The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop "Newer" S10 - AD frame conversion

Hi Guys:
My perception is that most S10 frame swaps are with older (1980's to 1990) frames. I was wondering if anyone has tried the newer model S10's? I was thinking of 1995 to 2002. I have heard the running gear is a bit stronger - rear end and tranny - which would be good if running a V8. Also disk rear brakes, and a lot newer and perhaps less rust (!) on the frame and associated parts.ie brake lines, etc.
My question is... is the frame basically the same on the newer trucks? I was also thinking of front end suspension being in better shape too.
Thanks
Ter

According to the Advanced Design Engineering website the chassis are similar up to 2002, just more stuff to remove concerning environmental issues. I used an 85 but it was in good shape. However, I did a complete rebuild on the front suspension just to be sure since it was older. Newer ones will probably be more expensive but probably won't need to rebuild it so it might be cheaper in the long run.

Thanks fot the reply. Sure wish you were closer so I could see how it went together.
I am thinking of running stock drive train. V6 etc. I have had several 'fast' cars but this will be a daily driver and occasional trailer puller so the V6 (hopefully!) will give me fair milage and good reliability and ease of repair. I had a vehicle with components from many doners and it was hard to remember (I should have written it all down) what the parts were from!!
Thanks again
Ter

I assume you are aware of the kit available to mount the cab and bed. I'm sure you could fab the brackets but I went with the kit to save time.
By using the S10 engine/trans you only need to interface the wiring. There is a local fellow who did the same as you and used the complete setup from a rolled S10 Extreme (I think thats the correct name?) I also use mine as a daily driver with the 350V8. I'm not painting it in the near future so I don't worry about where I drive it. Lots of fun for an old guy. I can forward some photos in you give me an email address.

I'd really like to see some pics.
[email protected]

Thanks.

Hey 49S10
Is the guy that did the S10 Extreme a member of the Stovebolt Page?
It would be good to talk to him. I think the frame on those Extreme are too short... they just come it regular cab short box I think
Thanks for the answer
I would like to see some pictures too!
Ter

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r246/49S10/

Try this TER. I'm not sure I have done this correctly. 49S10

How about the colorado/canyon chassis? Has anyone used one of those yet?

49S10
You sure did it correctly! Pics look great and so does truck!
The 85 frame looks great.
Good job and thanks for the pictures.
Little Jimmy:
What year are the Colorado/Canyon and what do they have for engines ?
Ter

IIRC the first model year was '04? They are available with either an i4 or i5. I've been toying with the idea of using a lowered 4x4 chassis and turbo'd i5 as they're having very good success with turbos on those engines, 4-500 whp easy.

The Colorado/Canyon are completely different from the old S truck. They're more of a scaled down '99-'07 Silverado. Not available in long bed, short, extended cab/short, and extended cab/really short bed only. The only engines are a 2.8 4 cylinder and a 3.5 5(???) cylinder. Both engines are grossly underpowered for the chassis weight.
I'd stick with the early S 10. BTW-check out the GM Performance site. It'll take a little searching, but you can still get the components to convert the S10 to the ZQ8 handling package (S10 Extreme). The kit gets you the springs, sway bars, quick ratio steering box, shocks, and 4 16" rims with either Chevy or GMC centers. You could sell the rims to get back some of the $$ spent on the kit.

With any car, engine transplants can be performed. The S10 always had a kit available for a V8 conversion.

The 3.5 is probably a V6 or something. Maybe it's a 3.4 liter, the same V6 in Grand Am GT's. If so, that's a pretty good engine. It has some midrange and top-end grunt. The original S10 was never a roadburner with the 4.3 liter V6 either, but it was a remarkably competent "billy goat" off-road, with a wonderful 4WD chassis.

I think it might be easier to supercharge the V6 than to install a V8. If I were doing the conversion, I'd be tempted to use the Grand Prix' supercharged 3.8 liter with a smaller pulley.

This page gives a pretty good overview of the specs and construction tecniques of the new GM inline engines. http://www.castsolutions.com/pdf/Engine_2004.pdf

As I mentioned before, there are a number of people making very good numbers using the 3.5 with t3/t4 hybrid turbos or t4's. As you can see from that site, the casting tecnique allows them to produce a very high quality package.

My donor chassis is a wrecked 2000 S10 zr2 4x4. Right now I am still striping the body off the frame. It's an extended cab 122.9 wheelbase and my 40 3/4 ton is 123 3/4 wheelbase...should be a near perfect match. donor zr2

Ter, 49ChevyS10 sure has better photos than mine but here are some tips that may help some. They are on my site--http://www.msnusers.com/Evanscars
Picture "Cecils PU-007" shows slots in the front crossmember to get to the S10 motor mount stand bolts, S10-039 shows front wheels with 2" spacers, S10-054 shows drilled and tapped hole to use your temp sender in a V8, and S10-049 shows the S10 parking brake cable hooked to the rod from the factory foot pedal. The finished truck is the maroon one on-- http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/coilover/
When you get on this site click on "pictures" then on "show photos" and ignore the empty S10 album. Scroll down and click on page 2 to see the finished truck. Good luck

Sorry, those last instructions are for the first (msnusers) site, not the photobucket site.

In answer to your original question about "newer" S10 frames. I personally have NOT done any kind of frame swap. However, the May 2003 issue of Classic Trucks magazine did a feature article about a "new" 1948 truck that Chevrolet (the company) built to showcase their vortec V-5 engine. They used a 2003 S10 frame and front suspension with the wider 4x4 rear suspension.

I have seen that truck in person. It's actually a mix of various parts, namely the aforementioned '48 cab, inline Atlas 5, and S10 chassis. It had a bed from a '54/'55 1rst, as well as some Corvette parts, namely wheels and brake components.
I still think it's odd that GM went with a 5 cylinder. So far every article I've seen for stock Colorado and the people that i know that have them say it's underpowered. Seems it would have been better to just use the 4.2 inline 6.

I am beginning a swap using a 1996 S10 long bed
reg cab. I am going to use the 4.3 Vortec and
trans. I have ordered the conv. kit mounts from
adv. engineering and will be setting the cab this
weekend. Any advice from previous experience. i AM new to forum and can help with upholstery
questions, have 30 yrs. owning my shop bill

The 1st gen s10 was from 82 - 93 and the 2nd gen s10 was from 94 - 04. I have not been able to determine if there are chassis differences. I do know that from 82-88 the 10 bolt rearend was 7.5", from 89-94 it was 7.625" and after 94 it was 8.5". So yes the later years have a stronger rearend

thats not true not all 94+ were 8.5", you could mostly only find them in 4.3 liter 5 speed models.

Why doesn't anyone use the Cyclone or Typhoon drivetrains. That would make a real nice, low slung AWD hotrod pick-up I would think. I'll build one for someone if they flip the bill,
Scott

48 bigtrucks, SHUT YOU PIE HOLE before you get in trouble. SSSHHHHHH god gonna give away all my good ideas


got a little surprise in the works for you guys

Let's see what you've got Surfer,
Scott

I can't let the secret out, it's not my style, they'll see the truck when it's done. I'm not the type, to brag... more the type to show up outta no where with a badass truck and everybody be wondering where the hell it came from. HAHAHA