The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop S-10 4x4 frame swap under an AD

I just got an 87 S-10 that use to be a 4x4. the PO removed all of the 4x4 stuff except for the A-arms and spindles. it's an ext. cab, so i know i have to shorten the frame, what I need to know is, if there is going to be a problem getting the front sheet metal to go on other than the usual cutting and modifing?

There's a company here in Iowa that sells a kit. It's called AD Engineering or something like that. Check into them, they've figured it all out already,
Scott

You'll need to put the 4x4 stuff back in or change the spindles to the 2wd versions. Without the front axle in place, the wheel bearings will separate when the truck is driven, as the axle nut both sets the preload on the bearing and is the retainer. 2wd spindles should fit up fine on the balljoints, consider using a pair from the '97-'04 4 ddor Blazer, they use a sealed bearing as well as a laerger rotors and a 2 piston caliper.

Ad Engineering is in CA, They don't officially have a 4X4 kit but they've had some customers do it.
This is what their site says.
The place you might be thinking of in the Midwest Scott is E-Z Chassis swaps I resell their kit but they also don't officially have a 4X4 kit, but I'm sure they'd be happy to talk to you about it. The owner there is Ed, and I'm sure he'd be happy to talk to you about it, tell him Mongo sent ya'. http://www.e-zchassisswaps.com

Steve

thanks Guys for the info. I should have mentioned that i'm not going to make it a 4x4, just got a real good deal on the S-10. I have noticed that the spring shackels on the rear springs are a little longer than the 2 wheel drive. and also the front end has torsion bars instead of coil springs. so the shock towers are a little different. may have to trim a little more on the inner fender panels. but i think making the stance sit a little lower will be alot easier and cheaper than going with drop spindles or cutting coils.going to give it a try and see just what happens. besides it might just catch on, who knows?

the 2WD frames are different than the 4x4 frames. Primarily with the front suspension. if you only want 2WD, start with 2WD. As bill mentioned, without the front axles holding the bearings together, they come apart quickly (in about 1 mile based on experience)

Thanks for the info. I think i'll try to change the spindles, sounds like they should work and i have a couple of them in the barn. hopefully they will, kind of like the idea of having torsion bars. looks like it will make lowering or raising the front end a little easier

good luck, the front geometry is different between the 2WD and 4x4, you will be on your own for alignment. If you want a frame swap and keep 2WD, your best bet is a new frame. If you just want IFS, go with an IFS kit.

If you keep it 4x4, you can go with a ford explorer rack and not have the radiator to steering box interference that plagues the S-10 swaps

Scott can you point me to a thread that describes putting the Explorer rack on an S-10? I might try that someday.

http://forums.s-series.org/viewtopic.php?t=32958

thats where I got the information about putting the explorer rack in my IFS kit.

You should be able to use the 4x4 stuff and just strip the axles down to the nub that goes through the front suspension, you might even be able to have the nub machined down to a flat thick disc to hold it into place w/less bulk. That way you'd keep the wide suspension it needs to fill the wheel wells but also have an ajustable torion bar suspension up front. There was a guy running around St Louis w/this set for a long while & he said he never had a problem with it....Joe

Thanks Scott.