47-55.1 S10 Frame Swap on 47-53 - Would you do it again?

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

S10s are trendy, especially among the mini-truck crowd who've migrated into hot rods but are still more comfortable working with the S10 platform.

you keep saying this, I dont think it means what you think it means. i came from minitrucks in the 90s and 00s, where changing suspensions and heavy frame mods were normal, including a couple full frame builds, building new body mounts, etc. I dont have a preference for the s10 based on comfort of any of it, havent ever seen a single person I knew from then do an S10 AD, and I read all the project threads, I havent ever seen anyone say "I used to build minitrucks and this is what I like". so this has to be an assumption of yours, an incorrect one.

couple that with the https://steelcity73.wixsite.com/advanced-engineering/kit-components website which was launched in 2002 and had said (they have updated the website, sold the patterns to a new company after a shop fire) they had been developing S10 AD kits from 1996, thats a 24 year trend so far.

my comfort with the s10 frame comes from the fact that it comes with everything that costs more for keeping the original frame, highway rear axle, brake booster lines and disc front brakes, fuel tank and lines. if you think getting the front wheels wrong on a chassis swap is a problem unique to it, then you havent read enough project threads asking about axle centerline placement on MII. I also like that I dont have to keep a list of MII kit components handy to buy wear items, and that when I do need parts I dont need to order them in, every parts store even the ones in little mud huts have the s10 components in stock. when I want to lower it, I can have inexpensive spindles and springs on my doorstep in a couple days. lastly, starting with an original frame requires having an original frame. most AD trucks I buy are just cabs, or have been cut in half to make trailers out of. I think I have had a sum total of one 1/2 ton shortbed frame, a 41, and it was in such poor shape with cracks and needing boxing plates, it wouldnt have made sense to start with it.

[Tempest67]

to Nick R 23, I am getting close to driving my S10 swap project, and I would definitely do another.

the upgrade in steering and suspension is a proven GM design built right into the S10 frame, you can't beat that.

Don't get hung up on the cab mounts, I made mine from 4x6 steel tubes in an afternoon with cutting/grinding disks on my 4 1/2 inch grinder..... you don't need a kit with all the info that this website provides.

If you have a welder, and basic fab skills (that is about all I have) you will be fine.

My only concern is the use of the wheel spacers, but it seems like a lot of guys use them,so they must work.

Good Luck with whatever you decide.

[weim55]

Originally Posted by joedoh

you keep saying this, I dont think it means what you think it means. i came from minitrucks in the 90s and 00s, where changing suspensions and heavy frame mods were normal, including a couple full frame builds, building new body mounts, etc. I dont have a preference for the s10 based on comfort of any of it, havent ever seen a single person I knew from then do an S10 AD, and I read all the project threads, I havent ever seen anyone say "I used to build minitrucks and this is what I like". so this has to be an assumption of yours, an incorrect one.

couple that with the https://steelcity73.wixsite.com/advanced-engineering/kit-components website which was launched in 2002 and had said (they have updated the website, sold the patterns to a new company after a shop fire) they had been developing S10 AD kits from 1996, thats a 24 year trend so far.

my comfort with the s10 frame comes from the fact that it comes with everything that costs more for keeping the original frame, highway rear axle, brake booster lines and disc front brakes, fuel tank and lines. if you think getting the front wheels wrong on a chassis swap is a problem unique to it, then you havent read enough project threads asking about axle centerline placement on MII. I also like that I dont have to keep a list of MII kit components handy to buy wear items, and that when I do need parts I dont need to order them in, every parts store even the ones in little mud huts have the s10 components in stock. when I want to lower it, I can have inexpensive spindles and springs on my doorstep in a couple days. lastly, starting with an original frame requires having an original frame. most AD trucks I buy are just cabs, or have been cut in half to make trailers out of. I think I have had a sum total of one 1/2 ton shortbed frame, a 41, and it was in such poor shape with cracks and needing boxing plates, it wouldnt have made sense to start with it.

Joedoh,
With the experience you have I’m curious if you could answer a couple questions: your own driving impressions on the finished product, what are some of your favorite things about the swap outcome, and what are some of your least favorite things about the swap outcome? If I myself were to go to the S-10route I want a truck that appears as completely stock as possible. Maybe a couple inches lower front and back but nothing more. Is that possible with the stock S 10 suspension?

Steve weim55 Colorado

[dsraven]

Joedoh will likely chime in but I am thinking a stock height may be tough to pull off and still look stock because the stock s10 2wd is lower in the frame to begin with. you can space the body off the frame to whatever height you want but you can't change the stock s10 frame ride height much. it will get taller with a taller set of tires to match the stock old truck, if that's what you plan, but the stock 2wd s10 likely came with a 235/75r15 which is 28.9" tall

https://www.wheel-size.com/size/chevrolet/s10/1997/

https://tiresize.com/chart/

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by dsraven

Joedoh will likely chime in but I am thinking a stock height may be tough to pull off and still look stock because the stock s10 2wd is lower in the frame to begin with. you can space the body off the frame to whatever height you want but you can't change the stock s10 frame ride height much. it will get taller with a taller set of tires to match the stock old truck, if that's what you plan, but the stock 2wd s10 likely came with a 235/75r15 which is 28.9" tall

https://www.wheel-size.com/size/chevrolet/s10/1997/

https://tiresize.com/chart/

2wd 80’s s10s had 205/75r14 tires stock. 4WD had 235/75r15.