The Luv Machine Project...info inside

a_hiatt · 01-17-2005, 08:59 PM

Luv Machine - A small 2wd chevy truck made in 1980 transformed into a trail monster with a 351 cubic inch engine, 3-speed automatic transmission, 9" rear axle w/ locker and a welded Dana 44 front axle.

A friend and i have decided to take on a project thats probably never been done before. We will be taking a engine/trans/t-case/driveshafts/axles from a 1978 bronco xlt and the body/frame of a '80 luv and creating a monster. It's a long story of how this project came about but i will keep you guys posted w/ pics and descriptions. As of right now we have the bronco stripped and the engine/trans/t-case and driveshafts removed and we are ready to pull the axles and start mocking the frontend up and make motor mounts. If you have negative comments dont bother, we're doing it. Other than that, any input welcome.

Ramboss429 · 01-17-2005, 09:29 PM

This is a first, I'm glad to see a Ford going into a Chevy, usually it is vice-verca, g'luck with your build.

a_hiatt · 01-18-2005, 03:10 PM

thanks, i'll get pics of the bronco up today or tomorrow. it wasn't too pretty

sick_sahara_yj · 01-18-2005, 03:49 PM

bring on some pics, id like to see the build up. although ford into chevy, but sounds neat.

keller · 01-18-2005, 10:26 PM

damn dont ruin a good old luv

hell I got all kinda ah shit to make bad ill trade ya for it

depends on wear ya live thou

gottagofast · 01-18-2005, 11:21 PM

so where's the Chevy tech come in ..... proper thread for body bolts? sounds like a f@#% tech thread to me

a_hiatt · 01-19-2005, 08:51 AM

we'll it already had an isuzu 1.8L 4-banger and 4wd when we started. so we're doing it a favor. and as far as the chevy tech vs. ford tech... how to fabricate v-8 motor mounts, welding cross member and fabbing an offroad suspension and lots of other stuff.

gottagofast · 01-19-2005, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a_hiatt

we'll it already had an isuzu 1.8L 4-banger and 4wd when we started. so we're doing it a favor. and as far as the chevy tech vs. ford tech... how to fabricate v-8 motor mounts, welding cross member and fabbing an offroad suspension and lots of other stuff.

That's not chevy tech, That's Billy tech

a_hiatt · 01-19-2005, 02:21 PM

true, but someone may find it useful. if not then go ahead and shut this thread down

92 S-Dime · 01-19-2005, 03:00 PM

it sounds like a cool project to me. Only thing is, i know if it were me, I'd use a chevy drivetrain. I know when i did a SAS in my chevy, I didnt even want to use dana axles from a ford vehicle. I guess Im just weird though.

a_hiatt · 01-19-2005, 04:09 PM

we'll here's why we are using what we're using on the project. One of my friends got a chevy luv a few years ago and built it up with an isuzu 1.8 liter, stock year axle and who knows what front axle. this summer i built my 99 xj and we started wheeling together fairly often. He also has a wrangler to drive everyday so the luv is the play vehicle. About a 2 months ago i bought a 78 bronco xlt for $175. if fixed an $11 brake line and it was running and driving(like the windshield says). i planned on fixing it up and selling it but since that would take forever on this thing and i knew the luv needed some new life breathed into it, i decided to sell my friend the drivetrain for half of what its worth and help him install it. So the reason we are putting for parts into a chevy luv is because i got the bronco for $175, and the luv the parts more than the bronco.

heres some pics of the bronco before it was stripped

gottagofast · 01-19-2005, 11:54 PM

quick thought here ..... it would be sooo ( read as LOTS!) much easier to slap the luv cab and clip on the bronco chassis and scrap the bronco body and luv bed OR do a little measuring I bet the wheelbases are within a couple inches if it's a shortbed luv.
Also I was just bustin yer chops a little .... dude if it makes you happy, who gives a fawk what every fawker here thinks? FAWKIN GO FOR IT! When yer in mud over the tires you can lie and say yer drivin a chebby

a_hiatt · 01-20-2005, 09:06 AM

well that was wht i wanted to do too, but he wanted to do it this way because he couldnt insure it as a chevy w/ a ford frame. and it turns out that the bronco frame a bit of rust on the back end. yes the wheelbases are 1.5 inches apart so we can fab something up w/in reason.

01-17-2005, 08:59 PM	#1
a_hiatt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Member # 41675 Posts: 8	The Luv Machine Project...info inside Luv Machine - A small 2wd chevy truck made in 1980 transformed into a trail monster with a 351 cubic inch engine, 3-speed automatic transmission, 9" rear axle w/ locker and a welded Dana 44 front axle. A friend and i have decided to take on a project thats probably never been done before. We will be taking a engine/trans/t-case/driveshafts/axles from a 1978 bronco xlt and the body/frame of a '80 luv and creating a monster. It's a long story of how this project came about but i will keep you guys posted w/ pics and descriptions. As of right now we have the bronco stripped and the engine/trans/t-case and driveshafts removed and we are ready to pull the axles and start mocking the frontend up and make motor mounts. If you have negative comments dont bother, we're doing it. Other than that, any input welcome.

