Re: S10 Swap how to
 

I own 2 55 chevy belair and now bought a 1952 4 window truck out of a chicken house,,it's been there 29 years. I am trying to make up my mind on which way to go with this truck..I do know i want a fuel inj engine and 4L60E,,I do know I want an independent front sup,,I have begun reading all the info on this site and still confussed..Which is the best way to go,,,change frames,,clip frontend,,what??Help,,

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Yeah I may have to use the one in the drivers side head... The one in the pass head has a single spade connector coming out of it with a red wire attached with a female spade... no clue what it's going to... it runs up to the original loom and I haven't tore it apart to see where it goes... I got into doing a little test lighting on the cluster plug today and found that the pin out you posted is different than mine... I've got no pins in 1,2,3 and 4 and 10 are blinker feeds. 16 is ignition + power... Still unsure on just what year this S10 was... I guess I will just start hooking up one gauge at a time and see where I end up... Can you or someone post a pic of the driver side coolant port I can use for that temp sender? Oil I should be good, just going to use the one where the current mechanical sender is... Speedo, I'm going to need to order a plug since the trans has nothing in that location currently... when I do that can I just run that direct to the speedo? or will I need to include the ECM back into the circuit?

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Bauto, I would recommend that to repost this great question as a new thread, you may get better responses if if we're not in this how to frame swap thread.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Earlier in the thread you mentioned using acid to remove the wax frame coating for good welds. I have a small hand held sandblaster, will that do the job? Or is acid still th best choice?

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

In both of your drawings the rear stand is 3/4in taller than the front. Am I understanding correctly that these are for the 47-50 cabs? Then on a 51-54 cab the rear stand would be 1/4in taller than the front? Thanks for the clarification.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

What headers can be used with the S10 chassis swap on a SBC350?
Im looking at these.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MzAwWDI5MQ...TzsKS/$_35.JPG

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301252473208...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTUwWDUwMA...(jw~~60_12.JPG

http://www.ebay.com/itm/330844813420...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MzMzWDQwMA...3g!~~60_12.JPG

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150910783321...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Sorry folks, I've been extremely busy finishing up this '54, and haven't been online much. I'll answer questions and post pics of the finished 54 when I can get my kids off the laptop!:lol:

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Coldshot; I use 71 Camaro motor mounts now. (cheaper), and build my pedestals out of tube steel and 3/16th uprights. And yes. get your cab mounted up before you mount your driveline. You need an inch of clearance from the firewall. That is to give you maximum clearance for your e-fan up front.

Bauto52; my best advice is that either route requires lots of research, careful measurements, and some mechanical aptitude to accomplish. In the end, it's a matter of preference. Some will tell you that S10 swaps are a "hack job", but if they are done correctly, they are very roadworthy and safe. It is important on either MII or S10 swap, not to cut corners. Nothing is more frightening than an unsafe vehicle!

User Error; The one on the passenger head should be between the second and third exhaust port. You can use that one, that is the "non ecm" sensor. That is used for the gauge. The drivers side should be between the 1st and 2nd exhaust port. Identified by a plug. Pull the plug and insert your new coolant probe or aftermarket sensor.

Coldshot: sandblasting may work, but likely it will work the wax farther into the pores. I always use the Muriatic acid.

Fod's Garage; You are correct. on 47-50 the rear stand should be 3/4" taller than the front. For 51-54, it should be 1/4" taller.

Californiadaddy; You need S10 V8 conversion headers. The ones you posted look to be correct, but be sure the drivers side header has the center 2 tubes sticking out. The steering shaft will have to go through those two tubes to the column. The headers should like like picture 2.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Here are the promised pics of the 54. This is a long bed truck on a extended cab S10 chassis.

Lots of bells and whistles! 5.3 LS efi motor (drive by wire), 4L60E, Hooker cast headers, custom interior, 2 tone dash/fully painted interior, new steering column, 21 Circuit EZ wiring harness, Vintage Gen II Compaq AC, 23" Lokar Nostalgia shifter, Redline Gaugeworks VSS converted stock speedo, Custom Autosound stereo and kick panels, Power locks, electric wiper conversion, bear claw latches, Coker wide whites, artillery's, and LED taillights.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Thanks for the info. So you use 71 camaro mounts on the LS swaps? I'm just wondering if I can figure out a mount that would go to the stock frame cradles. There's lots of LS conversion mounts that can push the motor back to up to 6" or so.
I'll just have to get my body on first and measure I guess.
Do you have any pics of LS swaps you have done?

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Here's some exterior shots. :metal:

My next truck project is Cecil from Oklahoma, but it has it's own thread already.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

I do have pics. https://www.facebook.com/OSGcustoms
I'll get a thread together on this '54 LS conversion by this weekend or so.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Thanks for the info (all of it) it's my first build so i am reading all. I bought an s/10 and have stripped it to the frame, but still haven't made up my mind to use it,,thanks again

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Would you happen to know the specs on those artillery wheels and tires

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Wheels are 15x8 rear, 15x7 front and spare. Rear tires and spare are 255/70r15, fronts are 225/70r15. The spare is on a 7 inch wheel to tuck it closer to the bed side.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

cool.. have a great thanks giving

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Thanks. You too!

