Another S10

[lowrollin70gmc]

I don't make it over to the smaller side of the site very often, but I once again have a reason to meaner here. Even though I already have enough projects, I figure one more doesn't hurt and bought a 97 S10. I've always loved these little trucks and have wanted another one and this one checked all my important options; 4.3, 5 speed, 4WD. It is an extended cab/short bed but I would have bit on a reg cab/shorty as well.

Granted, I would have preferred having a third door, but who really sits back there anyways? The motor has a rod knock, but I got a good deal and will park it while looking for a replacement 4.3 and contemplate a 4.8 swap. We'll see what happens, I've got other cars to clear out of the garage before that can get anywhere near happening.

I'll toss some pictures up later, but it's just a typical black S10 for now. If an LSx swap happens I'll post a build thread, but I'm in the information stage / convince myself not to stage at the moment.

[BlackedOut67shorty]

Cant wait to see the pics lowrollin

[Indian113]

I put a 5.3 with a 700 R4 in my 92 and I really think I would have been happy with a 4.8. I drive my as a DD and put 280 lbs. in bed and it gets around fairly well. Show us some pics please, we'd love to see your truck.

[lowrollin70gmc]

When I first picked her up, decent shape but a little rust repair on the wheel wells will eventually come if I keep her long term. (AKA, if a 4.8 shows up in my garage looking for a home in the next few years).



The entire reason I bought this rig, correct number of pedals and something to do with my right hand. I would have preferred a manual transfer case as well, but the electronic one works for now:





I've parted out a 97 Blazer for its 4.3 and some other accessories for the S10. Pocketed a good chunk of change once everything was sold and I didn't even have to scrap the shell as somebody else paid me half of what I paid before pulling the parts off.

A list of what I'm swapping over.

Tilt column
-Cruise control stalk
-Cruise control module under the hood

Gauge cluster
-Gaining tachometer, but I'll have to swap the odometers, the blazer has different mileage than the pickup.

Factory AM/FM/CD player
-I'll attempt to bypass theftlock, the tube of you has videos showing how

Overhead console (short style)
-Temp, MPG, compass function
-Garage door opener
-Have entire harness from blazer

Grill and Composite headlights
-Eventually paint black and install

4.3 (The important part)
-A few parts here and there, probably a distributor, wires, and plugs.
-Fuel filter
-Inspect freeze plugs / replace if necessary
-Flush and switch to Ethyl/Glycol
---Possibly intake gaskets, but I can always do that when the engine is installed if it's a problem.
-Check oil filter lines, if no leak they stay
-New clutch, not needed but if I'm there already...

When my 68 K20 Cummins Burb decided it no longer enjoyed a functioning alternator, the S10 was called into action. I love my Burb but sometimes the height is annoying.




I also had a set of 4th gen Camaro wheels I had picked up a few years ago cheap, knowing that someday I'd have another 4WD S10. Set of 255/70/16 tires mounted up, only slightly taller and wider than stock. The 16s give a very clean look, much better than any factory aluminum wheel on these pickups.

So here she sits now, waiting for the garage to be finished so I can drive it in and tear her down. The replacement 4.3 is under the tarp in the back. I don't want to pull a single bolt until the garage is insulated and rocked otherwise the truck will be in the way. I already ran 240 service out to it and a dozen outlets and a dozen lights (six cans, four florescent, and two spot lights external).




Hopefully it'll be done this month, as I miss having a pickup to haul stuff (the back of my 68 is full of insulation under that snow).






Shameless plug, I picked up a new bike two months ago, holdover 2011 KLR650. Studded the tires, put engine cages and barkbusters on her and I've commuted on it daily. Takes a second to fire up at -15, but hasn't failed me yet. I'll admit that some days I miss living in SoCal, but then I remember what else SoCal brought with it...

[lowrollin70gmc]

Well, this project escalated quickly once I finally pulled it into my garage. I have some decent pictures of all this progress, but my phone is temporarily out of commission due to a recent altercation with my car door and a patch of asphalt.

A quick rundown:

I had to drop the front differential. The pressure plate fingers wouldn't clear the input shaft of the transmission and I was able to slide the transmission back far enough to remove the engine, but I wouldn't have been able to align the input and clutch with the pan hitting the front diff.

