LUVTruck.com

This is my first vehicle and I need a new engine for it. If i get a buick 3.8 will I need new engine mounts or if it will just bolt in where the old engine was. Or should I go for an easier engine to install

Welcome to the site.
I won't just bolt in to the original mounts. If you are going to do a conversion I would suggest a sbc. More power, more and cheaper parts, same amount of work for the swap.

_________________
Resident lurker

What if it's a 4X4 and you want to keep it that way? What exactly is an SBC anyway?

_________________
Richard Barnes Salt Lake, Utah
1980 Luv Mikado 4X4
http://geocities.com/luvtruck2004/

SBC......... small block chevy

hey, hey, hey. Just cause I'm not in on the slang yet doesn't mean I'm not cool! Thanks, I feel a little less stupid now though...

_________________
Richard Barnes Salt Lake, Utah
1980 Luv Mikado 4X4
http://geocities.com/luvtruck2004/

If you dont already have the buick engine you might as well buy a small block. I think it would be easier because you can still get parts for the swap of the small block. Dont know if anyone makes any swap parts for the buick.

hey welcome to the site.
pull up a bucket and grab a beer...(have one on me too......fuckin no alchol allowed in iraq....WTF!!!!!!!)
i was right in the middle of putting a 3.8 in my 1980 luv then uncle sam decided i was need elsewhere.
my opion ......do the sbc ...i got my 3.8 cheap and the rebuild cost me over double what a 350 rebuild would have.
as for the engine mounts. make em or have someone make em...anyone w/ alittle experiance welding should be able to hook ya up.

_________________
I like my steak like I like my women, young, tender and bloody.

All I need is my weed, women, and wine. -Edge City Outlaws

when you finally decide what you want to do with your luv, deciding which
sbc to go with depends on what you want out of your truck..

i put a 4.3 liter vortec in mine and i wish i had gone with a 350 to begin
with.

dont get me wrong, i love my luv, but i should have spent a little more time making up my mind.

good luck and keep your chin up.

First of all, welcome to the LUV CLUB. I agree with the rest of the guys about going with the sbc. I have a 78 with a Goodwrench 350 in it which I built over the winter. I would personally have it no other way (though I dread feeding it: $2.15 a gallon), and am very satisfied with the transformation. I had the stock motor in it, then went to a Toyota 20r then finally my sbc. As for motor mounts, everyone that looks at mine calls me crazy. I took the stock motor mounts cut them 1/2" to allow for more room under the hood and welded a steel plate on each which extended forwad 3" and run that as the mounts. Am I stupid or crazy..... You decide, I just call myself conservative.... Enough of giving out ideas... Good luck with you truck and keep us posted on the progress... Oh yeah, the sbc is a cheaper motor to build and keep going.