89' s-10 5.3
 

Well , i started a thread a while back about this and i have been trying to build ANOTHER Street / strip truck . I have been looking for another Chevy Luv , but they are finally becoming hard to find and the ones that are left are pretty rough and rusty . I have always been a fan of the 1st gen S-10's and really like the second gens . I vowed to come into the new era of LS . Also just couldnt see doing a second gen without and LS swap vs 23 degree convensional sbc . I have been looking for a while for the right truck and came across this one . It is an 89' 2.5 5 speed truck regular cab short bed . The previous owner who was a electronics type guy swapped in a 2002 5.3 and 4L60E out of a suburban . This is a smog legal fuel injection swap . I drove almost 250 miles to buy the truck and drove it home getting 26 mpg . Truck needs exhaust and some mechanical touchup , but it will clean up real nice . I bought a 10 bolt 8.5 earlier this year and had a 3.73 and fresh posi unit installed along with 1/2 x 20 studs and new brakes . So it should be a tough little truck when im done . I intend to footbrake this truck in super pro to geive me the opertunity to run 2 classes at divisionals next year at Div 4 bracket finals . Anyway sorry for the noval . Here are the pics .
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps91477a91.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps92b48a9c.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...psd76deca4.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps2e34a9d9.jpg

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

Cool.. A 70mm turbo could fit nice in there..

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

Yes it would

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

Since you are staying efi, point the 70mm right towards the current intake tube, buy 120lb injectors and go e85. You should be able to make a solid 650rwhp and still have all the drivability.. just sayin.

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

I second that motion!!

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

My 2000 Sonoma with a 2.2 barely makes 22.

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

I calculated it as fuel used during the trip vs miles on gps . I rode up there to get the truck with my wife and daughter . My daughter was going to some friends for new years and the truck was on the way . My wife and i drove this home . If my wife sat it this thing and drove home without complaint then you know it drives pretty good .

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

This thing is just plain cool! I likey!!

All I can say is you have too much time and spare money Hotrod!!! Doesn't this make race truck #3 or 4???

I now I know,, you can quit any time you like,, right?

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

I only have 2 race trucks , 1 tow rig , 1 work truck ( i race it in dot every now and again) and the restorod 49' chevy .


Ok , Ok , Ok ........My name is Hotrod 80 and im addicted to drag racing LOL !

I guess it is the way the classes are cut up down here . We run Footbrake , which is really no-E and super pro which is full electronics class . My Yellow truck fits no E and the index stuff so i dont want to change it up . You can run anything in electronics class , so i'll run this . At divisionals they run 4 classes super pro ( fast electronics ) pro ( door cars only) NO-E quick (footbrake 7.50 and faster ) and No-e street (7.50 and slower ) . I run 2 classes at divisionals if i run 2 classes points wise local and my Yellow truck doesnt footbrake to well . i haven't figured out how to make it leave foot brake and transbrake and work at both . So at divisionals the goal is to run pro ( yellow truck ) and NO-e street ( white truck foot braking ) .

Did i mention i love drag racing :lol:

My other addition is Honda trail minis

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

Well it's 42 degrees here right now so i farmed out some work . The truck had mid length headers on it and they had some leaks . New collector flairs Y pipe to 3" single . Some sort of 3" chambered style muffler and a 3" tailpipe exiting in the stock S-10 location , just as factory would have done it $200 head to toe . I'll get pictures up soon . Getting ready to be off for a week so rear axle and driveshaft are next .

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

I put a 1/2 ton truck yoke on the S-10 8.5 Anybody have any experience with shortening an aluminum drive shaft . Thinking i could buy a 1/2 GM truck aluminum shaft and have it shortened .

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

Its on the floor to make 75-80

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

The 5.3 has plenty of power for this truck . It cruises at 2400 @75 in 4th . I picked it up last night and what a difference real exhaust makes . Even more fired up today . Will be in it all day today . Also getting the yellow truck ready for the trip to San antonio .

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

I went by the salvage yard yesterday and got a few things . Tilt steering column and new door locks . Column was bit loose , so i disassembled it and tightened it up added a new tumbler and turn signal cam . Also getting the 8.5 ready to go in . Bought a used set of 15 x 4 Weld drag lites for the front . One of the local biys that runs a Jr. dragster polishes wheels for $20 each so i dropped them off with him . I have a spare set of 15 x 10 5.5. backspace with 28 x 10.5 on them . Also replacedthe header gaskets to finish the exhaust .
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...psbacbd07c.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...pse8d4c854.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps957b4c23.jpg

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

Love the square dimes, this one's cool! I'd have it as my driver in a heartbeat!