01-18-2005, 03:49 PM	#4
sick_sahara_yj Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Member # 38380 Location: montreal, mo Posts: 417	bring on some pics, id like to see the build up. although ford into chevy, but sounds neat. __________________ If your not breaking stuff, then you arent trying hard enough.....smash the skinny pedal

01-18-2005, 10:26 PM	#5
keller Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Member # 34281 Location: st,clair MO Posts: 117	damn dont ruin a good old luv hell I got all kinda ah shit to make bad ill trade ya for it depends on wear ya live thou __________________ 05 2500 CTD 6speed regular cab 91 tracker 33"s 95 ranger beadlocked 38"s

01-18-2005, 11:21 PM	#6
gottagofast Rock God Join Date: Apr 2003 Member # 19031 Location: louisville KY Posts: 1,082	so where's the Chevy tech come in ..... proper thread for body bolts? sounds like a f@#% tech thread to me __________________ Kevin My build thread Killed the S-10 n2 jeeps now

01-19-2005, 03:00 PM	#10
92 S-Dime Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Member # 17868 Location: Seth, WV Posts: 275	it sounds like a cool project to me. Only thing is, i know if it were me, I'd use a chevy drivetrain. I know when i did a SAS in my chevy, I didnt even want to use dana axles from a ford vehicle. I guess Im just weird though. __________________ 92 S10/233/208/44/60/35's-Getting 4 linked, and other stuff... 82 K20/6.2 Diesel/SM465/Tow Rig-For sale 94 S-Blazer/4.3/3500/G80-Stock for now

01-17-2005, 09:29 PM	#2
Ramboss429 Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Member # 31425 Location: South Dakota Posts: 414	This is a first, I'm glad to see a Ford going into a Chevy, usually it is vice-verca, g'luck with your build.

01-18-2005, 03:10 PM	#3
a_hiatt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Member # 41675 Posts: 8	thanks, i'll get pics of the bronco up today or tomorrow. it wasn't too pretty

01-19-2005, 08:51 AM	#7
a_hiatt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Member # 41675 Posts: 8	we'll it already had an isuzu 1.8L 4-banger and 4wd when we started. so we're doing it a favor. and as far as the chevy tech vs. ford tech... how to fabricate v-8 motor mounts, welding cross member and fabbing an offroad suspension and lots of other stuff.

01-19-2005, 02:21 PM	#9
a_hiatt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Member # 41675 Posts: 8	true, but someone may find it useful. if not then go ahead and shut this thread down

01-19-2005, 04:09 PM	#11
a_hiatt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Member # 41675 Posts: 8	we'll here's why we are using what we're using on the project. One of my friends got a chevy luv a few years ago and built it up with an isuzu 1.8 liter, stock year axle and who knows what front axle. this summer i built my 99 xj and we started wheeling together fairly often. He also has a wrangler to drive everyday so the luv is the play vehicle. About a 2 months ago i bought a 78 bronco xlt for $175. if fixed an $11 brake line and it was running and driving(like the windshield says). i planned on fixing it up and selling it but since that would take forever on this thing and i knew the luv needed some new life breathed into it, i decided to sell my friend the drivetrain for half of what its worth and help him install it. So the reason we are putting for parts into a chevy luv is because i got the bronco for $175, and the luv the parts more than the bronco. heres some pics of the bronco before it was stripped

01-19-2005, 11:54 PM	#12
gottagofast Rock God Join Date: Apr 2003 Member # 19031 Location: louisville KY Posts: 1,082	quick thought here ..... it would be sooo ( read as LOTS!) much easier to slap the luv cab and clip on the bronco chassis and scrap the bronco body and luv bed OR do a little measuring I bet the wheelbases are within a couple inches if it's a shortbed luv. Also I was just bustin yer chops a little .... dude if it makes you happy, who gives a fawk what every fawker here thinks? FAWKIN GO FOR IT! When yer in mud over the tires you can lie and say yer drivin a chebby __________________ Kevin My build thread Killed the S-10 n2 jeeps now

01-20-2005, 09:06 AM	#13
a_hiatt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Member # 41675 Posts: 8	well that was wht i wanted to do too, but he wanted to do it this way because he couldnt insure it as a chevy w/ a ford frame. and it turns out that the bronco frame a bit of rust on the back end. yes the wheelbases are 1.5 inches apart so we can fab something up w/in reason.

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