1981 Chevrolet Luv 4x4 Turbo Diesel W/ Greasecar Wvo Kit Isuzu P'up Chevy on 2040-cars

VIN: J8ZBR14S8B8255900 Year: 1981
Make: Chevrolet
Model: Other Pickups
Cab Type (For Trucks Only): Regular Cab
Trim: Luv
Options: Turbo Diesel, Greasecar Waste Vegetable Oil Kit, 4-Wheel Drive, CD Player
Drive Type: Four Wheel Drive
Mileage: 154,000
Exterior Color: Red
Disability Equipped: No
Interior Color: Tan
Warranty: Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty
Number of Cylinders: 4

Condition: Used: A vehicle is considered used if it has been registered and issued a title. Used vehicles have had at least one previous owner. The condition of the exterior, interior and engine can vary depending on the vehicle's history. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections. ... 

Well Folks,

http://s697.photobucket.com/user/Andys52Willys/library/1981ChevroletLuvTurboDiesel4WDGreasecar 40 photos available here!

It is hard for me to believe, but I am putting my Luv up for sale. I purchased it with the intent of learning all I could about diesel mechanics and running waste vegetable oil effectively, and I could certainly say I’ve done that. I’m actually putting it up for sale because me and a friend of mine are looking to go into the WVO collection, filtering and sales business in my area. This truck doesn’t deserve to be stressed by trying to haul heavy loads of oil a couple times a week up and down the highway. I was fine grabbing the oil I needed in 5-gallon totes but were thinking bigger, so I need a bigger truck.

I purchased the Luv from an isuzupup.com member , who owned it for a short time. After scanning the Internet and researching small diesel trucks, and specifically 4wd Luv and Pups, this was the cleanest, best example I had found in a year! I specifically remember him telling me the reason he sold it was “this truck is too nice for me to drive.” I bought it from him with 141,382 miles in October 2010. The truck now has  just shy of 154,000 miles on it, and I use it as my daily driver.

Maintenance records date back to 1991 when the owner of Air Borne Express took ownership. This gentleman had a fleet of 30 P’UP’s and LUV’s for his courier business. This truck was his personal rig used mostly as a tow behind for his RV. The truck comes with a truck bed worth of parts from that time, and parts I’ve bought stored at my place in NY if the owner wants them and goes to get them. The parts will need to be picked up in Upstate New York if desired. That’d be a great way to make friends with folks on the forum, and keep the hobby alive for everyone. I really enjoyed the forum, getting and giving help where ever I could, and meeting so many nice folks throughout the years.

Here are some of the maintenance highlights:

107,000 Trucks engine was completely rebuilt top and bottom end, rebuilt injector pump

116,000 Clutch, throw out bearing, flywheel

127,000 Rear axle end seals

Since I’ve owned it:

141,000 All radiator hoses, heater hoses, thermostat and thermostat housing and water pump, block heater

142,000 Head gasket, valve adjustment, machined head

142,000 New fuel cut off solenoid, New glow plugs, glow plug controller, relays, etc.

145,000 Greasecar kit installed

145,000 Windshield and gasket, door weather stripping

147,000 Injector pump cold start device fixed

150,000 Emergency brake replaced, wheel cylinders, brake pads and shoes, master cylinder, bleed system.

151,000 5 New General Grabber AT2 tires, New Battery

152,000 Stock turbo system from 1987 turbo pup restored and retrofitted- new turbo from Turbo City, new 2” exhaust to the tailpipe, restored air cleaner and manifolds, new injectors, tachometer sending unit.

152,000 Flushed fuel tank, replaced lines with biodiesel lines, new filler neck and vent

152,000 Replace timing belt and tensioner bearing, fan belt

152,000 Installed new Bright Lamp headlamps, converted new LS dash gauge cluster with tachometer, new Stereo with auxiliary plug, Dynamat style sound insulation on hood, floors and door panels.


$700 on a Truck cap restoration and rebuild from a s-10 long bed to fit the Luv short bed, gives it the correct 80’s cap look and feel to it. Functional as a camper, great for storing my tools and belongings. Roof rack for ladders, bikes, canoes etc.

$2000 and 65 hours into WVO kit.

$2000 into the turbo install

$3500+ and many lost receipts in parts and labor

All told, I have somewhere between $11 and $13,000 into the truck.

The previous owner also gave me some great advice for owning a Luv, that any 30-year-old vehicle will need work as you own it. It has played out to be true with me in my time owning it but I loved every minute. It is a great feeling helping to keep a vehicular oddity like the Luv and Pup alive. It’s even cooler knowing you’re running a modern diesel engine the way Rudolf Diesel envisioned, on vegetable oils. You can go as far as you want with this truck, if you are OCD like me, you will continue to improve upon the vehicle as much as you can, or you could simply enjoy driving it for what it is!

I want to sell this to someone who is interested in running grease in it, and I am willing to throw in all the oil you will need to drive home to prove it. I’ll pick you up at the local airport. The 40-gallon tank in the rear gives you ~800 miles of veggy time, and I can give you how much you’ll need to get home thrown in with the deal. Drive it on WVO and you start paying it off! If the winning bidder doesn't want to run on WVO, I will happily take the system out and install it on my future truck, or a friend of mine. I think it would be a shame to take it out because it is a very clean install.

The truck is loud, smokes a little on start up, takes a few seconds to start and warm up, leaks 3-4 drops a night after parking, has small rust patches on the passenger side bed and three small spots on the lower tailgate. Driving a Luv is not like driving a new, diesel. It takes patience, and a new driving style. As of Tuesday, 9/10 it has needed a quick squirt of ether to cold start. Not entirely sure why, temperature is dropping here at 7,000' but I'm scratching my head. I couldn't start it for my commute to work without a shot of starting fluid today either. I'm not sure what it will take to get it to start without ether, but I have spares of the entire glow plug with the truck. I reasonably believe it could be driven home, and given a  mechanical tuneup, and tweaking the boost on the turbo would unleash the full potential of the truck.

That being said, the 70-horse truck pulled me up the continental divide driving 45-65 mph loaded down. It’s taken me to 10,000’ regularly to remote trailheads out here on the Western Slope of the Rockies. It just helped me move apartments last week, and did it without hesitance. Learning how to drive a truck like this takes a little time, but you will find true joy in it keeping it in the 45-55 hwy range, on back roads to go camping, country and dirt roads, and cruises. It’s definitely helped me enjoy the ride!

This truck has taken me some amazing places, and we’ve had a lot of fun along the way. It’s obviously been an obsession of mine, continuously doing upgrades on it. Looking forward to giving it a new home, and giving the WVO business a try for myself. Bring your sleeping bag and bedroll, some hand tools, your iPod, and a fun route home!

Give me a call with questions at (5 One Eight) Seventy-Seven4 98Oh6. I have marginal at best service at home from about 7:30AM to 7PM Mountain Time, but can return calls if you leave a number.

This truck is for sale locally and I reserve the right to end the auction at any time.