One mixed up 51'

[Coldshot]

Hey there,
I've been debating starting a thread on here for a wile. Mostly because I wanted to have a bit more done and together but I'm about to start working on it again so hopefully I'll be able to post updates in the near future.

First off this started as a LS s10 build then after a chat with the misses jumped to this mash up of everything.

I started with a 91' reg cab short box s10

I picked it up with a blown head gasket for $300! A total steel as it was literally rust free!
My brother and I rebuilt the top end and I sold the drive train.
Once the plans changed and the older truck was in the works I sold everything off the dime and picked up my new body for $850


The original plan for the s10 was to make a fun autocross themed truck, so I ended up picking up an 88 toyota supra independent rear suspension.

These rears are proven to take good power and come with an lsd, also is 61" wide so perfect for the truck width.

The plan for the truck is still the same so the plan now is to mold a c4 front suspension in to get the front wider. Currently this is how it all looks



Once I'm back on it I will be stripping the frame down all the way and mounting the cab and body to get the rearend lined up.

For the drive train I have a LQ4 6.0l and am saving for a t56.
In the end this will be quite a mix of vehicals and I hope mesh well lol.
Wish me luck and feel free to advise as a lot of what I'm doing will be learn as I go, witch means time consuming.

[Coldshot]

This was supposed to be in there not the hub shot

[Coldshot]

Still struggling to find time for the truck, but I thought I'd add to this with a little more of the plan of this truck and why I it will be mixed up.
So far I have the supra IRS and a silverado 6.0l, an s10's frame rails and a 51 body. In the works is an 85-87 c4 corvette k member and a T56 6 speed.
I will be joininv the box and cab together to shorten the wheel base by just a few inches (bolting together so it still has lines and can be removed) will also be getting a corvette LS oil pan so I can get the engine as low as possable. Engine will be pushed back as well.
I have been reading threw the "make it handle" thread for good advise.

This probably won't be a winning autocross truck but it should be fun if things go to plan.
Hoping to finally get the garage preped this weekend and have that body on by the next

[gregg pellicer]

Why use an S-10 frame if your gonna change out the front and rear suspension.Why not modify stock frame then you wont have to fab body mount's ,running board mount's ,etc.The whole idea of using an S- 10 frame is for the suspension that come's on it.

[Coldshot]

I wish I had started with just the 51' with the frame and all but the way things started and leaded to is why I am where I am at. I have thought about ditching the frame for a stock one but that means spending more money on a frame.
The s10 frame is already boxed up front and might be a bit stronger?
If someone wants to give me there frame I'll be glad to take it lol

[Coldshot]

I was going with spacers and drop spindles and corvette brakes but had been really searching around for a better way to widen the front without spending an arm and a leg for longer control arms and really don't like the idea of spacers. The k member gives me the brakes and the wide and I can just set my ride hight.

[Coldshot]

Got the front suspension off and one side of the old body mounts off this weekend. Ended up finding gas left over in a fuel on witch ended up on my leg so I had to stop throwing sparks.

[Coldshot]

Got a little bit done today. Got the last of the old body mounts off and pretty much completed both of the front cab mounts.
I'm going by the s10 frame swap how to thread. Changed the hight of the mounts a bit to drop my body a bit more.












Should have the other done tomorrow and start cutting out the rear mounts as well

[Coldshot]

So I got the cab mounts all done, and the chassis cleaned and turned around.




Front and back mounts


And the ridiculousness of washing the chassis with my limited space.


And now flipped it around and levelled it. Going to strip it down the bare metal and get the cab mounted.

[Coldshot]

Preping everything to mock the cab on the frame for the first time tomorrow. Only had an hour today so I got the cab rotated onto the fire wall so I could sort out the bottom of the cab t make sure my mounts will all line up. Also started stripping the frame to bare metal.
Here is before and after chemical stripper to get ride of what little "wax" coating was left in the frame.




I'm very happy to know now for sure that my cab is only rotted in the corners and not anywhere else rockers are even good.



Mmm 50's steel

A turn in a good and cheaper direction as well, I'm no longer doing the Corvette front suspension. As I have found out that the supra I stole the rear from has the same drop out complet front suspension style. But it mounts up way easier as well at only $200! They also make LS swap mounts for the supra that I can push the motor back quite a bit with.
So this should speed things up a bit for budget and being a bit simpler.

