77 LuvTruck

[another2centsworth]

My forever ongoing "LuvTruck Project"

luvtruck profile.jpg


luvtruck engine.jpg

I've had this truck since 1981.

I put a small block Chevy in it around 92'

Painted it around 2000.

I have a 413CI .700 lift solid roller motor I'm building for it now.

Getting it ready for a cage.

I have done all of the work on this truck myself except for the block machining & sand blasting.

Later, Tim

[Chris L]

I always loved those little trucks,except im 6'4..prolly not much room in em.I like the late 70
s datsuns also..love to smack a smallblock in it and 18's

[another2centsworth]

I took my buddy for a ride in it and Mark is 6'3".

Needless to say he was "packed in" ....but man did he love the ride.

Those Datsun extended cabs w/the seat moved back would give a tall

man plenty of room. I had a blue 79 that I restored back in the 90s.

[another2centsworth]

I'm considering which Company to go with and I think it boils down to a couple of companies...Jeg's or Chassis Engineering. After the cage goes in I can install the headliner.

[regg187]

Heres a couple of shots of one I did this last summer









It is a 76 Luv on Jeep running gear. with a 327 Vette engine in it.

[regg187]

It was hideous looking, when brought to me. The owner calls it FRANENSTEIN.
but it does run like a raped ape. had to move it in and out of my Garage for a little while.

[another2centsworth]

I am so out of room. Seems like I can never get enough room.
I would like to find a bumper for my truck.
Cool Pics. :cool:
I would not have thought it would have jeep running gear....the beauty of custom modifications huh?

[regg187]

no rear bumper on this one , but I sprayed one off a nissan , tube style for this luv, it had the mounting brackets with it, and looked like it needed little mod to fit, just a few holes, also sprayed a big cow catcher they were gonna fit to the front bumper and frame, and a pair of frame mount nerf bars to make it easier to get into. they were having trouble finding a dashtop for this one. they are in the process of getting this stuff all put on right now!
I really like the clean engine compartment on yours!
this one was a rats nest of wires

[another2centsworth]

I have many hours of time invested. I started from ground zero. I pulled the 4 cylinder that I drove for 200,000 miles. Gutted the truck.
It's come a long ways because I was rough putting all of that "mileage" on it!
Here is a rough breakdown of "The Story".......

Notes: Got the 77'truck in 1980, 29000 miles. Drove it for 200,000 miles and pulled the 4 banger out and put the 355 in it after my Dad said, "It won't go in there". That was 1991. Ran it at the strip that year and turned 8.00s and 20s....burning the 215x14" skins most all the way. The engine was 76cc pocket ported/port matched, single points with stock coil, 4 bolt block, TRW forged pistons, polished rods, sps rod bolts, zoom double roller, Lunati Bracket Master II, Performer RPM, Double Pumper Holley, and other goodies. It turned over 7 grand but I shifted around 6. To make a long story short the engine was pulled for a complete resto and it was stolen....(the engine that is) Bummer..it let all the air out of my balloon. With a new kid and piles of responsibilities I put it on the back burner until 2002. What a mess it was. All this time gutted in the back yard in the elements.

Jump Forward Several Years...........

New engine and drivetrain: 360 Chevy, Flat Tops, 2.02/1.60 Swirled Stainless, 64cc pocket ported/port matched, Polished Rod Beams W/ARP bolts, Melling High Pressure, Lunati cam 1 degree advanced, Dynagear double roller, Block Hugger Headers, Weiand single plane, Double Pumper, TH350 w/3000 stall, 4:11 gears, aluminum radiator, billet pulleys, 1 wire alternator, Autogage, Mallory, 20,000 GVW trannie cooler with fan mounted under bed. Like the energizer bunny I could go on and on and on. Soooo, almost everything has been off or out except the cab. Everything was done at my home with exception of machine work on the block and heads by Gordon and sandblasting by "Rover". Goin' with 8" or 10" slicks this time shooting for 7s in the 8th. Then maybe some supercharging for 6s...he he. This will be mostly used for street/strip........

Jump forward several more years to present day..........


I have a 413CI .700 lift solid roller motor I'm building for it now.
Getting it ready for a cage.
Shooting for sixes on motor. Forget the blower.

Later, Tim

[jaak]

Cool ride dude. A friend when I was in High School had a Luv truck with a 400 small block in it. He does bodywork too and the truck has been repainted a couple of times. I was at his shop a while back ago and he still has that truck sitting in the back of it.

Jason

[another2centsworth]

Dug Up Some More Pics!
Later!

Luv Bed Fuel Cell.jpg

Luv Interior Minus Door Panels.jpg

The Interior Black so it didn't show details too well.

[regg187]

Nice and clean inside, noticed the new dash, cool setup for the strip. I found a clean used one at some scrap yard for 50$ for the owners ,cuz someone had made a wood one for it and it was a eyesore for sure. I like the fuel cell set up in the back, really a sharp truck overall. could you find weather stripping for yours? I ripped all the old dried out crap out of the one I did, with owners permission but they can't find anything that is close to OEM.
Oh yeah they configured a tilt steering wheel from an old ford explorer into it for making getting in and out easier. those cabs are SMALL! Same B&M slap shifter LOL mounted the same way with that GIANT inclineLOL

[another2centsworth]

Nice and clean inside, noticed the new dash, cool setup for the strip. I found a clean used one at some scrap yard for 50$ for the owners ,cuz someone had made a wood one for it and it was a eyesore for sure. I like the fuel cell set up in the back, really a sharp truck overall. could you find weather stripping for yours? I ripped all the old dried out crap out of the one I did, with owners permission but they can't find anything that is close to OEM.
Oh yeah they configured a tilt steering wheel from an old ford explorer into it for making getting in and out easier. those cabs are SMALL! Same B&M slap shifter LOL mounted the same way with that GIANT inclineLOL

My truck is street legal as of now with everything working with the exception of the wipers... I think the wiper motor is frozen up from corrosion.
It is purpose built for Street/Strip duty.
The dash is the same that came factory. It was ruined on top and cracked all over. I cut all the way across the top and replaced it with 3/4 inch high density foam. I filled the cracks on the facings with epoxy and dyed it all gloss black. Then I bought a dash cover to place over the foam. There are still mail order dash cover (skins) out there. I don't see the real need for it at this point...
The weather stripping can be ordered through JC Whitney. You have to match it the best you can. They
have something close.:cool:

[LS6]

Ordered my 10 point cage this week so hopefully I should have it in the truck by the middle of next month.

Tim,
Check your email, under " Your black Corvette. "
Jim

[another2centsworth]

Ok. Thanks Jim