As long as the front suspension was removed to pull the front diff, I figured that I should do a quick rebuild due to it having 130k miles on the original parts. It's also easier and cheaper to do everything at once so it received a new pitman arm, idler arm, tie rods, ball joints, and lower control arm bushings. The upper arms were replaced by a set from Rough Countrys 2.5" kit as well as their shocks. I bought the kit mainly to lower the front differential and buy me some oil pan clearance both now and in the future if I decide to swap a 4.8/5.3 in a few years.

Included in the RC 2.5" kit is a set of rear shackles and shocks, so those were installed as well. Only problem being rusted rear bushing sleeves to the shackle bolts on the passenger side. After a few hours of cutting the stock shackle to pieces and drilling/pounding out the stock bushings I tossed in a set of poly bushings I had from another project and bolted on the shackles. These leveled up the rear decently, but I may add a leaf in the future, depending on if I end up with another parts rig.

Oh, and the 16x8 Camaro wheels fit fine with stock upper control arms but not the RC uppers, so I have a 1.25" spacer on the front. I'm going to step down to a 20mm (.78") as the backspacing is only 5/8 (.625) more than stock s10 wheels.

I'll add some current pictures shortly, but I'm really happy with the overall height on 255/70/16 (30" tires) and how the truck performs. Next fall I'll step up to 265/75/16s (32s) and do some fender trimming if necessary, but that's down the road.

[lowrollin70gmc]

I've been too busy knocking out the little details and driving the little truck to toss up some pictures. The best result was hitting the cruise control the first time and having it work perfectly (even disengages when clutch pedal is pressed).

I did have to tear apart both the straight and tilt column to change the tilt column ignition from auto on the floor to the manual (with button) switch. I also repaired a broken hazard knob while at it. I also swapped the speedometer/odometer gauge motor to the new(used) cluster's tach spot to keep accurate mileage (137k) for the truck. Also ended up putting the original temperature and fuel gauge motors into the new cluster as they acted up when test driving so I did it while in there anyways.

The engine runs flawlessly and it's a fun little truck to drive. Heck, my last trip to my parent's house returned 22mpg at 74mph (empty) and 20mpg at 74mph loaded with a full bed of spare parts that I moved to my house from my dad's shed. That's not too shabby considering both the speed and cargo (at least 700lbs).

Here are a few recent pictures with the composite grill and headlamps swapped on and the topper removed. Unfortunately, I took these pictures in order to list the truck for sale locally as it's an extra vehicle for me. I've recently picked up a 62 IH 1600 Loadstar (2ton truck) to build a flatbed/car hauler out of, so between the Cummins powered burb and a 18' (12+6dove) flatbed I don't see a need for this little guy. I love driving it and have been doing so daily for the last two months since getting it back on the road.


Edit: it has sold
If it doesn't sell for what I want out of it ($3500) then I'll just keep it and maybe toss on some 265/75/16 (32s) or 255/85/16s (skinny 33s) this fall accompanied by fender trimming. Maybe, maybe not; I'll see what happens but I've already gotten dozens of phone calls and texts from the couple CL and local classified ads posted. I truly want to sell my 08 G6 coupe and keep this but I know when residency time comes (for my PharmD in a few years) a newer, reliable vehicle will be necessary for the amount of traveling involved. Although a 4.8/5.3 in this s10 would be newer and reliable... With cheaper insurance rates.

I'll just pipe down now and post some pictures:
Pre alignment poser flex picture to harass a friend of mine.


Just a few days ago all cleaned up with blazer grille.






I do like the ride height from the small lift

[BlackedOut67shorty]

Pretty nice lookin with the lift, now looks like it just needs some more meat on those tires

[lowrollin70gmc]

Those 255/70/16s were just something to get it driving again, it had mismatched wheels when I bought it and a couple of those left with my parts blazer. If I would have kept it, it would have gotten a set of 265/75/16 duratracs (I run a set of larger Duratracs on my 68 and love them). Although I did research making 255/85/16s fit, maybe I'll have to try it on the next one.

I did made sure the new owner knew that it should clear 265/75/16s.

I miss this truck everytime I see pictures of it; looked good, ran great, got awesome mileage, but I'm sure I'll end up with another one eventually.