New 78 LUV Mikado

[Dano69c10]

Just bought a 78 Chevy LUV Mikado, will post pics tomorrow! Yoo Hoo!

[hotrod 80]

sweet!

[Dano69c10]

Here's the PIC!



I want to clean her up and make her look bone stock.
Under the hood though...
a V-6 or maybe it's just cheaper to shoehorn in a 350 v-8, huh, huh, huh?
I'm slowly going to De-Isuzuize it and Chevroletize it!

Thanx
Dano

I'll keep posting pics as I do stuff.

[72BlckButy]

Sweet little LUV!

[RPOZ11]

Looks like a great start to something....FAST!

[Dano69c10]

Thanx hotrod, blckbuty, and RPO!

[Bishops Trucks]

Everybody needs a little Luv!

[Dano69c10]

Wow, what a PITA!
My LUV has been in the shop for three weeks trying to get it to pass smog. Now that it has passed I was able to get it registered.
I went to pick it up this week at the shop and the mechanic said it wouldn't start; said its a problem with the coil. I can't wait to get it back on the road. Sorry just had to vent.
Dano

[RPOZ11]

Originally Posted by Dano69c10

Wow, what a PITA!
My LUV has been in the shop for three weeks trying to get it to pass smog. Now that it has passed I was able to get it registered.

Dano

Hey , what's the smog law rules for the state of Texas???

Here in California, it's 1976 and up to current that MUST be smogged!

[Dano69c10]

Finally got my truck today! It was great driving it home. Now I need to get some work done on it, keep everyone posted...
Dano

[RPOZ11]

Cool!

If you need the V8 stuff, I got them!

[Dadsredwagon]

nice,

I looked forever around here(Houston) looks like a good start.

[67CHIP72]

I like it. Does it still pass smog o.k.?

[Dano69c10]

Yep passed smog, worried about the next test in 2 years.
Installed new side mirrors and an inside 10" rear-view mirror, what a difference!
I don't like the cheapo JCWhitney side view mirrors I bought, but they'll do until I get some cash for some decent mirrors. I'll get some pics up soon, of the mirrors.
Dano

[gchemist]

Luv it!!

[Myself]

How about a 2.8 or 3.4 multi port 5 speed swap from a 3rd gen Camaro or Firebird?? It would have great power and Fuel economy in that little thing.

[Dano69c10]

I wish!
In Cali we have to install all of the emissions components that the engine came with and take it to be inspected by the state.
I hope someday I'll have the aptitude to install a computer controlled engine.
Dano

[special-K]

Hey,Dano`s in LUV.I like those little numbers.

[screwballl]

I had a 79 4x4 Luv Mikado some 15 years ago, it was yellow and had the original stripes down the side and hood... loved that truck.
Since these have the 4 cylinder Isuzu engine, it should be real easy to fix it to get it to pass smog tests...
Then when you have the time and money, find a strong V6 to toss in there for speed and decent gas mileage.

[pquick]

used to have 4x4 luv, rolled it , beat it, sank it in the creek, screwed like a rockstar & raised holy hell in it... and she never up on me....gotta find another...damn i miss that little luv....cool ride...im jealous.

[screwballl]

mine finally died after about 3 weeks of low oil and almost no antifreeze... then I got it fixed and never quite ran right after that

[Mickey_D]

Dano, something to think about. I know you said you wanted to "Cheveroletize" it, but the Isuzu V-6 from the Impulse used the same bellhousing as the 1.8L that's in there. So did the 1.9L I-4 turbo from the Impulse and Imark. From what I remember, every Isuzu RWD engine and transmission were identical in the bellhousing bolt pattern so they were all interchangeable. That includes the Diesels.

Yes, a 2.8L or 4.3L Vortec from an S-10 would be sweet, but that would involve a whole lot of fabricating as far as engine mounts, radiator, wiring, transmission mounts, driveshaft, shifter location, etc. It might make up for the lack of "Chevrolet" by being so much easier to use the Isuzu stuff instead.

I know when I had my 79 4X4 (with a 74 2WD body on it) I ended up dropping in a (lightly breathed on) 1.9L I-4 and squeezing enough BHP out of it to howl the tires all the way into 3rd (with a topper on the back) and still get 19-21mpg out of it. And I drove it like I stole it wherever I went...

[screwballl]

I think Mickey has the best course of action... as much as someone may want to alter a truck, it will end up with much more work and many more months or possibly years until it is back on the road again. going from one Isuzu option to another will end up the easiest and best route to go without tearing the truck down and putting the Luv body onto an official Chevy frame/engine/hardware type of thing...

[Dano69c10]

In California the smog laws are so harsh! Any engine exchange on a vehicle has to be inspected by the appropriate state agency. All engine exchanges must include all sensors and emissions components from the host vehicle.
It seems like it is going to be a PITA any way I go, Chevy or Isuzu. I've decided to just drive the truck the way it is, have fun and save on gas. After the engine goes, I will part out the vehicle to anyone who needs LUV parts.
Dano

[Mickey_D]

There are places out there that still have reman stock engines for those things. Also there's a lot of upgrades that are hidden that will improve mileage, performance and emissions. Like the Crane 1/4 mile dirt track cam, the Jacobs Omnipak ignition system, and a Weber carb from a Pinto.

The original OHC engine that came in the LUV had the cam timing retarded 4 degrees to reduce power to come into line with the competition. But the Crane cam corrects that.

The original Hitachi HH240D vacuum secondary carb was detuned also to reduce performance. A Weber mechanical secondary has no such restrictions, which gives better performance but also improves emissions.

The Jacobs ignition helps burn all that extra gas mixture, improving emissions there, too.

You can easily bump the original 74hp engine up well over 125hp with those mods alone and still skate past emissions testing like a breeze.

The weakest links in the drivetrain are the head gaskets and the 4 bolts at the rear U-joint. And if you happen to carry around almost 4,000 pounds in the back doing 125 miles in 1st, 2nd and reverse 6 days a week, you'll eventually wear the idler shaft out in the tranny. Don't ask how I know this...

Can you tell I wish I still had mine?