Syclone Killer
 

Just sitting here watching YouTube and figured I’d let people in on this. I have done a lot of work already and in the next week I hope to get back on it

First it’s a very sentimental truck that can’t be sold outside of the family so there is your why.

87 GMC S15 2WD base model that has been in the family almost 20 years now, it’s had many different drivetrain variations but has always been a stick shift. It’s had a dirt track 350, a 383, tuned port 305, , Saginaw 4 speed, Muncie 4 speed, and a T5 5 speed.

Well here is what’s going down, All aluminum, and I mean including the block 5.3 with a stage 3 BTR cam and matching valve train, carbureted setup because I want to plus there is nothing that sounds like a cammed carb motor.
The trans will be a T56 that started like from a GTO and is modified now
4WD frame swap

Oh yea, the most important part, NP149 transfer case, yes it’s going to be an LS powered, 6 speed manual, ALL wheel drive truck.

This is how it used to sit

Re: Syclone Killer
 

And to add just a tid bit more of a Syclone feeling I bought a rusted out Sonoma Gt. Then stripped the entire body kit, interior that is identical to a syclone except the syclone script on the seats, power windows, power mirrors, Cluster, wiring harness, I mean ALL of it.

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This should be enough show&tell for now

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Cool project! That will be fun to drive!

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Ok here are some more, only reason this has been on hold was because I wanted to get the Lincoln on the road before bringing it home and having another dead car in the garage.

The trans is using the tail housing from a c6 corvette trans I had laying around. Since the trans no longer has a spot in the rear for a shifter I managed to adapt a cobra mustang shifter and put it in the “forward location.” Had to cut off the extra shift rail, then installed a McLeod lug for the shifter to engage. It all works great and smooth through the gears.

I still don’t remember how I found it, but I found a guy that makes the black steel adapter to go from a corvette trans to a 4wd transfer case for the full-size truck guys. Well being the np149 came in a couple years of the Escalade and the Silverado SS it’s a full-size transfer case bolt pattern.

It’s been months since I did all of this so trying to remember stuff.
Oh the oil pan is a 4wd swap pan I wasn’t fond of because I like my cast aluminum pans but you do what you gotta do. And I had to hammer it for diff clearance because I wanted my motor low and not use any kind of body lift. No one makes 4wd s10 LS swap mounts to put the engine where I wanted so I modified 2wd summit mounts till it sat where I wanted.

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Here is a reference to show how far the shifter had to move. Sad part is the GTO trans already had an aftermarket shifter that I couldn’t use.

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This was me playing with an idea, so unlike the Syclone the Sonoma Gt never had cladding around the wheel arches. The wheel opening shape is identical from a round body to a square body, that made me think well why not use S10 Xtreme flares. I’m going to have to mock all the gt kit up before cutting on the flares but I’m pretty sure I can make them work and all tie in

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There is an S10 section on this site.

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I’m very aware what there is. Do you have an issue with my alternate tinkering being posted in alternate tinkerings?

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It's not really an alternate tinkering when there's a forum on this site specifically dedicated to it. But no I don't have an issue with you posting it here. It might get seen by more if it was in the S10/15 section. I also have an S10 and I don't look here for other S10s, so I didn't get to see it right away. I think with your engine choice you're going to burn through some tires. :D

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Scroll through the s10 build page about halfway down and you’ll see they are all atleast a year old. More people in here appreciate the modifications happening.

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Nice work and I really like your work space!

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Preciate it. That is at my folks place. I just have a funny shaped 4 car garage. But hey out of the elements is out of the elements. Let me walk outside and get a couple pictures of its current state. Then everyone will be up to speed with where it is literally sitting now.

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It’s a wreck right now but it’s my wreck so it’ll be fine. Anyways as you can see the shifter is in a great spot, I’ll end up modifying the Sonoma gt factory floor shift console to accept a cup holder and shifter boot for the stick. I have front pads now that I didn’t have when I put the front end together so I’ll get those on, I’m using th 98-04 blazer dual pistons. I started messing with the headers a few nights ago, slight dinging with be necessary on the firewall and near the clutch slave cylinder as they weren’t meant for a 4wd or stick shift. And for good measure a picture of it and big girl, had to move it out of the garage temporarily.

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Well ****. This one was short lived. Family issues and let’s just say I don’t wanna own a vehicle where someone can say they gave me something. So I’m selling off the parts, and returning to sender

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I'm sorry to hear it. I think we all know what it's like to get sideswiped by family situations. Have you thought about buying another truck to be your base vehicle? This was quite a setup you had going, and would be an amazing truck to drive.

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No because honestly an s10 is not “cool” enough for me. That truck had special reasons so I’ll stick to my c10, the Lincoln, finish building the lawn mower, and maybe get another bike or water toy

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I just found this and my enthusiasm was rising when I got to the end. What a bummer.
I've thought about doing what you were doing to my Blazer for a number of years now.

