LUVTruck.com

The subject is a joke of course, but is there anything for this truck that isnt a special order? I ordered stuff from 3 different sites today, [url]Autozone.com[/url], [url]Napaonline.com[/url], and [url]PartsAmerica.com[/url] I am going to be on a first name basis with the UPS guy here shortly. I just hope that we will always be able to find the parts for these LUV's, it will be a sad day when you no longer can get anything for them. Curious as to how many of these trucks are on the road still. I have heard that something like 500,000 were made I have been looking around to try and see how many stepsides were made in 79, but I havent had any luck... I read that something like 100,000 LUV trucks were made that year, but that is all I can find. Seems like the majority of the LUV's on the road today are out west, CA, OR, WA.... I havent seen a LUV here in the D.C. metro area the whole time I have been out here (5 years) It will be awesome to drive mine around and see everyones curious glances. Talk about a conversation starter! RF

The LUV, Courier and D 50 Ram were trucks imported to fill the void that U.S. manufactuers didn't forsee. From the begining, these trucks were a temporary solution. These trucks were replaced with slightly bigger models like the S-10. The vast majority of these trucks have hit the wrecking yards but from what's left, the LUV is the most popular to keep running.
My truck was a California vehicle when i bought it. The west coast weather is easier on corrosion and during my time in Georgia, i could almost watch the corrosion forming all thru my truck.
There's a number of items that cant be found for the LUV anymore. The stepside version was an aftermarket kit. That's why you cant find any production #s.

You'll find that this site will be very helpful when it come to working around problems caused by not getting parts.

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Previous setup: 4.1 Buick V-6/TH 350
Current setup: 400 Small Block Chevy V-8/TH 350
9" ford rear end/short bed/blue
What do Water, Electricity and Humans have in common... They all travel the path of least resistance.

Hey Blue Meanie, was the stepside available through the factory? I wonder if anyone has attempted to put a wood bed in one. I think that the LUV's with the stepsides are awesome looking. My truck too came from California, what sort of stuff have you done to minimize rust formation? I have been thinking about coating the frame and undercarriage in POR-15. I have been looking at car restoration books, but so far all of them suck. I would love to find one out there that actually had some good info in them. RF

I am pretty sure the step side was not offered through the factory. Their has been one member I remember having wood on the floor of his step side.

EDIT: My bad, they were talking about adding wood to the bed. Do a search for stepside wood bed.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

That's true... Stepside beds were aftermarket made by a company in California. They haven't made stepside kits available for years.
As for me. My truck sat for too many years and corrosion set in. It took alot of elbow grease to get rid of it. POR 15 seems to be a popular product to deal with bad areas.

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Previous setup: 4.1 Buick V-6/TH 350
Current setup: 400 Small Block Chevy V-8/TH 350
9" ford rear end/short bed/blue
What do Water, Electricity and Humans have in common... They all travel the path of least resistance.

What I would like to find out is, what is the best rust preventative? What can you do to ensure that you dont rust out in the first place. Seems like all the older LUV's, small toyota's etc, have thin sheetmetal that is prone to rust. Anyone got any tips? RF

I am going to put a wood floor in my step-side. I am working on refinancing my house right now so that I can free up some money, so it will be a little while before I get started.

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1980 LUV Mikado 4X4
2003 Chevy S10
http://www.luvtruck.com/Gallery/ChrisGo ... index.html

http://www.myspace.com/luvmikado

Check out the POR 15 website. The have one of the best, preventive / Rust Repair products Avail. I have used this on many classics I have built, and I plan on doing it with my LUV. It loves moisture and cures good.

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'76 MUD project, 1 ton axles, lockers, 20" Lift, Big Smallblock, On board air, 54" Boggers, Hummer Double beadlocks, External Rollcage... in the works.