Merlin Resurrects this 1978 Chevy Luv Truck from It’s Grave!
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- Опубліковано 6 лип 2024
- @MerlinsOldSchoolGarage plucked this old Chevy Luv truck out of a field in Montana! Now that it has sat in the desert heat and sun for the last 7 years it has been rat infested and rotten! Merlin is going to fix up one of his all time favorite trucks to drive around like he did in his younger years.
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Thanks for watching!
I wish the Auto manufacturers would bring back the small trucks for the in-between jobs.❤
They are too busy making humongous over complicated pricey trucks that for the most part never see a tablespoon of dirt. It took me a while to find a early Ford Ranger without all the bells and whistles. Other than the lack of cab space, I'll take an older Isuzu, Toyota, Nissan (Datsun), Mazda and maybe and maybe an older Ford Courier.
Ford makes the ranger and the maverick, Chevy still has the Colorado.
@@eshootziscrs2868 and they're all bigger than a full sized truck of the 80's and 90's
Nothing even slightly small about them.
The S10, Ranger, Dakota, etc used to be about half the size of a full sized truck not 1" smaller at max like today
Merlin, I think it's about time to get a lot to put some of your stuff like your cousin Paul. Your getting pretty packed. Lol
My old Taco that my son drives now is smaller than the new one's , is it just bigger is better or more they can charge. You don't need a big truck all the time. But more than 660cc tiny truck
I can't believe I sat there while eating breakfast watching someone maintenanceizing a Chevy Luv. To my surprise I enjoyed every minute! You never cease to amaze.
Hell yes i was a minitrucker , still am. Its reassuring to know im not the only insane adult playing with toys.
My Pops had a black 4x4 LUV with a 6.5' plow back in the 80's. He used to plow out everybody on the street. Up here in NH we can get a lot of snow. The truck never failed in its job. He was like a kid again when he was working that thing. Payment for his services usually involved a pie of some sort.
Merlin, you're a magician.
That truck has risen from the grave(l).
I had a Chevy Luv/Isuzu, a Ford Courrier/Mazda, several Datsun 710s... I was a mini trucker!
Merlin your work ethic is amazing. You manage to squeeze lemons into lemonade every week.
That’s a sweet truck! Everything Merlin touches turns to a thing of beauty! Love the channel Merl!
first car I ever bought was a 77 Luv long bed, 2wd, love what you did to this one, not a fan of the wheel choice or the lowering, but it's yours, you can have it how you like, I am a huge fan of saving these old cars
I had one of these as my 1st car…
It was 2 years old!!!
Second best part of my Sundays are a morning with a video from MOSG....#1 of course is church.
Building many lowered minis in the 90s, living in Missoula, Mt. Thanks for the memories, Merlin
used to drive a 1980 Courier about 40 miles to work on dirt roads, had a portable radio for tunes that came free with a Time magazine suscription 😆
An old friend had a Chevy Luv, we went everywhere in that truck, hardly ever had an issue, ran like a dream. Nice to see a mini back in action.
I restored 3 Chevy LUV trucks way back. A 78, an 80, and an 81 4WD. Very reliable trucks.
I bought a used 1972 LUV in San Diego 2wd drove it all over the Anza Borego desert! Drove it hard never a problem. Great memories!
I bought a 74 Luv in 79 while stationed in Guam for 3 years in the Navy. Taught my wife how to drive a stick shift in it lol. Always wanted to get a 4x4 one.
Blast from the past for me. I had a '76 LUV. Drove that thing over 130 thousand miles all over the place. Thanks for the memories.
The Pott County Legend would be so proud of you guys.
The mini truck hoarder of Pott County! 😂
Omg I had that same truck back in 1989 . I luved that truck. The bed tie downs were the best. It climbed hills like a goat.
The Chevy Luv is a nice time capsule from back then. Thanks for sharing Merlin the Luv looks great..
