S-10 or Ranger??

[JLEONARD]

My son just picked up an almost free 89 CTD D350 Dually 5 speed as a donor truck.

He wants to find either an S-10 or a Ranger pickup at one of the auctions he goes to weekly as the receiver.



Any thoughts as to which might be better and/or easier to convert? Are conversion parts/adapters available for either?

Anybody do one of these that can offer some do's and don'ts?

Appreciate any help.



Thanks.

Jay

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I'd do the S10 - that way it wouldn't be a F*rd.



I beat the snot out of my old S10 - and have pics/video to prove it.



Is he planning on a 4x2 or 4x4? 4x2 would be MUCH easier.



That's an awefully heavy engine for such a small truck - I hate to think how long bearings and ball joints, etc. will last with a 1000# engine under (sticking through... ) the hood.



I wonder how the 6BT Dakota from down south is making out with its frontend parts?



Matt

 

[JLEONARD]

I hate to think how long bearings and ball joints, etc. will last with a 1000# engine under (sticking through... ) the hood.

Matt,

He owns/runs an auto repair shop so even if he has to change them often... . it doesn't really matter. .

I voted for the S-10 as well... .

And just think. . it took me 3 weeks to talk him out of trying to convert a Jeep!!

 

[HoleshotHolset]

If goes the Ranger route - they came with beefier rear axles... . 8. 8" instead of GM's 8. 5" or 8. 625" 10-bolt rears... . depends on which year he ends up with. Bolting up a beefier axle into the GM is the best choice.



The newer GM S10/S15/Sonoma - '94 and up - are setup like the 2nd Gen's. The back cylinder or two in an inline engine would be under the cowl. I know it's not impossible to work around... . but 1st Gens and older GM S10/S15/Sonoma have the advantage of having the whole engine available to you.



The good part about the newer trucks is that they are less prone to rust... . more aerodynamic, etc. The interiors are also much more comfortable as well.



I would HIGHLY recommend he either find an extended cab... or a Blazer/Jimmy. The standard cabs are WAY too small.



I'm not a big fan of Jeeps at all - so I won't go there.



MTY

 

[Brayden]

Ahem. . S10

 

[HoleshotHolset]

There's one more vote for S10.



I guess your son has no choice now... .



Matt

 

[JLEONARD]

I guess your son has no choice now

I guess he doesn't!!!



He actually has too much Chevy stuff around to go any other way.

Besides, I'll tell him that I'll only help him if he goes S-10... ... . wait that might not work!!!



What's funny is that I have pics of him at 5 years old handing me wrenches while I'm under my truck... . now I hand HIM the wrenches



Jay

 

[MO'Donnell]

Somebody on this site is doing an S-10+Cummins conversion. Search the Conversion threads, it's an impressive piece of work!



Hope this helps.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I did the same reversal of roles with my Dad too. Back with his first diesel ('82 K10 - back in 1983... ... that made me 4 years old! ) - about all I could do was ask a lot of questions and hand him wrenches.



Now I BOMB his truck.



Matt

 

[AKAMAC]

Look what Brayden is doing

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=78273

 

[Brayden]

Thanks for linking that AKAMAC

 

[JLEONARD]

AKAMAC thanks for the link. That will help a bunch.

Jay