12-valver in an S-10

[RJPotts]

This is what I would like to do.

I would like to get a 93-97 S-10 and put a 12-valver in it to build a race truck out of.

I know Jeff Garmon and a few other have done this with Dakotas, but I think dakotas are ugly and S-10's lowered and tubbed (pro-street) look great.

I also know there will be a lot of fab involved, anyone have any ideas on why this ABSOLUTELY won't work?????

I'm very proficient with a grinder, plasma cutter, torch, mig/tig/arc welders, and have a great supplier of any kind of metal I might need so I will be doing most if not all of the work myself.

Thanks in advance,

R. J.

Oh yeah, I want for it to be "street legal" too.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Cummins 6bt in an S-10

 

[DKarvwnaris]

I didn't notice if anything was done to address the S-10 front wheel bearings etc. I would look towards installing full size truck spindles on the s-10 if I was going to attempt a streetable vehicle with this. I've seen how quickly s-10 2wd bearings fail with just bigger tires and Bullseye lift spindles, can't imagine what a 5. 9 cummins would do to the bearing baskets and races?... .



I've been looking to do this for a while with either a S-10 or newer Ranger, but no suitable trucks have come my way. I've got to get my Jeep and Suburban repowered first. That will take me at least the next year as it is.

Looking forward to yor progress if you decide to go ahead with this.

 

[vssman]

I've seen that S-10 Steve referenced. You won't have to do any suspension work to get it to sit nice an low... :-laf



Keep in mind it's not just the front end you'll have to upgrade...

 

[DKarvwnaris]

I've seen that S-10 Steve referenced. You won't have to do any suspension work to get it to sit nice an low... :-laf



Keep in mind it's not just the front end you'll have to upgrade...

Its not all I would do, but it is the bare minimum. Building gussets for the steering assembly, and upgrading to things like 3/4 ton idler arm, centerlink, Steering box etc. would be a given.

I have seen the newer bodied S-10 frames take alot of abuse and weight, I'd look towards having it outfitted like the prerunners in So Cal. I used to build quite a few of them when I was working for Cepek off road and Four Wheel Parts. I'd rip the sheetmetal off the front and go with a carbon fiber or Glass front clip too though. Much lighter, not to mention allowing more room to build brackets etc. off of a tube frame base frame than a stock core support.

If Banks can make a pathetic dakota run one for land speed records, I see no reason to not try it with a S-10. If I was building it for speed, it would be all tube frame though with integrated cab cage. But then again, I want to live to tell about it, so this might not be a concern for others.

 

[Copterdoc]

I have one I have been working on

There are some pics in my readers rides gallery. It is much further along than the pics reflect. I will get some new ones up soon.

 

[JLEONARD]

copterdoc... that pic looks familiar!!!!



DKarvwnaris... . At this point my son has done nothing to beef up/change the front spindles and bearings, or the steering. He probably won't bother, rather just change things out when they go bad. Understand it's a toy to him, nothing he plans on driving very much or very far.

Right now he has not touched it since fall. It still needs a rear axle and a driveshaft, and some interior work to name just a few things.

One thing I can say though... it is pretty quick.

There are some pics in my reader's rigs... but if you want more pics e-mail me at -- email address removed -- and I'll reply with what I have.

Jay

 

[vssman]

Jay,



Has he finally made a cup holder out of the #6 valve cover? How 'bout a cigar lighter out of the exhaust manifold... :-laf



Paul

 

[JLEONARD]

# 6 is the arm rest :-laf :-laf