I loved the 4x4 Chevy LUVS ...Always wanted one ..
Gotta luv a Chevy luv.
My first truck at my first wedding was a 1974 Chevy luv stick, it was baby color green lol it lasted about 1 year, and that marriage about 5 years , lol😮thanks BigAl California.
Love this episode Merlin! I had a 72, drove it in high school. Swapped in a 327 right after high school in 76, drove that truck for 14 years with builds from a tunnel ram dual quad to a blower. Lots of fun and honed my skills on it. Thanks for the memories!
That old LUV is cleaning up nice. Uses a bit of oil, but you’ve got a running truck. These are just cool old pickups. My favorite LUV I the first gen 4x4 short bed in black with the white wagon wheels, raised white letter tires and round tail lights below the tailgate. In black with red interior upholstery. And the shiny front bumper and headlight trim.
What memories we had a Chevy luv back in the day was a high school driver! And then I bought a 1972 Chevy from my neighbor as my first truck. Wish I still had both today.
I had a LUV back in 76, it was black, like yours. Brought back lots of memories. I blew that engine up in 79. Got it rebuilt, first date with my wife, married in 83, still together. Great truck.
My brother-in-law had a 1980 Luv with a diesel. The glow plug went out and he could not get parts to repair it. I once drove a Ford Courier. The roughest riding vehicle I’ve ever been in. Love your videos Merlin.
A starter button and a resistor or a set of 12 volt glow plugs going straight to 12 volts is how I've been getting past that. Just hold the button and count to ten before releasing it and then turn the key to start. Might have to count to 15 or 20 in colder weather. You don't really need the glow plug timer, etc to make it run. Generic glow plugs are only about $5 each and fairly easy to match up.
Best!
Isuzu diesel parts may still be available at Thermo King dealers as that engine was used by Thermo King for a lot years
@@blackrifle556 Glow plugs and the Controller for the 2.2L Isuzu Diesel powered Chevy Luv are also available from RockAuto though you may have to upgrade to the 1981 style. The controller starts at about $14 for the one made by Standard Auto Parts and the go up to about $28 for the ACDelco Gold. The Beck/Arnley glow plugs are $6.15 each.
However its not VooDoo and even if the exact parts are no longer available its very easy to swap over to an old school manual 12 volt system. Hey even an old cogitator like me can handle it.
Best!
My cousin had a luv with a 350 in it and boy we had a ton of fun in that little truck. I haven't seen one in long time. Brings back great memories.
I had a Ford courier back in the late 80s and it was the best truck I ever owned. It was painted with house paint with a roller and still the best truck I ever owned
Back in the day after school we would have these little trucks lowered, air cleaner lid flipped, hot-wired, have an hour of cruising in and put back together before Dad got home.
Great little truck. Good work. Thanks 🇬🇧
My first truck was an 84 s10 and the Chevy luv has always been my dream first project. I'm super excited to live vicariously with this video, thank you!
I remember those old Luv pickups. My Dad bought an old one a gave to my son back around 1989. He had a blast with that old truck. Drove the dickens out of it for 2 or 3 years before graduating to a bit newer S-10. Looks like you got it running pretty good. Nice job, Merlin!!
One of my dream trucks !!!
She's gorgeous!!
You can't ruin that truck, you made it a lot better! My pride and joy is my garage-kept 1990 Ford Ranger which I bought new. It's a 5-speed standard cab with a 2.9L V6. Every time I drive it I get thumbs up from other car people. I love seeing the older vehicles resurrected from rust and wrecking yards.
Looks fantastic Merlin, lowering it was the right call.😊
Looks great Merlin. We lowered my son's Ford Ranger back in the 80s. He really enjoyed that truck.
Sweet truck great job on the mini truck
Awesome and outstanding as always.Thanks for sharing and taking us along
I had a 77 baby blue Chevy Luv. It was my senior year of High school (78) Lots of memories. I put a am/fm 8 track player in it. I also put wide tires and wheels on the back and a short glass pack muffler. Fun!
