LUVTruck.com

I posted this the other day in the general section, had no replys, so thought I would post here to see if any others would see it.

I just found a 1980 4 speed for $100. It has been sitting in a barn for 7
years. Not sure when it was started the last time. It is covered in pigeon
crap. Overall besides the dirtyness, truck looks pretty solid. I would like
to have the truck redone completely to my likings. This is a 2 wheel drive,
I am wondering if I can have it switched to 4x4 and have a 4.3 V6 put in
it ? Please let me know if this is possible and what chassis & motor, etc. to
look for. But for right now, when I get it, I want to know what all I should
do or change to fire it up and at least have it so it runs. I am not going to
register or insure, just want to get it running for now. I am sure I need to
put fresh gas in. Can I just siphon out the old and put in new ? New fuel
filters too I am sure. Oil change and oil filter, air filter. Do I need to drain
anti freeze and put in new ? Do I need to drain transmission fluid and put
in new ? Any other stuff to change or check ? Any info would be
appreciated. Thanks.

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http://www.purerockradio.net/

A lot of people have had to remove and clean out the gas tank after the truck sat a long time.
I would change oil and filter & air filter .
When the gas tank is out blow air through (carefully!!! with eye protection) through the fuel lines. New fuel filter ,clean out the little electric fuel pump. Coolant probably wont matter just to start it up for now , but I would change it before go fully on the road.
Check and or change trans and diff. oils before hitting the road also.

Good luck to ya! Have fun, Ron

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

As far as the v6 some one else would know more than me. People put all sorts of different eng/trans. combos in these trucks so any thing is possible. Wether or not you need a cutting torch and arc welder depends on you choice of eng and trans.

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

How difficult is the gas tank to remove if I have to ?

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I removed my 80 luvs tank. Theres a pan the gas tank is bolted to that protects it from the ground. I think its like 12 or 13mm socket and ractches would take them off. First disconect the hoses on top of the tank and the wire to the sending unit.

My truck Sat for a year outside in the woods. ITs good it was inside a barn, not as hard on it. I would change out all the fluids if it sat that long:
Oil, Raditor, Brake Fluid, The gas tank sholud be at least drained and might need to be boiled out. Check the hoses, and also if you do plan on driving, even just get it to your home, i'd check the front brakes. One of my caliper ended up sticking.

I think thats a cool user name Moka deth....is it poking fun at Megadeth?

Thanks a lot for the info. No I am not driving it home, having it hauled home. Both front tires are flat anyway, gonna just work on getting it going when I get the chance. If it is too difficult and costly to switch to 4x4 and automatic then I might just keep for parts or sell it. How hard is it to find a 4x4 auto, or the frame anyway. If that is not too hard, then maybe I will just keep the body and switch. I guess what I want is a V6 4x4 black, auto, maybe raised a couple inches to equal the height of my 97 S-10 and put on 15" tires, AC for Summer and if possible, 4x4 with the touch of a button like the newer ones. I am not thrilled with the look or the prices of the new Colorados, nor the engines, so that is why I want to go this direction. If I can have this built for less than buying a brand new one, then I will try to have it done. I want to do this for my everyday truck and to work in Winter. I already have a 1980 LUV automatic that I want to try to keep original. I am getting the 1980 4 speed on Thu. I have a 1997 S-10 ex cab auto, and a 1993 Camaro Z auto. Oh yeah, my handle "Mokadeth" is not poking fun at Megadeth. Megadeth kicks ass, way more than the new Metalli-crud. My last name is Mokris, so i am called Mok or Mokie by my friends a lot. So like 10 years ago we were all hanging out one night and since I like to talk in 3rd person sometimes, we were all saying Mok this and Mok that, and it turned into band names, since we are all into music and jamming together at the time. Mok Jam, Mokgarden, Moktallica, etc.... you get the idea, we all started coming up with bands and adding Mok to them in some way, so Mokadeth was said at one point, and we kinda thought that sounded pretty good, so I started referring to myself with that nickname on occasion and in e-mails, so that is how it was born, and it kinda stuck ever since ! lol I dig it, and it is quite original. I have never had to create an e-mail addy Mokadeth1378 yet ! lol Thanks again guys for all the help.

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1 thing I would also want to check is your brake lines. [ the rubber parts ] Make sure they are not all dried out and cracked or cracking badly. Hate to hear your brakes went out as you were driving down a really steep hill or something

Thanks, I will keep that in mind as well. Will work up to that. I think first thing I am going to do is just try to get it running. Anti-freeze, transmission, brakes, that is all after.

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Got the old LUV running ! Drove it up the road about a mile and a half. Heat gauge went up almost to H, so I turned around and came back. Dunno why it went up so high so fast ? Anti-freeze low ? Anti-freeze old ? Thermostat bad ? Radiator not full all the way ? It starts right up no problem, just drove it today around the driveway a couple times (i have a really long driveway, so around it once is like a quarter mile), then we washed it again really good. Just have to clean interior good, it still stinks like a barn ! Any opinions or comments would be appreciated.

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Anyone have a 4x4 in PA for sale ?

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try some fabreeze for the barn stink. dont forget the ducting.

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Resident lurker

Since he's planning a 4.3 swap, and that means new tranny and t-case. Could he just mount some spring perches and put some early 80's toyota axles on it? Or is a 2x4 frame that different?

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

Thanks, after I clean inside if it still stinks will try Febreeze. I have not cleaned inside yet, but did throw in a fully opened air freshner, that will help some. I see there is a mouse in there today ! Little bastards. Will have to set traps or put some D-con in now Also I would like to switch to an Auto transmission too. I want to totally custom it, just luv the luv body and stuff. I want to custom build my daily driver rather than spend on a new Colorado.

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If you've seen a mouse in there, you might want to give your wiring an inspection and make sure the little buggers haven't chewed the insulation somewhere.

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Resident lurker

Yeah I know, the little bastards can wreak havoc. Anyone have any good ideas for keeping mice out of vehicals ? They were getting into my Camaro last Winter, and that is in the garage. I have set traps, but they
still keep coming back. Pricks !

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