1950? S-10 tdi
 

This is the start of my next truck build. It's a 1985 2.8L 5spd 2wd. Previous owner did a shiny paint job which will help me sell the body when it comes time to build, all I was interested in was the frame and 5spd. But it will be my daily till the swap.
If any of you have read my previous GMC build you can probably figure I like to think out of the box for my drive train. This one will have a 1.9L TDI out of a 99 Jetta. I bought it of a fellow offroader that had it in his Jeep. It already is bolted to a 5spd. The drive train swap will happen next spring and I will likely drive the s10 like that for a year or 2 before I do the old GM.
The plan is to sell the truck once I am done.
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Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Hope you have better luck selling S-10 body parts than the S-10 frame swap guys do here. A couple of them have had pretty nice looking body parts on Cragslist for months.

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

I had a '98 TDI bug. Absolutely loved that turbo diesel motor! Lots of torque the turbo had a power band that was a blat to drive when it kicked in . I wanted to put that same motor in my jeep scrambler but never got around to it.
You are going to love it. plus you will get 40 +MPG with that motor

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Right now their are over 500,000+ VW TDIs sitting in lots across the country. One of them used to be mine and wished i could have kept the engine and sold them back just the body. In any case thats a whole bunch of cars that are probably going to be scrapped so engines just might be available(or not). FWIW i got over 55 MPG and went for 2 months on a single tank.

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

One of those lots is in LaFayette, Ga. It's crazy to look at the acres and acres of nice VW cars and know that they might be scrapped.

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

One drawback to consider is when we were sure they were going to buy it back (we had no choice) we stopped all maintenance in last 30K miles. Many others did same. No oil change -nuthin. even ran it dry of def and it still ran. Sure didn't help the engine any. Many stripped whatever they could as all it had to be is a running chassis to qualify for buyback. I really liked that car . 2012 VW Passat SEL TDI with absolutely everything.

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Looking forward to it. We have a 2010 Jetta TDI and love it.
Ya we will see what happens. I'm also putting a 03 TDI in my Jeep this winter, bigger injectors and a stage 2 tune.

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Anything going on with this project dude?

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

I imagine he'll do ok selling those panels out here. So many of the first Gens are dust and our minitruck community is still fairly decent.

Hopefully you don't have two trucks done until I have one done lol.

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Well I have not been on here for ever.
Lots has happened the red S-10 is sold as a s-10.
I bought a 1952 GMC 9430 it is a X-tow truck. I also bought a 1999 s-10 frame from a show truck in mint shape with some 18" mag rims. Then I picked up a 700r4 trans that I had rebuilt. The cab was sand blasted and I picked it up from the sandblasters with my 52 GMC 9700.
The 1.9L TDI motor and trans are going into the frame once the paint is dry on the motor mounts. Tomorrow!
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Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Hadnt seen this before...should be interesting with the vw..

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

i LOVE the idea of a TDI old truck! should be an awesome driver.

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Please keep us posted. Many are waiting with baited (and possibly bad) breath to see the pics!!!!

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Yup that's the idea. I have a 7.3L idi diesel in my other '52 with 22,300mi on that build now.
I have had a 1.9L TDI in my '67 Jeep for 2 years now amazing power and wicked on fuel.
Will do. The plan is to have it driving by late spring.

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

maybe i missed it, but can i ask who's adapter you used and what you think of it? i have an 02 1.9 that i got for free after it crashed the timing not currently slated for a project.

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Man so glad to see you on here Bob. I too just got back into the fold. Looking forward to seeing this build!

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

I'm using TD Conversions adaptor, it's simple and adjustable I have the same in my Jeep for 2 years now.
Sometimes you just need some time off. Hope all is well with you Matt.

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Your right on time off.

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

So I'm ordering the rubber seals from Steele, I did not like the LMC stuff I put in my other truck. They show 3 door seal options, what are your opinion's?
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Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

The peel-and-stick sure is easier to install. I hope you have better luck closing your doors than I did!