Great video and the truck looks cool with Centerlines. Always liked that body style best among the minis. Thanks for an interesting watch😎
Nice little runabout. I love it.
I wish I'd have known what I know now, that there would be days when light trucks like these wouldn't be available.
I'd have bought so many Luvs, Couriers, D50s, Datsuns, Toyotas, etc.
I went to high school with a guy who'd gotten one of the 1970's Chevy aluminum block V8s, and put it in a Luv over a summer. That was the world's most noisy, twitchy, and sketchy shade tree truck, but it was sure fun once the terror faded.
Outside of the US, the Luv name lives on, we call it the Colorado.
LUV...Light utility vehicle ! 😁
Mrs Johnson you are an angel! I have trouble with the amount of stuff I have big dreams for 🛠️🔧🛠️🔧🛠️🔧. Because of my better half 😊. Thank you 🙏 for allowing Mr M.J. To do his thing 😘 !! Dam always comment. Before the end 😢. Beautiful build brother
A perfect run around town for parts truck, looks good.
Mini trucks are awesome! You made that luv look way better! Your an automotive wizard Merlin.
Thanks for your vid 😇💟💟💟 Love and bless you guys, good work Merlin.
Looks 400% better than it did trucks always look better lower to the ground I like it I like it this is Ken from groveland Florida keep up the good work Marla good work Merlin see you next Sunday we
My brother had a chevy luv diesel. That was an amazing truck. I had a Datsun with a ford v6 and a toyota 4x4 with a diesel and i miss both of them trucks especially the toy diesel
Just gave away a 80toy long bed to wrecker.
Live where no room to work.
Loved the long bed , it wasn’t as rough riding AS A SHORT 76 I HAD BEFORE.
Nice luv Chevy nice tires with hub it awesome bring old mini truck on road
This is what I find interesting about your channel. A big variety of different projects
My dad had one and it never let us down
Had a red '76 4X4 in the mid '80s, looking at a pic of it right now. Was a blast bombing around 2 tracks and sand hills, cheap on gas as a daily driver, all for $300!
My very first truck was a 1977 Chevy LUV 1.8 in-line 4. Replaced the garbage carburetor with a Weber carb.Rebuilt the Engine witch had 200,000 miles . Crane cam heavy duty valve springs shaved head. Hooker headers, center force clutch, points out of the 289 ford. Stock points would float at 8200 the ford point would go to 8800. 215 HP on AV gas at 6800. Thanks for sharing the Little Utility Vehicle.
Magical Merlin, never know what he's gonna pull outta his
hat. 😂😂
Drove a Luv in high school back in the early 80s. Great truck. This brought back a lot of memories. Thank you very much!
I owned a 4x4 1979 little utility vehicle LUV and we did a lot of engine modifications and still wouldn't climb our mountain roads. It was gut less. But it looked great.
Looks like an absolute blast of a beater mini truck! Love it!
That is my dream truck, we had them here in South Africa as an Isuzu truck with, I think, a 1.8l diesel engine.
Man, that brings back memories. I worked for the Food & Ag Dept. from 1979 through the 1980’s driving that same year Chevy Luv pickup. It was 4WD, Light Blue, White spoke rims, and had a white eagle on the door. I LUV’ed that truck!
Merlin little truck 🚛 looking good. Never had one back in the day but i like them now with the gas prices. Wheels made a big difference and lowing in purfice. Enjoy the little girl.
A school friend of mine had a Red 4x4 Luv. Always thought it was a sharp looking little truck. 💯👍
Merlin, back in the day I had a 77 luv, black, loved it, then later in life started my mobile pressure washing business and had to sell it and I really regretted it but it is what it is, great video.
Sharp Luv right there. I had a 4×4. Loved it
That's a blast from the past we all were trying to make low riders out of whatever we were driving I had a Datsun pickup
I raised my Datsun up and put big tires on it
Lookin good Merlin.
