The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Pics of finished s-10 swap?

Does anyone have any pics of a finished 47-55 on an s-10 frame? I am considering the swap for my 51 but I don't want a slammed look, although I wouldn't mind a little lower stance. I am a little concerned about what I have seen in projects with the bed so much higher on the cab than what it is with the original frame configuration. A little concerned too about what problems the running boards will present after doing all the work to mount the cab and bed. I haven't even got a start on my project just yet and have a lot of stupid questions even after browsing the forum here and the rest of the net trying to figure out which way to go. My goal is to have a close to stock appearance inside and out with a very slightly lower stance. But I do want the advantages of modern ride technology with the IFS and the power of a slightly built 350.

Google( AD engineering ) they have some pictures of their products installed. Dave

I am not sure I understand the use of an S-10 chassis for swapping under our old trucks. First off I keep seeing that people seem to think that the S-10 is a narrower frame than a full sized truck it's not it is a full perimeter frame like a car and is wider than a striate rail full sized pick up frame. If is the track width you are after and want a good handling slammed pick up I would look at using a Chevelle wagon frame it is also a perimeter frame like the S-10 but you get a much better suspension and the ease of popular engine choice as most anything will bolt in to it like all Chevy and BOP V8s and 64 and later striate 6s. Then there is the aftermarket support with the Chevelle chassis if you wish to there’s an almost endless number of bolt on improvements to be had. As for wheel base the construction of these frames is so that they lend them selves well to being stretched or shortened. Just a few things to think about the difficulty of using the Chevelle chassis verses the S-10 would be the same but IMBO the end product would be superior to the use of the S-10, then the choices after the swap are also far better. I have two S-10s and I love those little trucks but it would not be my choice to use for a chassis swap unless I where swapping a better chassis in to the S-10.

FYI

The S-10's were built from the GM Metric or G-bodied car parts bins. This is where the front suspension, brakes, steering, and rear axle comes from. 8-86 Chevelles, Malibu's, Monte Carlo's, Buick Regals, Oldsmobile Cutlass's, El Camino's, etc. Most used as basis of many race cars from Mid-Am to late models.

Early S-10's still had Isuzu power trains (left over from the LUV), then migrated to the 2.2 from the cavalier, and then the 2.5 and 2.8 engines from the F-body cars. Later the 4.3 was introduced to rectify the low power issues.

The difference is in the width between the A-arms. The S-10 is 4" narrower. S-10 has a 54.38" track width, where the GM Metric has 58.38" track width.

Hope this helps

Scott

Thanks Dave....I'll do just that.

I don't know really what everyone elses reason for using the S-10 frame is, mine is simply cost. I acquired the frame and 2 rear ends along with the power steering, brake booster hangers and some other odds and ends for nothing. A couple of acquaintances of mine junk cars all the time instead of having a real job. I can get parts from the cars they are selling to salvage yards for salvage price. I had a few old aluminum rims laying around that weren't any good for anything so I traded them for the s-10. From what I have read about the s-10 swaps they are fairly low cost if you don't mind the work. I haven't even gotten the body off of my 51 yet, I may yet still use the factory frame. Right now I am just exploring what options I have that will fit my budget and still allow me to put the truck on the road within the next couple years. The thing is that I don't want a slammed truck. I want a close to stock look. Just a slightly lower stance in the front and the ability to go with a little bit bigger rubber in the back....not 50's or anything that drastic...just a nice built to the ground look, with plenty of ground clearance to be a daily driver here in the foothills of the Appalachain mountains where road paving is still a learning process for our Department of Highways. I am sure that I want some sort of IFS but the s-10 frame swap isn't set in stone....just a cheap option that I have available right now. I just want to make sure that I will be able to achieve the results I want before I get 6 months into the project just to find out I don't like the way the bed lines up with the cab, or the way I would have to modify the running boards to make up the difference of any line changes.