LUVTruck.com

Well my Luv decided to blow the head...again, this is the third time the head has blow in the 2 years that I've had this truck so this time around I'm calling it quits, I'll replace the head/headgasket on it one more time and then I'll be selling it. I've really have had it with the blowing of heads, and as far as I can tell there was no real reason that it blew this time. So I'm getting ride of the Luv and will be getting either a Trooper or a Toyota pickup

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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.

say it ain't so...

Do we know what you truck looks like? Are there pics posted anywhere?


There must be something causing it to blow. Has the head been resurfaced? Has the block been checked? Thats very strange.

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

Rondog, yes to both accounts

there are a few pics of it on here, Scarlet Red, 4x4, Factory A/C, factory buckets, lifted 4.5", after market 15" rims, 215x75r15 BFG A/T KO's w/ about 5,000mi on them in other words one of the nicer 4x4 Luvs still on the road

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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.

consider yourself banned...

Just a question, what brand of headgaskets have you been using? And also are you shure your coolant flow is good? 3 times in one year is not right definetly. But these engines are alot tougher than most people think as long as you use quality parts. Only gasketsd that i have found worth anything are either Isuzu gaskets or Victor Rienze/ Dana...

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

If you keep blowing the head gasket after surfacing and new parts CHECK the block to see if it is warped,if it is it to can be resurfaced if you clean all the oil out.I used to do this alot when i worked in a machine shop.

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

Coolant flow is good, had the rad checked and it was good. could it be the water pump?? and I guess it could be the head gaskets as well, Felpro's both times( I'll be going with an Isuzu gasket this time around ) I'm pretty darn sure it's not the block, as I had it checked out the last time it blew the head. The fan cluch is a fixed one and not a thermal, that may have something to do with also (have'nt used the a/c though so I don't know) as far as temp goes it stays around normal except for the longest of hill climbs.

Any way I'm going to start taking things apart this week and get things checked out. I'll order an Isuzu gasket set for it and then put it back together and on the market she goes. I'll be posting an ad here when I'm ready

As far as replacement vehicles go I've narrowed it down to 2 choices, either a 1992-1995 Isuzu Trooper , or a 1990-1995 Toyota 4Runner.

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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.

Thermostat sticking? Had a coolant flush lately?

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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'll tell you what, I'll be in Phoenix Thursday through Sunday, so if you can have her driveable by then, i'll take her off your hands!

--
Timmay

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2.3 Liters of Isuzu Glory!!!

Pup, Short time frame but I'll see what I can do, PM if you want any more info

Final, that was one of my ideas as well, I'll replace it just to be on the safe side.

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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.

Rezkid heres a very helpful hint use a screwdriver and open the t-stat a few times because the tend to stick when new and not open until about 250-280 degrees, been there done that. good luck with your head problem.

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

Tj, thanks I'll try that and see what i come up with. Thanks guys for the help, it's been great

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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.

Timmy youe should just trade him your Pup. Then i could actually help you with every problem you encounter rather than just start ripping stuff apart and tell you i know what im doing...

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

I would really really like to, but unfortunately I don't think I could afford the gas to drive it home.
It would be nice to have a good 4x4 luv in the driveway.

--
Timmay

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2.3 Liters of Isuzu Glory!!!

yeah and the Rez-LUV is a perty good looking one from the pics i have seen...

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

Too bad Pup

Thanks Meep, I have tried to keep it pretty good looking

Well, REZ-Luv gets fixed this weekend so we'll see how things go

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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.

Well, Luv getting torn into manllana, went to the Isuzu dealer to pick up a headgasket conversation went something like this:

Parts dude: Hi what can help you with today?
Me: I need a headgasket for a 1980 Chevy Luv
PD: You need to go to our Chevy dealer for that
Me: Umm it has an Isuzu engine in it, G180Z
PD: What did the engine come out of?
Me:(starting to get pissed) It came from the factory stock
PD:(looking at me like I'm nuts) ????
Me: The truck was made by Isuzu
PD: What other vehicles had this engine?
Me: First gen Pickups, Troopers(G200 but they use the same headgasket)
PD:( starts talking to another customer and ignors me) at that I rolled my eyes and said under my breath "last time I get anything for here you jackass"

Moral of story, the Parts Dep. at Tim's Isuzu in Prescott AZ SUCKS BIG HAIRY DONKEY NUTS , fuckin square nut monkey banger

Anyway, went to the Chevy dealer, and it turn out the they no longer carry the part, and that I have to go after market. So I ended up going to AutoZone and getting a Felpro kit(not my first choice but at least they had it in stock) I'll start tearing things apart tommorow and see what the damage is and then throw the thing back together

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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.

Luv's with a.c were notorious for blowing head gaskets when they were new. The dealer fixed mine three times in a year and wouldn't do any more after that. The only thing they would do is offer me good trade in value for a full size truck. I took it. About a year later I was driving a 74 Luv with a 350/powerglide with a Ford Comet rear end. It was two inches wider, and was an eight inch. I had too much fun with that truck.

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I want to be different like everybody else.

Well got it all button'd up and it's running perty good, replaced the thermo and did a coolant flush, I'll be adding a 12" Perma-Cool fan when i get home, that sould help part of the problem, the other part(rad) I'll have rebuilt by a local rad shop and at the same time I'll have them recore it to a 2 or 3 row for some extra cooling capacity. I'll let you guys know how it goes...I may not end up selling it after all seems that when it's running I love the thing, and when it craps out on me makes me wish i had bought a Toy

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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.

are you using felpro there not right look at your old one and compar it to a felpro i have pic of it on here look for user PNC i found the right 1.8 gasket