Merlin, You just caused this old heart of mine to skip a beat. This video brought back flood of memories of my two Luvs.. Both had stepside beds that came from California Stepside Bed Company. My 79 was baby blue 2wd with white wagon wheels. 60 on rear 70 on front. Had a spoiler on the front with fender flares like Mr T custom van had. My 80 was white 4wd slightly lifted with a chrome roll bar inside the stepside bed. I traded a 1970 Olds 442 for both of them. Boy did I ever lose on that deal. Story of my life. I would love to find another Stepside Luv. However my garage is full of project BMW Drift Cars builds at the moment. I have photos of my two Luv's if you would love to see them. I also have a factory Chevrolet Luv Parts Catalog. I retired from a GM Dealership Parts Department after 44 years in the Auto Parts business.
Great job on the little Luv truck. I watch this channel for the fabrication skills, and I'm always impressed.
I’ve got a 1980 4x4 LUV Mikado. It’s hard to come by parts, but it’s a fun toy to drive around and I love the decals painted on the hood and bedside. It screams 80’s nostalgia.
Merlin, that thing looks amazing. I had same year Luv in 1998 and it was 93% rust. Every time I went around the corner I thought the body was going to collapse. I took it to get a safety inspection and they just laughed at me.
Back in the Late 80s I bought a 1973 F-100. I was sold on that truck because of the AM, one-speaker radio. I knew if it had been owned by a teenager, they would have added an AM/FM Cassette with Stereo speakers and it would likely have been driven much harder.
Centerline wheels look great . I didn't get the Luv truck because the population of Vegas would have gone up too soon . So the El Camino was my truck back in the 80s
Shoot, that thing will outlive us all. great job and a kool little ride. now it's gonna need some A/C.
You showed the little Chevy Luv some love!! Great little pickup!
Yup had 1 it was yellow good little truck duel points 😊
My first LUV was a white 2wd great little truck but wanted a 4wd so got a black 4wd, one of the most capable 4x4’s I’ve ever owned! Thanks for bringing this one back to life!
Fantastic work your doing
Good job Merlin! I drove two models of Toyota HiLux pickups from 78-98. They were indestructible great running trucks!
Yes I'm a min trucker. And I still have mine. I really need to get mine back on the road. It's a 79 Toyota
Looks very sharp too!!
Nice 😅
I love it.
My buddy used to have a Dotson truck and it went everywhere !!!
Thanks for that flash back down memory lane. I had an 80 luv for my first truck, fresh off the farm. Drove it all through high school.
Great to see a classic back on the road
I like it,you sure know how pick a classic.
Cool truck, I graduated in 78, so I kinda predated the mini truck era, but appreciated the work. I had a lower 73 stepside with a 454
Those little Isuzu's were great little motors. They were installed in a lot of vehicles. Correct me if I am wrong but 1.7 liters and they made one that was 2.0. Had several Luv's and great running little trucks. I had a crawler I was building years , decades, ago and I had an aftermarket step side bed that I put on it. Don't you wish you had all those old cars back again? That bed was one I wish I had kept.
You did a great job on that truck! 😀👍
Once again a pulled a few rabbits out of your magic hat. Merlin the original OG of fabrication for the home run. Thanks for taking us subscriber's along for the ride. Love the channel. Keep up the great work. ✌️👍🤙🤙😁😎🍀🍀🍀🍀🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🪄🪄🪄🪄.
Dean is the man glad to call him a friend
Lookin good Merlin!
Great little Chevy LUV, you always bring it every video Merlin. Thanks for sharing your skills.
Awesome! Luv the truck!
Small trucks that worked.
Man it was a great time.
Merlin, you are a magician, you make things look so interesting and at the same time fun! Keep truckin!
My first car in high school was a ‘76 silver Chevy Luv. I loved that old truck. Drove it all through high school and few years longer until the rust took over.