LUVTruck.com

Well today I have made the desicion to get some more power under the hood of RezLuv, I was egged on by a POS Mustang at the light and now I've decided I don't want to be in the slow lane anymore I'm taking a poll as to what would be the best engine for this. My truck is used as a DD and it does see a fair amount of off-highway use so I'd be needing something that has a fair amount of low end torq. So far my thoughts are either a 305, 350 or possibly a 4.3. I want some thing that has 190+hp and 220+tq, as far as trannys go I'll either be using a 700R4(I have to have the over drive) or a manual tranny of some sort(NV3500,4500, etc..) any and all help would be great, thanks

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'80 Luv 4x4, 3" BL, 1.5" SL, 32/36, 2.25" exhaust...and fuzzy dice.
'95 Toyota 4Runner Limited 5-Speed.

a 4.3L with a 700r4 behind it would be awsome i bet. Also the stock rear will handlke that combo for a while. But i would look at upgrading to an S-10 10bolt some time.

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...

Try a 305 84-85 Caprice with 9.5 comp. a marine cam and it should be just what you are looking for. A 305 marine engine is 220 hp with 8.5 comp. I ran this 9.5 motor with a 700R4 in a S10 3.73 gears and got 25-28 mpg this was a stock motor with the marine cam, it allso ran like a bat out of hell at WFO. It work real good in a LUV.

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

I tend to agree with tj.. the 4.3 is a good motor but can get pricey to build.. a good 305 with a decent cam and a set of 416 casting heads would make decent power and not bust your budget.

Look around for a cheap S10 4X4 (truck or Blazer) and swap everything over!

I would go with a Buick 231 myself

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Looking for that special LUV.

Thats what I was thinking. A nice lil 305 with a mild cam, good 4bbl carb, and you got plenty of smokin them tires power

A 305 is cheaper than a V-6 in the long run. Plus it's got a little more power. The 4.3 will fit easier and it's lighter on the front end but with all projects that involve swapping out engines to a "V" design, An 8 cylinder will eventually end up under the hood.
I can't dispute the merits of running a V-6 because i did for 10 years and i have no regrets at all. Buicks with 4.56 gears can scare the piss out of some people.
But at some point you're gonna think "What the hell" and go to a V-8. But stay clear of getting a Ford 302. Qcrazy has one in his Luv and he'll be the first to tell you that it's more hassle fitting the motor/trans to the truck than it's worth. SB Chevy motors have been fitted a few thousand times so every bug has been figured out by now.

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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.

The main advantage of using a small block chev. is it is short enough to fit with out cutting up the truck, almost any thing else means cutting the fire wall but if you have the skills or the want put in something different. Engines with front mount dist.are allot easier when you dog house the fire wall.

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

With the heat issues present in the LUVs, it made me think that the cooling pluses of a 305 block is beneficial, and those 305 blocks are everywhere. With that, recently I looked into what simple crank options were around and I think there is a 3.750 (400) crank availability with pistons to make a 334, gain on the torque, compression where you want it with pump gas, and the cooling you need...It would seem to me a better way to go than the 4.3 unless you are truly sold on one. I have heard good things about that 4.3 when they are mildly or hotly modified as well...
Good Luck let us know what you choose

i dont know, i just realy like the 4.3Ls. My dad has a 98 so its a Vorteck, but it shure moves his 4500lbs S-10 well and hes getting 19mpg. I could only imagine how nice it would be moving half that wieght. Thats why i voted for the 4.3L.

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...

Powerhouse out of Bakersfield, CA has a 335 stroker kit for a decent price. Use that and a set of decently ported heads and you'll have a sweet little motor that will last you a while. Too bad you're not close, I'd hook you up with a short block and a set of 416 heads...

I guess I just don't understand the stroker 305 thing. 350= more cubes and less money than a stroker kit. I would think a Ford 302/5.0 t-5 combo would be great in one of these trucks, for sure late 80's early 90's fiv-0 Mustang set up with fuel injection. Like 225 hp and as more cheap aftermarket parts than you could imagine. Just my .02

The concept is that SBC motors are so readily available and can be configured so many different ways. Pick any block and build up from there. Stock, stroked, carbed, fuel injected. Somebody builds parts to do any of this.
There are many other non-Chevy motors that would be sweet under the hood but they may not be worth all the effort. The Ford 5.0 liter can do the job of pushing a LUV around. But it doesn't fit the truck well at all. The exhausts will interfere with the frame rails. This is enough to kill the project.

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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.

Well so far I've narrowed it down to 2 choices, both of which are V6's

Option 1: Chevy 4.3 Vortec(I'm going to be going EFI route with the engine swap) behind the manual tranny that came in the 4x4 S-10's(T5 ?) along with that I'll be doing a SAS sometime in the future.

Option 2: Isuzu 3.2 SOHC block with DOHC heads( good for 205+hp, and 200+tq) behind that would be an Isuzu MUA5 manual tranny and t-case. andvantage of this is that it's still Isuzu, the t-case output is on the same side as the Luv, and in theory it can be mounted without having to change the motor mounts. down the road I would also be doing a SAS

So what is the concensus of the people

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'80 Luv 4x4, 3" BL, 1.5" SL, 32/36, 2.25" exhaust...and fuzzy dice.
'95 Toyota 4Runner Limited 5-Speed.

Ha... I didn't think of looking at your sig. I was assuming that this was going into a 2WD truck.
The faster swap would be the Isuzu. 205 h.p. beats 140h.p.

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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.

Amen

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

hotrod.. you are right a 350 is easier to get power out of and usually cheaper on a total cost basis. a 305 will make it's power at a lower rpm though and if you are looking to power a 2900 pound truck, a 305 is plently for the task. If you are looking to make a street/strip car then 350 is definitely the way to go. A big bonus to 305's is that everyone wants a 350 and people almost give away 305 parts.

I agree with roadshow...My machinist is saying that these days, its easier to buy the aftermarket rotating pieces and finish up the machine work. Cutting up GM cranks anymore he feels digs into the cost factors of what is now available.
Its all about desired preference and choice....
Good Luck!

Well if your putting that much work into an Isuzu v-6 you perty need an Alpine and then that engine would blow the doors off a 4.3L...

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...

My vote for a driver is the305 as they are cheap,plentiful,plenty of power for a LUV and will get better gas milage. Get one with flat top pistons Performer cam and intake and it should out last the truck well you know what i mean

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s