about to start an s10 swap. any advice? pics inside!

[andrewt2]

just bought a fairly rough but solid 1948 gmc 3 window. and an 88 s10 truck. about to start the swap. ive done a little bit of reading about it. but im still not sure if i want to go with the swap shown on mongosgarage.com or go with an ad egineering or e-z chasis swap kit. any advice would be very helpful, thanks in advance...
-Andrew

[iokua80]

It kinda depends on how well you can fabricate and if you want to spend a grand or more on the stuff you need to get the kit. I went with the directions like on mongo's. It wasn't too bad I thought. If you have any questions, ask away. I took plenty of pictures so that could help you out.


PS I'm not totally sure but it looks like your s10 is a short bed. You'll have to fix that in order for the wheel base to line up.

Later,
Josh

[Lrall]

Forget the kits, its way cheaper and easier to do it yourself. I bought the AD-Engineering kit and while its awesome and has everything you need I would have changed things like the cab height.

[andrewt2]

im not sure but from what i can tell my s10 is a short bed what will have to be addressed in order to get it to work? thanks.

[jeffs51chevy]

I vote for "build your own" - way cheaper and you get something you built from scatch. However, you might look at using the stock frame and upgrading that. If you have the fabrication skills to build the mounts, you have the fabrication skills to upgrade the stock chasis. I don't want to sound like a jerk, but speaking for someone who is knuckles deep in a s10 swap, look at all your options. Going stock takes out the head scratching and rigging it. Everything you take off will bolt right back up to where it was made to go. If you have questions or need help/pics let me know. Always here to help.
Jeff

[iokua80]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...0+chassis+swap
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=144798

Here's two links to help you out. Measure the wheelbase. If it is about 108" then it is a short bed. If it is around 116" then it is long bed.
Later
Josh

[iokua80]

Originally Posted by jeffs51chevy

I vote for "build your own" - way cheaper and you get something you built from scatch. However, you might look at using the stock frame and upgrading that. If you have the fabrication skills to build the mounts, you have the fabrication skills to upgrade the stock chasis. I don't want to sound like a jerk, but speaking for someone who is knuckles deep in a s10 swap, look at all your options. Going stock takes out the head scratching and rigging it. Everything you take off will bolt right back up to where it was made to go. If you have questions or need help/pics let me know. Always here to help.
Jeff

I kinda agree with Jeff. I had fun doing it on an s10 and it was one helluva an experience. However, looking back I think I'd rather have just clipped with a Mustang II and been done with it. But I love how deep my wheels sit inside and how low I can ride without any worries of having to lift it up just to turn.


later,
Josh

[sgtusmc]

Beautiful focken BEAUTIFUL!!! another good looking GMC. Your s10 looks to be the same as the one I bought, same color and int. I say build your own and save. Spend the money elsewhere. If you need any help you just ask or pm me. I'll help all I can. Good luck.

[andrewt2]

i guess looking at this, it is a short bed however if i plan to 4 link this truck and bag it if i just set hte rear end a little further back during mock up i should have enough room to get everything right and porportionate? anyone else who has done this please feel free to chime in. thanks!
-Andrew

[iokua80]

You'll still need somewhat of an idea where the rear axle will be before you start mocking up for the 4link. But if you measure carefully and put the bed on first and double check where the bed is gonna need to, you might be ok. Look at that link I gave you where it goes into detail about putting an AD onto a short bed s10. That'll help you out some.


Later,
Josh

[glowins10]

Does anyone have pics of cab mounts they have made or seen anywhere?

[andrewt2]

Originally Posted by glowins10

Does anyone have pics of cab mounts they have made or seen anywhere?

just use the forum search feature there are handful of ways people have made the mounts.

[MrTucker]

dumb question here, but why? what's the advantage of swapping to an S10 frame? seems better/easier to modify the stock frame...

[Lrall]

the simple approach is 40's technology vs 80's technology. The s10 is going to have power/disc brakes, updated coil spring suspension, updated steering, it also centers the AD truck wheels in the wheelwells, easier to bag if you choose, and you can essentially set the cab down, make a bracket for the radiator support, make some bed supports and it sits perfectly on the frame.

[mylow53]

i think the s10 is cheeper. but i'm a fan of upgrading your chassie to get where you want. you could do this in stages. you could fix what you got and drive it. then when you ready work on the front. then next year the rear. take it in smaller bites. i'm into a 3 year project and buckets of cash. what about running your stock suspension for a bit first... it's soooo much cheeper..
GT

[MrTucker]

cool, thanks for the info (sorry for the hijack)

[andrewt2]

thats the main reason for not wanting to modify the stock frame is the avaiablity of s10 frames and the cost associated into doing the swap i will have less money invested in the s10 frame swap total than just a ifs kit off a mustang 2. also i like the though of having brake and chasis parts readily avaiable at the parts store.

[54 jimmy]

if you are goint to buy a kit go with the ez kit. i bought the ad kit and am not too impressed with it plus you can't buy the ad kit with everything like the ez kit. if you want a simple kit and use as much of the parts off your s10 doner go with the ez kit. the guy know his stuff. just my 2cents

[nickp51chevy]

I'm with Jeff and Josh. Build your own mounts. It's cheaper and you won't have to lower the hell out of it to make it look right. This is just my .02, but I would keep it 108" wheel base. You can shorten your bed and running boards to fit and look right. I have a 114" and I cut my bed down and it looks great. I'm planing on my next build to be on a 4x4 blazer or short box. I like the look of the shorter bed and since I live where it snows I can drive it year round.

[andrewt2]

Originally Posted by nickp51chevy

I'm with Jeff and Josh. Build your own mounts. It's cheaper and you won't have to lower the hell out of it to make it look right. This is just my .02, but I would keep it 108" wheel base. You can shorten your bed and running boards to fit and look right. I have a 114" and I cut my bed down and it looks great. I'm planing on my next build to be on a 4x4 blazer or short box. I like the look of the shorter bed and since I live where it snows I can drive it year round.

are there any side shots of your bed on the 114 wheel base? everyone says these trucks look unporportionate but i havent seen any pictures of ones to judge for myself. thanks in advance.

[nickp51chevy]

i have this fuzzy one now, i'll take a better one tomorrow.

[garyo]

Hi, I am new to this site and would like to thank all for contributing to these builds. I am starting mine and it is a 48 ad and a 91- s10 with air bags. The frame is a short bed std cab witch is being streched 8" below doors with channel that fits over the frame.I have a question as to the oblong hole used as a reference point about a foot back from the stock front s 10 mount.Some refer to putting the new front mount 2" ahead of this oblong hole,would it be from c/l of hole? and also where does that put the hei in relation to firewall with a 3.5" body above frame.Also I am not clear on when members talk of cab hight above frame because the front mount points for the cab are ahead of where the frame drops to the boxed area( Lower) and i see they use a 4x4 to set things up but the 4x4 is not on the rear cab mounts it is sitting under the edge of the body. When talkin of cab hight witch end are we talking about?
That was harder than stripping frame:
Gary

[garyo]

I thought i sent along pics?
Gary

[nickp51chevy]

sorry i didn't post up, but things were a little hectic. I hope this helps