[Coldshot]

Got the cab test fitted for the first time!


Now that I know it lines up I can take it right back off again and final weld the mounts.

[Coldshot]

No point for pics but I picked up new s10 poly body mount bushings, squared up and bolted the cab on. Going to focus on getting the body mounted so the wheels all line up with it.
Also going to pick up my front suspension saturday from an 89 supra. Full set up with brakes and power rack for $120 can't beat that.
I'll post pics once it's on my floor. If anyone's interested I'll have measurments too.

[Coldshot]

Cleaned up the garage a bit and figured out where the IRS will go, so I got it on the dollies and wheeled it under the back.


Not much to look at but when it comes to lining up with the s10 frame it's perfect! I'll have to trim off the front outter mount to get it flush with the outside and that's about it. I will be welding it in when its time.

[Coldshot]

Picked up my new front suspension today!!


Picked it out of an 89 supra in the morning rain.
Got it hauled out of the car and put under under and roughly into place under the frame


I lines up nice




I'll just have to trim off the sping pockets and make the frame straight there. After that the old cross member will come out and it should slide right up.

Had some fun and put the fenders on to see how wide I have it now. Also to get the wheels in the right place.



Very slow but progress

[Coldshot]

So I've trimmed off a bit more on the front end and got myself back to making the choice of grafting the sub frame into the s10 frame or just chopping it off just behind the crossmember the putting new 2x4 square out of the frame to put the sub frame to.


I just did some measurments with some 2x4 I had that should work and after lining them up on the mounting points on the sub frame and the 2x4 will actually line up flush to the outside of the frame! So things are leaning towards chop chop

[ghettoluxury]

Supra suspension, that is an interesting choice.

[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by ghettoluxury

Supra suspension, that is an interesting choice.

YES, watching !!

[Coldshot]

Thinking outside the box, and it seems to be, so far, a cheap option for ifs for these trucks. Would work better on a stick frame tho.

I started cutting yesterday after ridding in my front brace.


Just cut the spring pockets and will tack in that peace of angle to brace the back and use as a measuring point.







Should have that peace squared and tacked in so I can remove the old crossmember. But I'm now looking for some wheels and tires to make sure I get the ride hight correct.

[Coldshot]

Removed the front crossmember today, then test fitted it and only ran into one issue.










As you can see in the last photo the steering box kinda aims at the frame. Plan to notch it out after the other side of the frame is boxed.

[Coldshot]

Did some more mock up today with the body. Got my rad support trimmed down to fit.







Now that it's a bit together I can mark out where my wheels go and then take it all apart again then will get that k member in and in there

[Coldshot]

So after a far amount of cutting and test fitting.


It's sitting where I want it now. This will get me between 4" to 7" of ground clearance (depending on where o set the hight of the coilovers).

I have taken a little more then I'd hoped out of the frame to get it where it is, but it will work. I'll probably build another frame down the road...

Now it's on to filling in the gaps.




should get more done soon.

[Advanced Design]

Interesting build! Are you going to use the green LS engine?

[Coldshot]

Yes but I've re thought the colour. Don't know why I did it in the first place.


It's an lq4 6.0l
I'm just shaving the top of the truck intake witch is actually pretty easy. I got half way threw it but stopped as I started to really modify.
As for the actual motor I'm just going to swap on some 243 heads from the 5.3 and a hot cam.

[FarmerSid]

That will give the truck some balls with that 6.0. When you talk 4"-7" of ground clearance, where are you hoping to get that at? Front bumper, running boards, oil pan?

[Coldshot]

I'm going by the running boards. Truck will be pretty level. Still debating what oil pan to go with. H3 or the crazy batwing corvette pan. Cuz I'm pushing the motor back the vett pan might work. Either one should keep me above the running boards.
Still saving and trying to track down a cts-v t56. Going with that one because I've done my research and although it has the farthest back shifter position, it's actually extended. But if you remove the extension, where it actually shifts is farther forward then the fbodys. They make a shifter kit to replace it.
That get my shifter the farthest forward to get the motor the farthest back