$100 S10 (warning lots of pics)

[wwhijr]

We got a call from a guy who had an abandoned S10 in his yard and wanted it gone. I offered him $100 and we went up to get it. His room mate was a drug addict and left the truck there for 3 years. I figured it would be a big pile of crap. When we got there he told us it ran so we jumped it off and drove it up on the trailer. Other than a couple of rust holes and the stupid stickers all over it the little thing was in good shape and ran like a sewing machine.
My GF, Steph, liked it and I told her we would check it out. Got home and found receipts for a new crate engine in 2000 and a new transmission in 1998. (2.8 auto). We applied for abandoned vehicle title and waited.








The first thing she did was get out the LMC catalog and decided she wanted the newer style front end on it.
We stuck a free topper we had laying around and stuck some stuff in the back it while the title cleared.

[wwhijr]

Four days later we got a call from another guy who had a 92 S10 that he was building into a race truck and lost interest. Again I told him $100 and went to get what I thought would be a complete basket case. When we got there we was driving it. He had put a brand new front end on it. Lowered the front suspension a little ( not sure how much but it has a bunch of shiny new parts under it) and dropped the rear end on the ground. Looked completely stupid but , hey, it was $100.

[wwhijr]

Got it home looked through it and it was in great shape. The only rust spot is in the front of the bed. The interior was missing parts, but we had spares. Since it was a 2.8 with a 5 speed she decided she wanted it. It rode like a buckboard, but we had parts to fix that too. I told her if she wanted it she had to do all the work. She got right to it.

[wwhijr]

I talked to my brother and he said he wanted the frame off of one of them for $125. So while she was raising the tail of her truck I stripped the other one to the frame.


We swapped in a set of Blazer bucket seats,

Camaro rally wheels and tires, and the topper off of my project S10.


Stuck in a stereo that I pulled from a junk car, fixed a few electrical problems.
Fuel pump failed on the side of the road so we had to fix that.

Then we slid in a old rug for the dogs, and a freebie toolbox to stuff luggage in to keep the dogs out of it

[wwhijr]

Loaded up the dogs, and drove it to VA for Christmas. Only problem we had on the trip was the horn wire in the steering wheel shorted and freaked up out when the horn stuck. It wasn't getting full power so it sounded like a wheel bearing or something had locked up. Once we slowed down it became apparent that it was the horn. We had a good laugh and went on our way.



Outside the Waffle House


Last week the idler pulley went out and a power steering hose burst, but I got plenty of spare parts.

Future plans include a posi rear, different seats (I want mine back). Correctly installed stereo, lights on the front and rear (it is a work truck and we need to see in the dark), find some center caps and rings for the wheels, fix the wiper where it works right (PO put in a full size tilt steering column that he didn’t wire right, wipers only work in one position), new pilot bearing (whenever current clutch go out), matching interior parts, and whatever else she decides to do to it.

All in all, not a bad little ride for $100.

[ruffrida2005]

looks like you have a nice project going on. I hated to see you strip down that blue on just for a frame. when it was a good running truck. I have a spare frame is why, but I'm in Texas. Cant wait to see more work done to it. do yall plan on puting the front back to stock ride hight?

[wwhijr]

No we kinds like it sitting down like that. Kind of has an old school muscle car look.

The more I tore into the blue one the more I am glad we kept the other one. Evidently it spent a good bit of time up north as it has a bunch of rust under it. It is easier to get parts off of it this way too

[blazer72]

sweet scores, can't have too many spare parts. those little s-10s are awesome, economical vehicles, and parts are readily available.

[OARNGESI]

Wow thats gona be a great little truck

[shooterpcb]

I feel like Im asking too much now for my '84 that doesn't run! LOL! It is a V-8 converted truck and I am asking $650 for it as a rolling chassis with V8 parts.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Wow great scores! 2 trucks for $100 each! I have trouble finding parts for under $100 whenever I need something.

Looks like you made the better choice between the two. Also, IMO the autos suck behind the 4 bangers.

[gchemist]

Great write up!! Nice score on the trucks!!

[BarryB]

Man great scores.
I love my little truck, 2.8 5 spd gets me 23-25 mpg all day long.

[wwhijr]

Originally Posted by BarryB

Man great scores.
I love my little truck, 2.8 5 spd gets me 23-25 mpg all day long.

I figure once we have time for a full tuneup and servicing we will get about that. Right now it gets 21 aroudn town and 22 on the road. But the shell is heavy. Dang thing weighs about 400 pounds it seems.

[cttandy]

Hey all, new guy, I am wwhijr baby brother that wants that frame. Don't worry it's going to good use. I have built many s-series trucks through the years and this one should be the best of all of them when I am done.

I am hoping to somewhat recreate my first s-10, this truck


Only with an ls-1 and drag ready suspension and a static drop.

[UltraBlue71]

I got one for my daughter for $200 but it needs a motor, at least yours run, I cant find a running 2.5L anywhere in ID!

[jagman]

Originally Posted by UltraBlue71

I got one for my daughter for $200 but it needs a motor, at least yours run, I cant find a running 2.5L anywhere in ID!

Your 2.5 is one of the easist engines to rebuild . If you don't know how get a book and teach yourself . You will be glad you did . If you really wanna have some fun with it , I have everything you need to drop a 4.3 vortec engine in there (including the 4.3) .

[UltraBlue71]

You need to get all that Jesus propaganda back on it! Or maybe I should, then mine might run!

[wwhijr]

Well I dont think the stickers will help it any now. It has been stripped to the frame.