolting on a set of slicks was a different story. I had way more than 300 horses just on motor in a lot of those trucks, and the motor you have now, ain't close to 300, and a megasquirt by itself won't get you there. Drop the engine/tranny in, if something breaks, fix it then...

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If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

I agree

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

What other things off the van should I keep?

Power Steering
It'd be cool if I could swap the power steering, but I don't really know how that would work. If you say I can do it, I'll do the research required, but if you don't think it's doable, I'll try to sell the pump.

Air Conditioning
Also the van has all the A/C components. It'd be cool to have A/C in the LUV when I'm done, but the LUV is stock without A/C. From the looks of it, it'd probablay be very difficult to rig up the van's A/C on the LUV. Do you know if they sell aftermarket A/C systems I could bolt onto the 350 and install in the LUV?

Exhaust
I'm pulling off the vans muffler. It's less than 6 months old. I'll likely try to reuse it on the LUV.

Alternator
I have an aftermarket 100A 1-wire GM chrome alternator on the LUV right now that I had to build my own bracket (out of a 7/16in craftsman wrench) to make work. I think it's probably the same as the van's alternator, so if it is, I'll sell the vans. If not, I'll keep the vans.

What other things should I try to save for the LUV? What do you think I should try to pawn?

I'm probably going to make a craigslist post saying I have a van I am parting out, but it would be nice to list individual items and how much I want for them.

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-1979 LUV 4x4

Here is an option for using the stock rear end and not having a custom drive shaft made: https://id211.chi.us.securedata.net/independent4x.com/merchantmanager/product_info.php?products_id=570 I have not tried it yet , it was just something I came across. Maybe some of the more knowledgeable will chime in clarify whether it would work or not, but I think the 1310 u joint is fairly common on Chevy, I know the '79 camaro drive shaft I have uses that size. I am curious on there opinion too because I has thought about using the stock rear end until I ca finish rebuilding my S10 rear end.

Take both shafts down to your local deiveline shop and have one made, dont micky mouse this.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

Horsepower wise you'll be lucky to break 200hp with a stock van 350 setup (even with Megasquirt).

For A/C, have you looked into Vintage Air units? I'm pretty sure the compressors are GM based and easy to mount/you could probably use the one on the motor.

Power steering is power steering. If you get the steering setup from a P/S trooper, you just have have to connect the correct lines to the pump and it should work.

On the van, check craigslist, there are people in my city that will pay you $75-150 cash for a vehicle to scrap, but if you're stripping it they might not offer you anything for it. Scrap wise, if you have a title, junkyards should accept it. If you want the scrap price for it, you might have to cut it up into little dumper size pieces, and even then you'd get mixed steel prices which is about $0.05 a pound (if not less)...

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1975 Project LUV
It's ALIVE!

Hey im from KC & work in Olathe you aint too far from me, anyway i got a 350/th350 setup in my 76 luv i run the stock rear end with a shortend & modified driveshaft i drive it rough & i havent had a problem yet so id run the stock rear till it blows than worry about changing it out.

why mega squirt?

the factory 12444774 ECM is plenty for the TBI... it has a 20% learning capability so you could even jump to a 383 and still get away with it.... TBI ECMs are dime a dozen and an upgrade chip is less than 100 bucks....

A.j.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykgDNjeTa0g

well, because I didn't know I could do that.

Please elaborate. Or point me to a post where I can read about this. I'm all for cleap. I'm a programmer, so ideally, I'd want something I can interface with. I think it would be sweet to replace my dash & gagues with a touch screen, and write my own application that displays all digital gagues. But thats long term. I had a friend who megasquirted his vehicle, and had a laptop with all his readout from the megasquirt. I was sold at that moment.

But truthfully, I think I'm just wanting to do what I can to get the V8 running in the LUV. Once I get the thing running, I'll start playing with enhancing it and writing software for it.

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-1979 LUV 4x4

Hey dude, I work in Olathe on K10 and Ridgeview. Some time we should meet for lunch or something, and show off our trucks to each other. If we do, it better be soon before I begin disassembling mine.

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-1979 LUV 4x4

well easily put.... just rip the harness and computer from the van... you might be supprised to learn its already the ECM number you need.... if not ebay can fetch the particular one or you can wander junk yards or I might even have one here. I can give you a list of what vehicles that part is particular too. as far as interfacing.... well theres alot to be desired, but how much more engine data do you need? Late gen 1 TBI systems are very basic... so theres really not a whole lot of data to present, example would be the O2 indication of rich or lean.... vs a more modern output of resistance indicating HOW rich or lean, very very basic commands. Custom chips can be tailored to match any mods done to the engine- and within streetable reason, the TBI can make decent power. Honestly if you the burner program and machine... making the chips is a breeze.

let me see if I can find any info about harness and ECM swapping for you..... but for the most part... its very straight forward and simple.

A.j.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykgDNjeTa0g

I dug out the computer, and it's a 1227747. Will that work? I guess it will because it is what was running the van before...

yeah, when pulling the engine, I saw all thoes wires going out the back, so I cut them all not thinking. I guess I should've realized they were going to this thing... oh well...

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-1979 LUV 4x4

they were probably all strange lengths anyways and cutting would have been required to fit the love chassis. yup... you have the perfect ECM already... your basicly there for fuel injection.

A.j.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykgDNjeTa0g

thanks. I'm sure I'll have questions for that, but that'll be another thread.

guess I won't craigslist that part.

BTW, sold both the radiator and the tow package deal today off the van. the LUV V8 swap budget actually contains funds now! I'm motivated to list more things now!

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-1979 LUV 4x4