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

I drive it alot . I have been tinkering with small things lately and cleaning up stuff . The PO used a hose clamp to connect the throttle cable . I made an adjustable ferrel type cable adjustment like a motorcycle clutch , just little stuff . Put the correct plate in the shifter . Glued down the dash cover . Header collector gaskets . Basic clean up stuff until it goes to the body shop for paint next week . Should have the rear axle in and ready to go soon . Probably get a few friday night street car passes in to get a feel for it . I have a full set of draglites for the track with 28 x 10.5 slicks

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

Well i removed the overload and cut the back half of the thirid spring off . I will be going calvert splits when i can right now my LuV is priority money wise and running 2 classes is a dream . Budget it is . Here is what i did .
Removed the over load and cut the back of the third spring off . Reinstalled the pin and cut off excess
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps77c16ea1.jpg

These are a homemade set of slappers i threw together today .
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...pse50720da.jpg

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

Got the rear axles swapped in the last couple of days . the slapper bars didnt work out so no slappers . Bought a set of comp 3 ways off Yellow bullet for $50 to the door and added those to the front . The rear already had 3 ways and they were set on the wrong settings . One was 30/70 and one was 40/60 . I set them both to 50/50 which is the best transfer for the rear . I have to have the driveshaft shortened still , but these are the race wheels .
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps9c370245.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps7e1d96d0.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...psf7cc011d.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...psa3a81014.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps544492ab.jpg

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

Got everything done except the nuetral safety switch and im working on that . the rear didnt set down like i wanted it to with the cut springs and it doesnt seem to be working correctly . Kinda has a twist to it when you load the converter . I also sold a 355 i had as a spare so i just went ahead and bought the -2 " split mono leafs and caltracs like $860 with u bolts and a set of adjustment wrenches that i needed anyway .

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

Got it out yesterday just to drive it a bit . The gas peddle arm broke off . Looks like someone pulled it out and cut the steel shaft part half way and reinstalled it . Weird , anyway limped it back to the house and bought a newr model out of the salvage yard today and it has a cross bar from GM to keep it from bending or breaking . All that is left is the split monos and Caltracs . I have run the nuetral switch wires to the shifter so that wont take long to fix .

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

That little S-10 looks great with the new wheels and tires!

Is the 5.3 stock right now or does it have an upgraded camshaft?

Great setup.

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

The 5.3 is bonestock . The converter is super tight . Friday night it went 9.03, 9.04 and 9.06 in the 1/8th

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

Update ; havent done very much with the truck . I pulled the Caltracs and put them on a buddies truck to help him out plus i had a guy that wanted the truck without the 10 bolt 8.5 and caltrac stuff . Got all the drop stuff off and back to stock hieght and he backed out . I will take a deposit next time . Bought a 224R cam for it and im shpping for a used lockup converter for the 4l60e . I bought a metal cowl hood off ebay . Here is a picture .
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...psaa30d127.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps17de6c0f.jpg
I have also worked out the details on the paint job . It will be white with silver metalic in the center portion between the features broken by a charcoal grey metalick with a gloss black part line . With this pattern airbrushed into it . It will also have spark plugs , nitrous bottles , wrenches , chevy emblems etc very suttly hidden in the center of the gears .
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps2b7f6094.jpg
The bumpers will be gray painted and later i will probably find chrome ones . Just thought id updated .

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

Hit that on the bottle.. I dig the turbos but the silly spool up time thing to me well is silly HA HA .. I red lighted last time I was out as I was tired of the the hopping bobbing bouncing turbo car trying to make boost..went something like this " Ok dude stage.... stage ... come on lets go.. Phuck it dropped the hammer and let the button go BYE BYE " What do I care I am tuning :) A simple 125-150 kit will not hurt that 5.3 at all.. And should be a very easy going super simple hot rod no pun there .. By the way you are sick you know that right?? I have a convertor for you Brand new ( set up for you with your stall) give me a ring at the shop. 817-741-2000

Re: 89' s-10 5.3
 

I am sick and the truck has a wet nozzle with 110 shot installed with a window switch . Focus on the third bulb and you cant anticipate . You must see yellow of the last bulb .