The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Lengthening an S-10 Frame

I know I have read somewhere on the 'Bolt about people adding length to s-10 frames. What material did you use for this? 5" Channel?
Did you box the frame where you made the splice?
Any other advise on this subject would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Phil

The perfect person to check with is Joe(aka toomany2count). He did the very thing with the frame under 'Marge. He's got a webshots page with a lot of good pics.

Chew betcha!!

TooMany, what size of C-channel did you use?

Too-Many provided the inspiration for my S10 swap. If you look at part 2 my project in my sig line you'll see detailed pics of cutting etc., as well as where I inserted the C-channel. The 5 inch C-channel worked great for my 1991 S10 2WD frame. My engineer friend had a concern about it being so strong, that there will be stress points in the original frame where the "big stuff" terminates. I used 4-foot sections when all I needed was to add 17 inches to the frame. There is a lot of doulble layer frame rail under mine. I was worried as mine is a one ton panel body. I added a leaf to the rear springs and a rear sway-bat from a chevy S10-Extreme pickup because of the panel body. MV

Thanks for the info guys. I think I will use Mike Vee's approach since I have access to scrap 5" c-channel at work. Now I just need to make it up the farm to work on the truck.

Translation: It's all your fault Joe! <grin>.. Question for the group: the S10 frame on my '91 shortbed had so-much straight secton in which the 5-inch c-channel fit so well, that I started looking at many other possible projects that might benifit from a similar transplant. Does anyone know if the newer (93-later) S10 had all that nice straight (5-inch-friendly) frame rail? Thx, MV

Well I made some progress Saturday. I removed the cab, engine, transmisson, bumpers, gas tank, and spare tire hardware from the frame. I then cut the frame and lengthened the frame about 9". I used 5" c-channel and had a welder friend weld everything back together. I felt pretty productive considering that I did everything except for the welding by myself.

I am working on the truck at my in-laws farm 2 hrs. away. When I went to cut the frame, I realized that there was no acetelyn for the torch, so I used a hacksaw. My arms are very sore, but I was determined to get this far in one day.

Next time, I plan on taking the AD cab off of its frame and mock it up on the s-10 frame so that I can build some body mounts.

Phil-

Which direction from Amarillo are the in-laws? I grew up about 2 hours south at Hale Center.

Sounds like you caught up to me in one day....and I don't even have to lengthen the frame.

Have you got an engine/trans picked to go back with?

I am also planning to move the cab as the next step...my measurements seem to indicate that I can mount a V8 a few inches further back in the S-10 frame than where the S-10 engine sat. Perhaps that will give better weight distribution.

CanyonAg,
I agree regarding engine placement in the s10 frame.
Here is a pic of the space behind my S10's 4.3L V6 after I set the 46 body in place so that the tires were in the right spot. I had almost a foot between the back of the engine and the firewall. - MV
http://www.enzoco.com/mike/truck/p2page6.htm

Thanks Mike. That's why I want to get my cab temporarily placed, before I decide on engine placement.

Canyon,
The in-laws live in Amarillo, but own a couple of sections 30 miles northwest of Dalhart.

I have a 350 that has been bored .030 over, decked, balanced, with flat-top forged pistons, a big cam, and other hi-po stuff. I also have a built th350 trans with a 2500 rpm stall converter. I had this setup in a 1983 Camaro that I used to have. However, I had Brodix heads, a Victor Jr. intake, MSD 6AL ignition, ect. on the engine when it was in the Camaro. One night, theives decided they needed everything that would bolt to the block. In one night those bastards stole over $4,000 worth of parts off of that car.

As far as engine placement, I have not begun to look at that. It will be a while before I can work on the truck again thanks to work travels.

Phil

:mad:

Thieves.