LUVTruck.com

I am looking at a 81 shortbed diesel Luv. I know they are slow and such. I owned a VW rabbit, 80 with a 4sp that I bought new, so I can relate.
What kind of real world fuel mileage can I get from this? I also drive a vw vanagon so I can deal with a slower pace. I have some hills where I live in south central texas, but it is not bad.. I think the asking price is more than I want to pay on something w/o a/c. It is a guy on this board, and is for sale in the classified. Help me decide.
Thanks

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

You can expect at least 35 mpg out of the LUV diesel and it weighs less since it's a shortbed. I have an 82 LUV diesel longbed with 230,000 miles and I get 38 mpg consistently. That is a combination of city and highway driving, so I'd think I would be in the 33-35 mpg range when driving in the city. And the truck you are looking at probably has less miles, which would only help to get better mileage. If you buy the truck you won't regret it. They have a bulletproof little diesel and the fuel mileage is one of the best features, if not the best. Good luck and I hope you end up buying the truck.

Salvy

The seller had this info:it has a 5 speed, and it is also a newer transmission that was bought new in the crate when they were available some years ago. No problems at all to worry about on the transmission, I have been through a few transmissions and can tell you how to make them last longer, first never drive in 5th gear with extra weight or below 60 mpg. 2nd always change the oil in it when changing motor oil and wipe clean the magnetic plug, 3rd is to use third and fifth gear as little as possible as it causes wear on the countershaft and bearing ( that is were it almost always breaks ). Hope you can use the info and pass it on, a good tranny is hard to find for the LUV diesels.

This makes me worry a little about thr tranny. It seems a little much to chang the tranny fluid, every time you change engine oil. I would guess oil changes @ 3000 miles. I would think Redline or Amisol tranny fluid would help out a lot.

Comments in the 5sp and oils for tranny

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

The oil is actually recommended to be changed every 5k miles but me n' my dad change out our oil at 3k miles to make the motor last longer. i would think maybe every 5 oil changes that you could change the oil in the tranny, just to let ya know.

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-Old ride-82 Luv diesel 5spd with some upgrades
-Past rides-82 Sierra, 78 Coupe De'Ville, 91 2dr Blazer, 86 RX7, 86 Porsche 944T (rear-ended and totaled)
-Curr. rides- 1970 Ford LTD 4dr, 390 4Bbl, 2nd owner! With a few Extras 00' Civic beater...

My father-in-law had a diesel Pup, and his transmission was also a problem for him. I've got a T5 Borg-Warner in mine, the same used with the 4.3L gas and the rest of the engine choises in an S10. Easy to find, and basically trouble-free. If you have constant tranny problems with the OEM style, converting over to this one, if it will even fit in the Pup chassis, would be one solution. Chev had diesel S10's, so the bell housing comes from there to mate to the T5. These T5's were used in S10/15, and with a different shifter location, in Camaro/Firebird/TransAm/etc, the Mustang for quite a few years, and even some of the older Jeep Cherokee had them. Plus other vehicles no doubt.
From what I've read, they were designed to handle up to 250hp, so I think we're all safe there, unless one of you have a secret project C223 you'd like to share with all of us....

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Bona Fide diesel fanatic.
1994 Chev S10 Ext Cab Isuzu Diesel 5spd
Kubota B6100 HST diesel

maybe me??? I've got some ideas of my own, but i need another car first so i can have a ride while workin' on my LUV.... I want it at least oveer 100hp when i'm done.

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-Old ride-82 Luv diesel 5spd with some upgrades
-Past rides-82 Sierra, 78 Coupe De'Ville, 91 2dr Blazer, 86 RX7, 86 Porsche 944T (rear-ended and totaled)
-Curr. rides- 1970 Ford LTD 4dr, 390 4Bbl, 2nd owner! With a few Extras 00' Civic beater...

I think my bigest thing is lack of a/c. I live in south texas and it has been past 100 this week.

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.