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

I have been trying to figure this out, and something must be different on my frame. It's a 84 s-10, 117", std cab, long bed. I keep coming up with 34 3/4", not the 33 1/4". Is it possible my older frame had the holes in different spots?

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

I have an 84 frame at the shop. I'll do some measuring after the holiday.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

54 looks great! Where did you find that flex coupling between the MAF and the intake tube(4" I assume)? Also what did you use for an A/C compressor?

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Here is my math on my frame. 84 s10 std cab long bed 117"
Front edge of oval hole to rear edge of 5/8 hole, 43 1/4"
Add 2 1/8" from oval to rear of front stand, total 45 3/8"
Remove 10 1/2" to get to front edge of rear stand 34 7/8"

This should be 33 1/4", where did I go wrong.
I do understand, tack them on, put cab on, confirm engine space, make corrections as needed, pull cab, finish weld, but I would like to avoid any suprises. Great thread, thanks so much for the help.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

I just tacked the stands on that 84 frame tonight. I took some measurements to verify for you. Rear edge of front stands 2 1/8 forward of the edge of the oval hole. Front edge of rear stand 10 1/2 behind the 5/8" frame hole. From front edge of rear stand to rear edge of front stand is exactly 33 1/4". Not sure why you are getting a different measurement. This one is a long bed rev cab as well.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

The flex coupling is a stock piece from the donor Suburban. AC compressor is the stock Denso compressor from the suburban, in the stock low mount bracket. The truck uses a stock Silverado belt still.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Just getting ready to mount my engine and trany, is there any reason besides cost that you choose to use solid welded motor mounts rather than ones with poly or rubber?

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

I use rubber mounts. 71 Camaro mounts are cheap, and they bolt to the engine. The uprights just replace the stock perches... no way I"d solid mount an engine, makes everything vibrate!

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

I've been surfing the s10 forum for a wile and a guy with a blazer got lengthened front control arms from Michigan metal works. They will cut them to what ever length you want. His cost him $1000 for the set, upper/lowers. I checked out there site and they have really good prices if anyone is looking for control arms. But my question now is what do you or have you done to widen the front track width to match the rear width? Besides spacers.
So far from searching a wile on this, Michigan metal works will be the way I go but would love to hear other people's plans.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Thanks, that makes sense to me now. I'll get the camero mounts and get the engine in this weekend.

I still have not been able to figure out why my measurements for the cab stands don't match yours. I have measured them a couple dozen times in different ways in case I'm reading your notes wrong and can't come up with 33 1/4. There must be something different with my holes, my frame certainly does not match the pictures you have posted, but I figured it was just a variation on the year. I'll just need to put the cab on and make sure there right before welding. Thx again!

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

I got this great message today:
I think I figured out your Issue with the cab stand measurements. I am sitting here looking at my bare frame right now. Feel free to give me a call and I will explain what I think is going on.
Curt

So I called Curt on the phone, we stood at our frames and sure enough my frame does not have the 5/8" hole in the same place as his. Either way, the 33 1/4" between the two cab stands is correct, but not everyone has the rear 5/8" hole. Thanks Curt, I hope to have my fully restored cab on my s-10 chassis by Christmas.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Glad you solved the false measurement issue. I've never seen a frame that was any different (and I've seen quite a few). Now I'll be double checking each frame. That would be exactly the reason I tack the mounts in place until I've verified that the cab fits.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Sorry coldshot. I use spacers. A grand for control arms is out of most of my customers budgets. I've built quite a few, and have been driving the 48 for over 2 years. No problems yet.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

My frame does not have the 5/8" hole 10 1/2" forward of the rear cab mount location, because of that, in error I used a 5/8" hole about 12" REAR of the rear cab mount location and measured forward. All good now, thanks for a great thread!

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

What size spacer do you use? I'm planning to autocross the day lights out of mine so that's why I'm looking at that option. Stock lower control arms need to be beefed up to use coilovers or they blow threw the bottom.
Thanks, thought you might be interested in the info in case one of your customers wants to go that way.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

I use 2 inch spacers on most builds. My kids truck has 1.25" spacers. Thanks for the info. Always good to have options!

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Great write up! It will help get more of these old trucks on the road.
I love the steering column part. Im almost ready to set mine up, but my motor is wider than a LS. How do you get the steering shaft around the motor do you have a pic?

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

I used D.O.M. tubular A arms made for the s-10 they are real nice and come with moog ball joints

http://cdn.airassisted.ca/Bolt-in-Ai...r-Control-Arms

Not the cheapest but really strong!!

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Same price as what I'm looking at so not to bad for the full set. If I buy arms tho I want to eliminate the spacers if I can.
I love your build, I can see why you want the super strong arms.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Lower50's; Thank you. I use a double Borgeson joint set up if the header interferes with steering shaft alignment. With a double setup you will need to capture the shaft near the second joint to keep it from binding. Look at "Rico F. '54 LS build" I have pics in that thread.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Thanks Skymangs. That looks good I'll have to set something like that up.

Re: S10 Swap how to
 

Thanks. Pm me if you run into any problems.