Luv my new toy

[mrflibbles]

When is an isuzu not an isuzu? when its a Chev Luv!
Thanks to Pa man, i have been able to add this little beast to my collection! Its a 1976 Chevrolet Luv, 4-speed column shift tray top, 2wd. She is a bit ruff around the edges but fairly straight with only minorish rust to be found so far! Engine doesnt run, needs a starter and possible head work! So far im just plodding along with it and slowly getting panels and parts out of the shed to transform the look of the beast. (see last picture for a clue!)

Major plans for it are to get it together and running and drive it, maybe a bit of paint but lets not get too crazy!

[mrflibbles]

so i took a long look at the parts i had lying around and thought, "I wonder how the Florian bonnet will look on the luv?"
naturally this led to taking the bonnet off, the headlight trim & headlights, Grille came off, and so did the bumper gaurds and valance panel. Seemed the right thing to do at the time!
Luv Bonnet off, Florian bonnet sitting in position.

now the grille and lights are off along with the bumper and valance panel.

gaurds were next!


some of the differences in parts between the 76 Luv and the 69 Florian
gaurd shape around headlights (luv guard at the front)

bonnet hinges (big ones are the Luv hinges)


there is going to be some creative solutions involved here as the florian headlights are not a direct bolt in arrangement, but i will sort this out as i get into it more!

[BULLITT]

well done mate its an experience we all watch and it goes in the memory bank ..not too many stories on the forum about this update and you are doing it in speedy time ...we check you out with interest cheers davo ......no spanner slips and skinning the knuckles all will come together ....as arny said ...you can do it ....

[mrflibbles]

and a dodgy picture of the florian gaurds and bonnet in position

not sure if you can see it in this picture but there is a brace (?) that is welded to the front of the chassis rails and spans left to right, this protrudes far enough that it inter fears with the fitment of the florian front valance panel, i could trim some from the valance, or possibly reshape the bar? so it fits, I can see some interesting fitment issues happening!

[pa_man]

It was the one thing that worried me was why they changed the front shape and if the earlier valance would fit
I would attempt to modify the bumper brackets so it sits a bit further forward on the original valance
Next time anyone on the forum brings back a heap of parts from Japan see if there are some 72/73 Florian bumpers they can
bring back!!
Next Luv that comes up I might just have to keep, feelin the peer pressure to join the club
And its more likely that another Florian coming up
Josh

[GTtoo]

Just when you think you've seen it all Flibbs, FLORIAN LUV UTE Looks like fun, well done man.

B.

[mrflibbles]

GTtoo there is going to still be a fair amount of work to be done, im really only mocking it up at the moment!
pa_man the fitment issue isnt super bad, might have to trim a notch into the bottom of the valance and turn the dual cut outs into one, going to think about it a bit longer before i cut up florian parts!

Once its all mocked up I will strip it apart again and repair some minor rust issues, and hit it with a coat of paint (probably with some fancy colour like white!). And get the engine running at some stage! Just keeping in mind that this is a fairly low budget build so i will be doing what i can myself or with the help of some friends!

[pa_man]

Might have something that may make it a little easier, came across it by accident and waiting for a reply
thoroughly confused yet??
Josh

[mrflibbles]

always in a state of confusion here!

[BULLITT]

i josh don't tell me another flo???? cheers davo

[pa_man]

Hey Davo, had a couple of Florians a fair while ago, and wouldnt mind another (a bit more comfortable on long trips)
But having bought 2 Luvs (well maybe 1 and 3/4s) in the last few months to pass on am thinking a Luv is a more
likely option....I hope.
Josh

[gt orphanage]

I would rather go the other way . A florian with a luv front would be my choice. That chev badge would set the florian nice. But for the record instead of being like a crapador owner with a 6cyl and a chev badge. It would have to have a chev heartbeat

[pa_man]

Hey Orph the 72 Florian has basically the Chev Luv front (will up load a pic)
Now that with the Chev badge and power plant would be Awsome
Josh

[mrflibbles]

pa_man you find a florian, i have some luv panels here, we will make it work!
i would kill for a late model florian myself, or just the front panels and dash to put into a luv!

[pa_man]

Ha They Chromed the Luv bumper bar
Reckon that Flo front would bolt straight in with all existing Luv panels!!
Josh

[BULLITT]

another for sale in Victoria $750 with heaps of bits on gumtree at crib point cheers davo

[mrflibbles]

lol, if i get many more "toys" i will be sleeping with the dogs!

[Glenn]

another for sale in Victoria $750 with heaps of bits on gumtree at crib point cheers davo

Florian truck ?
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/hampton- ... 1028122377

[Farmer]

Good work mate, that Luv is gunna look proper. Its what I reckon Id do with a Luv. More to it than I imagined though!
Cheers, Matt.

[mrflibbles]

yeah farmer there are a few differences i didnt count on! Where the luv headlights mount there is an ovalish dent behind them. On the florian the dent is alot deeper to accomadate the reflector and globe. I might have to trim the holes out entirely or maybe with any luck find a wrecked florian and cut the metal parts out and weld them into the luv! not sure which way to try and go yet, need to go and sit there and look at the Luv and the florian side by side and think some more about it!