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Tell me about it. Still pisses me off when I see the few parts I have left

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Welll maybe. Just maybe there may be a good outcome in the fiasco.

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Must go lower

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Man I was getting psyched! So you are still building it?

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It came back and I’ve already bought back the transmission. May take a while this time to get it done but hey it’s gonna happen. Acquiring body panels currently so I can make sure I get the wheels covered

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Well I went and got the parts truck

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Well I got the old column out to put the tilt in. I was like hey there is a lot of room to work, may as well swap the cluster and add the SyTy brackets. Ordered LEDs for the cluster so not doing the final install yet but it’s all in there.

Random fact for her unknowing, the syty clusters were actually Pontiac sun fire clusters with special brackets and a bezel to make them fit in the Sonomas

Re: Syclone Killer
 

Looks good! Keep up the good work!

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So no updates, mainly been messing with the Lincoln and working. But for any S 10 owners with fog lights this may interest you. ironically I found one switch the day after I ordered the other, but on with the point. The switch with the very nice bezel had cut wires, so I ordered an NOS switch for an Astro van and robbed the actual switch part and viola NOS s10 fog light switch. Atleast now o have a not so purdy spare that I’ll never need.

Re: Syclone Killer
 

Sometimes when life is too busy even the smallest things feel like an accomplishment. Only update is I got the truck in the garage and now I have the correct rear end under it.
If anyone has ever tried to find a factory 4WD 3.73 axle you know it’s not too easy, bonus it’s a disc brake rear with aluminum calipers to match my blazer dual pistons up front.

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Great to see you back on this project. The disc brake rear end is pretty common but the 2wd vs 4WD issue is all climate dependent to your area. I have been looking for a 2wd one for quite some time but everything on my side of our state is 4wd for the most part due to the amount of snow we get so the rare 2wd one that comes up is stripped clean rather quickly.

I did something similar to your project using a Bravada as the donor inside and out. I made my S10 into an Oldsmobile Bravada appearing AWD truck with the upscale Olds leather interior. The plan was to turbo the 4.3 but I didn't get that far before I needed a bigger truck for work and it had to go in favor of my 1995 DRW K3500.

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Yeah the disc and 4wd was the easy part, as you have experience with the bravada you may know this already. But the bravada and ZR2 are the only 4wd axles I’ve ever seen come 3.73 and posi.

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Yes it’s been a while, between working 6 days a week, the cold, and upgraded the Lincoln to a 6speed auto, let’s just say I’ve had my hands full.

So anywho, for those that haven’t ever seen an LS7 clutch here ya go. The flywheel and clutch only go with each other as you can see there are raised pads for the pressure plate and speaking of, look at the thickness(mass) of the pressure plate. I didn’t have trans fluid laying around and it’s a lot easier to fill before installing so perhaps I’ll get that done tomorrow.

I did get the LS2 intake put on, took it off the Lincoln where I was using adapters and put the correct Ls3 one on it so there is another thing that had to wait.

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Sunbird cluster. :cool:

Do you happen to recall the number of that GT? I've been halfheartedly documenting them and wouldn't mind adding that to the junked list. :metal:

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Well technically not a sunbird cluster but they did start off as that. Redline is different.

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SomeTimes I hate living so close to Summit, other times I love it. Picked up a set of scratch and dent special Corvette rotors and pads. Guess that means it’s getting the big brake treatment

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Thanks!

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No updates per say. I’ve been fiddling a little at night when it’s cooler. Putting the Lincoln on hold for a bit since all that’s left is paint Really.

Anyways decided this will be my third vehicle with hydroboost.

Also acquired a ridetech 3 link for the rear suspension. So gotta back up a little before going forward. Kinda had no choice at $400 instead of retail at $1850.

And was given a K&N kit for a 18 and newer Tahoe which will work great for my air intake

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I’ll just leave this here.

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I don't see how it will help leaving it there. I would put it on the truck :lol:

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All better now?
Proof of concept works, now I just need some 3/8 steel to make the adapters.

14” GT500 rotors with the stud holes opened up to 3/4”. And the hub bore size is within 1.5mm so I’m not worried about vibrations.

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So the project did not die. But between getting married, buying a new house, getting a real shop, building a leanto for the truck and trailer, shop heat and air, building the wife a 6.2/6L80 envoy, and some other stuff I’m sure.

I’m back to working on my stuff. Completely forgot about posting anything on the forum. But in the last couple of weeks I’ve installed coil covers on the front, to match the coil over and ride Tech suspension in the rear.
Front corvette rotors and calipers
Just got the low mount ac fitted tonight
Next is redoing my turbo hot side as I wasn’t happy with my hack job trying to finish before I moved.