LUVTruck.com

Hello, all. I have just came across a deal I couldn't pass up. I found a 1980 LUV 4x4. The body is dang near perfect. The engine leaves a little to be desired. I have heard several friends talk about kits for the transmission and transfer case to make them work with a 350. Does anyone know where I find one of these?

By the way.. $250 bucks for this truck.... WOOOHAAAA

I don't know of any kits out there for what you want. There may be one.

Personally, I don't think the stock trans or transfer case would handle v8 torque for very long. I broke my 4-speed trans with my 4-cyl in my 2wd.

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If at first you don't succeed, try it like your wife told you to do it.

I had a buddy a long time ago who did this.... Anyway, he moved off a long time ago and took all of his vast knowlege with him. I do know he found such a kit though... So if anyone knows.. please let me know.

the only way ive seen them is with a muncie 4 spd or a th350. with an adapter from advace adapters to mount a trasfer case directly to the trans. you might give them a call they may have other kits avail. i know they did alot of the early 4x4 engine swap kits.

Hey guys,

Well I know that Advanced adapters has stopped making adapters for the LUV alltogether I have called them several time and they specificaly states on the website no more LUV isuzu parts. As for the adapter to the stock 4 speed I have heard of them back in the day but the tranny always gave out(TOO much power).


ADVANCED ADAPTERS IS NOT YOUR FREIND

Dave

Ok, so I want to keep it manual, and definately 4x4, so what can I do as far as transmission wise and with the transfer case. I guess I could spring for a muncie 4 spd, but should I just change the transfer case out also? How much hell will I be subjecting myself to?

Hey drummer,

As for the four speed or th350 it's not going to be too much more work than putting the motor in. And besides that the LUV transfer case won't handle that kinda power for very long. You see when I get my act together I'm putting in a350/muncie465/np205/Dana44hd/Dana60. You see that way you do away with the weaker LUV drivetrain and don't have to hunt down way hard to find parts. But as for going with the 350 with anything less than equivalent drive train is goig to be a pain over and over. Where as going with 350/350 and a transfer case like a np203/ora 208 or if you get lucky a 205 then it will be dependable and sturdy.WOW did I go off on a rant or what? Any way Its going to be a pain in the ass anyway you slice but take your lumps now and enjoy the LUV later.
Dave

How difficult would it be to just leave the transfer case out of it temporarily and run it full time 2wd?

Sounds like mine right now... I got a 2.8 V6, 5 speed in mine.. Its a 1980 4x4 no trasfer yet.. havent decided I will keep the 2.8 or just do another complete swap with a 350 combo... I like to do the 350 but $ comes into it there...

Hey drummer,
Well you could do that All you would need is to get the driveline length right. And have a 2wd tranny. But to get it back to 4wd youll have to put the 4wd trnny/transfer case back in and get driveline made again. My advice is wait till you have the parts you want and need and do it the way you want to do it the first time. I know how you feel we all do. I WANT IT NOW!!

Dave

I want info on keeping the 79 5 spd tranny but want to change engine to a 305.
I do not race but have always liked the power in the drive train just want a litt lmore oomph.
Is there a eng. to trans swap kit available

HMMM.. was driving my "new" 1980 4x4 around and noticed it was a bit shy on the top end... its a 4-spd, 4x4 is there a compatible 5-spd?
That would increase a lot of the top end of the truck... I hate being in 4 th at about 50 and have to ride it out until i get to the speed limit..

look through some of the other posts. someone said a isuzu 5 spd will bolt up i don`t remember the year so you will have to search.

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don`t have the luv no more but I still like em.72 el camino,
00 & 06 silverado one 4x4, turboed vw sandrail,99 banshee, 06 raptor 700, 02 polaris trailblazer.

OK, it looks like I've finally made up my mind. I'm gutting all the 4wheel drive stuff and making it street only. What all will I have to do to the front end? Can I just remove the transfer case or will I have to do any kind of axle work to the front. I plan on lowering it and putting slicks in the back. Is this a lost cause? Do I need to just get a 2wd from somewhere else?

I haven't read about anyone changing out the front suspension for 2WD. Maybe your the first? I don't even know if the frame mounts are the same or what. Next time I'm at the wrecking yard I'll try and see how similar they are.

In the mean time, maybe someone else has more info?

I wonder if anyone out there would consider trading for a 2wd?

so................. does anyone out there know what all would be involved in doing a 2wd conversion? Or should I just start hackin and see what falls off?

Everyday that I make the futile attempt at making my truck drivable the way it is, I get closer to tearing everything in it apart. I finally got a temporary solution to my gas tank problem, I got a 5 gallon gas container, and ran the two main fuel lines to it (delivery and return) yesterday. Started it up, and it ran better than it ever has. Drove it around for about 20 minutes, even played with the four wheel drive in the mud a little. So anyways, I go to start it up this morning, and the freakin starter has croaked. I even try sticking the screwdriver into the solenoid to see if it was my ignition switch. Nope... dead as a hammer.

So anyway, I get to looking underneath at the front drivetrain. It looks like the front differential is going to be hitting the oilpan of whatever motor I decide to replace the stock one with. I mean, the oilpan of the 1.8 is literally resting on the differential right now.

Does the 2wd have an axle up front, or is it independant? I guess noone out there has done a 4x4 to 2wd conversion before, so I'll be the guinea pig here. Any input any of you 4x4 and 2wd guys out there have would be appreciated.

The 2WD's are independent a-arm suspension with tortion bars.

The 4WD are something close to that if memory serves. I seem to remember a center housing with some type of CV setup at each end. Since the housing is stationary it could be close to the oil pan without a problem. However, I don't know if you could do a motor swap and find a pan that would miss the stock front housing.

A buddy of mine is putting straight axles in a 2001 Tacoma. He actually had to change the oil pan from a front sump to a rear sump (or vice versa, I don't remember which). He showed me the finished product and I couldn't tell the difference. Luckily his oil pan was symmetrical so when he cut the rail off he could just turn it 180 degress and weld it back on to the sump. He also had to make a new pickup tube, which he says was easy.

Maybe more work than you want to do, and I don't blame you, but it can be done.

well drummer this is reaching but it might help. if you put a 2" body lift in your truck it would give you a little extra clearance in the trans tunnel area.you could then fab your own mounts to raise your engine and trans a little to give you some extra clearance. one other you could do is have the front part of your pan sump area nothed to gain some more. i had to have v-6 pan nothed on a conversion job before it worked out good they took an inch off the front sump area. it will take a way some of your oil capacity but you could have them make up for it in a different area.well that was my idea for the moment don't know if it will help later terry

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don`t have the luv no more but I still like em.72 el camino,
00 & 06 silverado one 4x4, turboed vw sandrail,99 banshee, 06 raptor 700, 02 polaris trailblazer.