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I see the s-10 frame swap lowers the truck. I like the original height is it an advantage to lower or just preference

Hello. The welcome forum is not very reactive to questions. This one would be better posted in the hotrod forum.

Thanks

My recommendation before deciding to go with an S-10 frame swap would be to drive an actual S-10 truck. They are by no means a Cadillac, or even a particularly decent riding truck.

The vast majority of the S10 conversion crowd (of which I was one) prefer the impractically low look. S10 conversions can be made stock height if that's your preference. Having built hotrod AD trucks with both S10 frames and stock frames, my words of wisdom are, "No frame will ever fit your truck as well as the one that came with it from the factory."

I am torn between an original truck just like came off of the assembly line. Driving around like my grand father did or driving around in a truck that looks like my grand father drove and running down the highway with power steering, power brakes and smooth as an s10. With air.
Leaning towards original....... Alberta power brakes

Electric power steering and boosted brakes with discs up front can be adapted to an original truck with a lot less effort and expense than a frame swap. You can tinker with the spring leaf pack to get a little smoother ride than the "log wagon on a rutted pig track" feel of an original pickup, as long as you don't do "truck stuff" like hauling a load of firewood stacked cab-high.
Jerry

If you're leaning toward original, then I think you're on the right track. There is in my opinion no advantage to lowering the truck nor to trying to make the AD into an S10. I don't know where in south Arkansas you are, but aside from the interstate connecting Texarkana to Little Rock, you have mostly good roads. I'd listen to Jerry's advice and also what MiraclePieCo said. If you remove a couple of spring leaves, you will lower the truck just a bit, but not by a lot. If your springs are correct, they'll work well. If they're dirty, rusty, etc...they won't work quite as well but they can be improved. Here is another thing: your truck's steering and frame were designed by very smart people. Everything about those two items was given careful thought and the dynamics of the frame alone are quite interesting. Restored to like new condition, it all works well for what the vehicle is and there is a definite and enduring charm to it.

As for A/C, you bet. That is a really nice addition, and if you use a well-designed unit (like the ones made and sold by Old Air Products in Ft. Worth), you will have a fine system that could be removed if some future owner wanted the truck to be original again. Along with A/C, please consider a short shaft water pump, a very good electric fan (Spal are the best in my opinion) and an alternator.

There are other alterations you can make to the truck which no matter where you live will make the truck nicer, safer and more pleasant to drive. Hope you enjoy the forum. There is a wealth of helpfulness and good information around here.

One obstacle to overcome where hydraulic power steering or A/C is concerned is figuring out how to drive those accessories with a single fan belt. Fortunately, it isn't difficult to modify a crankshaft hub/balancer from a 250 6 cylinder to run two belts. It requires a bit of custom machining, but nothing that any machinist worthy of the name can't accomplish in an hour or so. The extras belt opens up all sorts of options for some creative belt routing. For the more ambitious fabricator, it's also possible to run a serpentine belt system on a stovebolt engine.
Jerry

IMHO frame rails are frame rails. Why wouldn't you want the ones that fit? If you want to stiffen it up box and brace it. It's not like the S-10 is a race frame. You can buy boxing and bracing kits precut for the AD. I also don't understand why so many people are down on leaf springs. That spring has no idea if it's straight or coiled. With todays modern springs you can get what ever rate you want. I'm running leaf springs, torque arm, panhard bar and sway bar on my 53 3100. I have electric power steering. You cut a few inches out of the column and stick it in. One power wire and adjustable gain. I was starting from scratch and it just made sense. I also have an electric A/C compressor with remote condenser. It's the size of a mason jar and waterproof. Stick it where ever you want and run your trigger wire. So simple even I can do it.