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Stuff is happening!!
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Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Its funny how one letter can change the significands of a build thread. I first read S-10 TBI....nothing special here, TBI (throttle body injection) was pretty common in S-10's....Now change to the B to a D and you have something....ha ha .


Marc

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Ha I never thought about that!

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

I got the cab fixed up enough to do a test fit on the frame. Oh my I have a lot of space around the motor, I could add 2 more cylinders at the back lol. The nice thing is I'll have a small trans hump. I'm planning to have the running board 6" off the ground. Now to make some body mounts. I'm naming this truck Darel.
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Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Bob, looking good...Jim

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Nice

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Thanks. It's amazing how much easier the second one is to build.
Thank you sir.

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Well the floor is almost all fixed up and I got the passenger cowl replaced. While the cowl was off I cleaned up behind and sprayed rust converter, the stuff works great. Once I get the drivers done I'll spray epoxy again then on to body filler. Oh and all the holes in the fire wall are welded up.
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Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

First fire of TDI happened November 17 I forgot I had the vid
https://youtu.be/TXwa3dTexz4

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Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Cool...Jim

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Lower50’s, will you be doing a detailed “recipe” at some point for that build? If it’s a success and performs well (which I’m sure will be the case), that compact powerplant could be a really good option for these old trucks of ours, especially the pre-50’s models with more limited under hood space. I’m only 2 hours north of you, so I may well see your truck at a show someday!

Stephan

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

I sure can!! What kind of info would you like? I'm sure we can meet up in the spring.

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

The drivers side cowl is all fixed up, new kick, inner brace, and outer. Sprayed rust converter and primer/paint inside cowl. Also got the floor almost finished up with the trans hump installed. The trans hump is from a '67-'72 chev truck with the high hump, a bit of massaging and it looks like it is made to go there. I added nut certs to use the covers holes.
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Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Nice work

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Thank you

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

I got the steering column and brake peddle/booster mounted in. I'm using a peddle and column from a '80's chev truck and the booster from the s-10. All mounted up the same as my other GMC that has been working great. The carpet arrived and lays in very nice. Carpet is from a 67-72 chev truck to match the trans hump. Needs a bit of trimming when I get to that stage.
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Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Great idea about getting the carpet to match the hump. That's what I was stressing about and why I plan to paint mine and bolt it on over the carpet. I do like your solution tho.

Marc

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Lower50’s, when I asked about a “build recipe”, I was interested in how you got this engine into a truck and then got it running so quickly (I saw your Youtube test fire-nice!!!!). Your thread started off with your plans to run a TDI, and then all of the sudden there it was, installed and running by magic! How tough was this to do, and what did you need to buy? Did you fab up your own mounts? Does that engine use a computer? Did you have to buy expensive adapters? So many questions! Keep posting, we want pics and details!

Stephan

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

Sorry about that. Thanks for the interest! Guess I should have looked at what I posted.
Not much happened for a while just collecting parts, then it all came together real quick. I already had the motor, I bought the not so cheap adaptor from a Canadian company called TD Conversion. I picked up the s-10 frame in the condition you see (was a show truck) and went through the brakes and suspension. I bought a 700r4 trans and had it rebuilt with a new torque converter and moded with a corvette valve body and made to shift early. I made my own motor mounts and used Ford ranger fluid motor mounts. This is a 1998 TDI AHU quite simple for the wiring once I found a pinout for the computer. I'm amazed how much quicker it is when it's my second truck build and TDI swap.

Re: 1950? S-10 tdi
 

So I got the ebrake pedal installed and modified the stock VW gas pedal to work with the fire wall angles, the pedal now also will pull on the TV cable for the transmission. The big hole is for a speaker that I have foam backers for. I pulled it all apart so I could finish up the bottom of the floor. Then epoxy the new steel, seam seal and rubber rocker guard.
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