Slight variation on an old theme. How hard would it be to take say, an S-10, and put a large more...performance oriented engine it? I may or may not have a terribly stupid idea for a challenge car, er, truck.
Slight variation on an old theme. How hard would it be to take say, an S-10, and put a large more...performance oriented engine it? I may or may not have a terribly stupid idea for a challenge car, er, truck.
SBC can be done. LSx would probably go too.
Drew, you should have seen that all the time when you were out here. I can't leave my place without tripping over a small block S10, or a certain LS7 Tacoma. (Yes, i'm serious.)
<= like this one?
It's been done 
HT, I never much looked at trucks before! But as I've been cruising the trading sites I've noticed you can get an S10, Nissan Pickup, and a slew of other light trucks for almost nothing right now which got me thinking.
The only big problem I can think of is the suspension. Got any ideas aussie? Is this a silly idea for a beginner?
I did a SBC into an S-10. Absolute piece of cake, and extremely entertaining. Been done many times, lots of help on line. I had a LOT of fun with young guys in 5.0 Mustangs. The 350 was a long way from stock, but sounded quite tame. Hehehe. Hooker has motor mounts for cheap, tranny mount is no problem. Fun and hoonage ensues. When you see an S-10 with dual exhausts on the passenger side, beware. This was my work truck, ladders on the top of the cheesy tin topper, total sleeper.
I'm not a Chevy guy, but the S-10 seems to be the most common platform for this. Kits abound to do it, and they are easy to lower thanks to the "Kustomizers" out there who like a truck that is completely useless for hauling. The problem, of course, is weight distribution.
My buddy had a blown 502 in an S-10, you still gotta make it hook up. Have you looked into a V8 FWD set up in the bed?
Dan
There's a bunch of V8 S-10's running around this area. It shouldn't be too hard to find one that's already been swapped.
There's a chevy luv around GR with and Olds toronado 455 in the bed 
As woody said, buy one done or an abandoned project, headers off the shelf are $.
Mine has a four link check out in my rides in http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3150440
Heck I was walking through the junk yard yesterday and on my way out I spotted a Dodge V10 laying on a pallet. I could not help but think of stuffing one into a Duster. Though the whole weight issue could be a problem.
Hook up is a problem, but can be solved. Mine had ~350hp and an open rear end, so it was traction challenged for sure. A good posi, good tires, and a proper rear suspension gets most of the job done. I also had an '86 S-10 Sport, 2.8, 5 speed, posi, 3.73 gears. It was a beast off the line. I ran it a the strip a few times, and got hole shots on everything I ran. That only lasted through first gear, though.
I checked my local Craig's List and there are (2) S-10 series trucks with a V-8 swap. $1800 for a running S-10 with a 350 swap leaves $210 room in the Challenge Budget. The possibilities are enticing. Anyone want to donate $2010 to a good cause?
I can tell from first-hand experience that this is a Caddy drivetrain. He should have narrowed the axles. For reference, the axle centerline is about under the oil filler cap, putting the weight a tad forward; these pictures are deceiving.
For suspension, the S10 used the same front suspension as the G-bodies (Monte Carlo, Buick Grand National, etc) so there are parts to be had.
5.0 in a Ranger been done, too.
...
If you're looking at a different kind of big, this guys putting a 4bt in a ranger: here
Big lump, big torque
you still gotta make it hook up.
+1. Every V8 S-10 I've ever seen is great for towing and smoke-shows, but not much else.
poopshovel wrote:you still gotta make it hook up.+1. Every V8 S-10 I've ever seen is great for towing and smoke-shows, but not much else.
On the flip side, there's at least 2 on the top of my head in the Indy area that will yank their front tires in the air on the street.
They weight transfer very well, it's just a matter of taking advantage of that.
I always wanted to do an LT1/T-56 swap into my 2000 Sportside sonoma. It handled really well on stock suspension and 255/50/17 Nitto NT450's. I remember loving onramps as I did not have to slow down. not slowing down with the 2.2 and a 5-spd was a GOOD thing.
I always imagined it with the ZQ8 sport suspension and some bigger sway bars would have made it tremendously more fun.
I have one in the works, mine's getting an LR4 (4.8L truck version of the LS1) with lightweight 'Vette flywheel and clutch attached to a 5-speed. I figure I don't need the torque of the 5.3 or 6.0 as much as I want the "rev-ability" of the shorter-stroked 4.8. I'm hoping to keep it flex-fuel too.
I'm looking at building a ls motor for my FC, the build would require mixing and matching parts, I'm thinking of putting the remaining parts together to make a long stroke 5.3 for my 88 S-10. Just dunno if I want to run an auto or stick with a 5speed for it.
As stated lower A arms are the same as 3rd gen Camaro and front springs off a G body are available from Moog with 767lb rate vs the stock S10 rate of 420lb.
You'll need to log in to post.
