I've got some plans for this spring/summer but need some opinions...

I am in need of a new body to drop my motor in - the underbody is rusted to hell (think it sat in a swamp or somethin), and was just planning on finding another thirdgen to drop it into. However, i was also thinking of getting an older S10 and dropping the 350 into it. I am leaning towards the S10 for a few reasons, but would like someone to give their opinions or pros/cons

Btw, I am also planning on buying a 383 stroker kit & new heads to install while the motor is out

My thought process is this... I'm pretty sure that the S10 will be quite a bit lighter than the 3rd gen, but not too sure on the specific weights of each - - anyone have numbers?

Also, running a true dual exhaust setup will be much easier on the S10 than the 3rd gen w/ the added ground clearance (1 3/4 Hooker Super Comp long tubes, x-pipe, no cat).

I'm assuming aftermarket parts are widely available for the S10 too, so that is not that big of a worry. I'd also be putting the same rearend in it (3.73 POSI), whether its the S10 or 3rd gen,
And I dont mind the idea of having only 2 seats - nobody sits in the rear seats in my camaro as it is now.

If anybody has any comments or suggestions, please post - i just needed to throw this idea around and get everyone elses opinion.

While im at it I might as well ask what people recommend for a good stroker kit, and a good set of heads to be matched w/ them.
Thanks.

 

yeah i'll agree w/ you that S10's are a bit ugly...well most of them at least. My brother did have a black 91 S10 w/ a 350 in it that looked great- that was until it got wrapped around a light pole :\
I think tho that doing true duals on a S10 would be much easier and yield more ground clearance than a 3rd gen would (not to say it cant be done)

I was just thinking though....with the much lighter rear end, how would traction be? (Once the motor is done and the 3.73 POSI is in)...would i have to add any weight to keep the thing on the ground??

And anyone happen to know how much shortbed S10's weigh??

 

I wouldnt worry about the "true duals" so much... your talking about 300 bucks, when you want a 383 with extras that will send you into the 3 to 4 grand range.... the thirdgen is going to look a lot better then a S 10. the Thirdgen is going to be a classic way before some S10 is going to be. think about it... ThirdGen Camaro/Firebird vs. pickup truck S10...Muscle car vs. truck!

sure the S10 is going to be some what easier... but its a truck... might as welll build a astro van!

take a look at the body lines of a S10 then look at a thirdgen... which is going to be more of a eye catcher?


THIRDGEN ALL THE WAY

 

V-8 S-10's are nice but don't attempt to go around a corner any faster than about 50m.p.h. a F-body can take the same corner at 90 no problem. Also the V-8 in the S-10 will work if it had a 4.3 but if it had a 2.8 or 4cyl. you have more work ahead of you.
Here is another point, resale, *** forbid something should happen and you would have to sell the ride. But I hear V-8 S-10 and think some one put that in where it wasn't stock. The Camaro however came with a V-8 and is much easier to sell.
Just my opinion, Good Luck with what ever you do!!

 

I'd put it in an f-body. if I had an s-10 (new one) It would be for gas milage reasons and not speed. 4 banger like a honda but without being a death trap.

 

yeah i didnt really think of resale value or anything like that.... and i guess lucky for me i haven't been able to find an S10 around my area for the price range i'm going for....so i guess 3rd gen it is Thing is i still gotta find a body w/ no rust and for cheap (not many thirdgens around here for some reason)

 

My 1992 GMC Sonoma (S-10 from GMC) with 4 cylinder, 5-speed, air, power steering, cruise, tilt and half tank of gasoline weighed 2800 pounds last fall at the scales at Beech Bend Drag Strip in Bowling Green, KY.

That is, of course, without me in it.

jms

 

I personally would put it in the Thirdgen becasue of strait up traction off the line. You would need to run traaction bars and slicks to hook up that kind of pwer to the back. Also the stealth idea. an s10 with slicks and traction bars runnning down the road everyone knows it is a v-8 and will stay away. In a thirdgen they know it has a V-8 just how big? you will probably get more races out of the thirdgen...and there so much better lookin. My opinion

 

My 92 S-10 Blazer with all the 4X4 running gear tips the scales at 4400 lbs, subtract 400 lbs for the front axle and transfer case and maybe 1000 lbs for the SUV body vs. a truck, then add 100 lbs for the extra weight of the V-8 = 3100 lbs est.

I like the idea of both so I really can't help you there but if you do go the S-10 route get an 88 or newer. 87 and older engine compartments are different and you would have to notch the heater box for head clearance. The aftermarket headers actually wrap around the steering shaft and something as simple as changing sparkplugs with defiatly increase your 4 letter word vocabulary. I know this because I helped swap out a 350 in an S-10 that had been converted already.

In the long run your probably out alot cheaper to put the engine in a third gen.

 

Well I'd go for the truck .. but thats just my preferance. Check out the website www.jagsthatrun.com for info on the custom motor mounts and such. 88-93 reg cab s10 should weigh under 3000 pounds. The main downsides to the swap are no a/c, heavy front end = not good handling, hard to get traction with no weight over the rear wheels. But its more of a 'to be different' thing to me ... not many trucks can hang with hopped up cars. Its cool to see it when a truck smokes a car. And if you do the suspension correctly you can take turns really hard. I've taken turns faster in my truck than in my Camaro (I got a 97 s10 reg cab dropped 4/5). If you left the v6 in there, did a 4 link rear dropped 4/5 then it would handle good. If you did the v8 swap it would prolly be more of a streetlight to streetlight kinda truck.

I still plan to build up an older s10 someday but I'm going to wait till I can find the manifolds off a Typhoon or a Syclone and stick with the 4.3ltr ...