S10 Swap how to

[99 to Life]

1-2 years to do a truck is normal for most us on a budget and time restraints. Sure you can get one done in 1-3 months but thats working non stop and having alot of funds. The longbed should be cool. Coach on here has a bagged LB and its cool. Different is good. you'll get there trust me, don't stress.

[reaper71]

I speak from experience when it comes to being patient
My personal truck (project orangepeel) has been in the works for 6 yrs or so I build cars/trucks for a living for other people so I do not have the shop space to fit another one in. Like 99 said just relax and keep plugging along!

Mark

[Mains52]

Ok fellas I know you're tired of me asking questions but does anyone have any measurements of how tall they made their custom ls mounts. I got the tubing and the 4 link bushings to copy the ones I think 99 made but his were on a stock frame. I was trying to finish mocking up the placement last night and couldn't find a spot where the stock exhaust manifold on the drivers side wasn't hitting the frame. So suggestions on height for mounts and headers would be very much appreciated. Thanks

[b-mac]

Originally Posted by Mains52

Ok fellas I know you're tired of me asking questions but does anyone have any measurements of how tall they made their custom ls mounts. I got the tubing and the 4 link bushings to copy the ones I think 99 made but his were on a stock frame. I was trying to finish mocking up the placement last night and couldn't find a spot where the stock exhaust manifold on the drivers side wasn't hitting the frame. So suggestions on height for mounts and headers would be very much appreciated. Thanks

I took pics of mine the other day. I did push my motor a little to the passengers side. Stock SUV manifolds clear frame and steering shaft.

[skymangs]

just lettin' ya'll know i'm still alive and kickin'. long road to recovery, but i am still hoping to re-open my shop this fall

[Cautrell05]

Originally Posted by skymangs

just lettin' ya'll know i'm still alive and kickin'. long road to recovery, but i am still hoping to re-open my shop this fall

Glad to hear you are getting better. Always enjoy your posts.

Nick

[mongocanfly]

That's great to hear skymangs..

[99 to Life]

good deal chris, looking forward to it. my friend I'm doing a truck for was nearly killed a couple years ago from a fire at his work. He is still recovering, said he'd have surgeries for many many years to come. I'm sure thinking about getting your shop back is pretty therapeutic.

[oldman3]

Chris, great to hear your still doing good. Prayers for you and your shop...Jim

[joedoh]

awesome news! glad to hear it chris


Mains52, I have hung a motor and trans in the hole using a cherry picker, jacks, and holding my tongue right to weld in mounts. level the frame first, then level the motor 4 degrees down towards the rear. keep a little offset to the passenger side (use the oval holes on the top of the s10 frame to the cast line on your trans) and keep the motor straight in the frame. by the time you set everything where it needs to be, you can tack in your mounts.

[skymangs]

Originally Posted by joedoh

awesome news! glad to hear it chris


Mains52, I have hung a motor and trans in the hole using a cherry picker, jacks, and holding my tongue right to weld in mounts. level the frame first, then level the motor 4 degrees down towards the rear. keep a little offset to the passenger side (use the oval holes on the top of the s10 frame to the cast line on your trans) and keep the motor straight in the frame. by the time you set everything where it needs to be, you can tack in your mounts.

that seems like a lot of work. i just use a chunk of 2x4 betweenthe oil pan and crossmember and a jackstand under the tailshaft.

if anyone is interested one of my builds is for sale in kc. he's asking 10k, and in my opinion it's well worth it. it is a 52 gmc on an s10 chassis with a 4.3/700 and a disk brake camaro rear. it is currently titled and licensed. this is literally a turn key truck, and you know i build 'em right! here's a link to the build pics https://www.facebook.com/pg/OSGcusto...55911077861390 i'll post a current pic and his # as soon as i get them,

[skymangs]

here are some pics of when i delivered it.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by skymangs

that seems like a lot of work. i just use a chunk of 2x4 betweenthe oil pan and crossmember and a jackstand under the tailshaft.

unless you were lifting the engine into the frame with your bare hands, your way is one step more than mine.

[skymangs]

Originally Posted by joedoh

unless you were lifting the engine into the frame with your bare hands, your way is one step more than mine.

of course i use a hoist to lift it.

[Mains52]

Originally Posted by skymangs

of course i use a hoist to lift it.

You guys crack me up.

Joedoh: Thanks for the tips. I was able to get it leveled and lined up. I got my mounts tacked in this past Friday. I used a little of your technique mixed with a little of Skymangs technique.

Skymangs: I very glad to hear you're doing well. I've only been on here a little while but you seem to have a huge support group and following here and I am one of them now . Thanks for all of your tips and info.

[Mains52]

Skymangs, I would like to use my stock steering column. Is it possible or no?

[gigamanx]

Stock S10 engine question. I have the V6 in a 1988 S10. Do I keep the radiator and fan or do I need to replace those for a slimmer model to fit the Chevy 3100 front clip on? Second question, do I need to move the engine back or forward at all or is it ok in its spot and I just use the cab mounts to get the cab and fenders in the right place around the existing engine?

Thanks!

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by gigamanx

Stock S10 engine question. I have the V6 in a 1988 S10. Do I keep the radiator and fan or do I need to replace those for a slimmer model to fit the Chevy 3100 front clip on? Second question, do I need to move the engine back or forward at all or is it ok in its spot and I just use the cab mounts to get the cab and fenders in the right place around the existing engine?

Thanks!

you have to move the motor back about 8.5 inches. you can keep the radiator and fan if you box in the inners for a radiator mount but most guys just use the 19x22 rad and add a trans cooler and electric fan. see my booger thread for mounting the stock s10 rad.

edit: I realized I asked skymangs the same exact question as you before I did my first swap haha. I was hopeful not to move the engine too.

[52ratrod]

Skymags, im glad to hear your doing better and i want to say thanks for this thread. It would be nice to put everything in a book for reference.

My question is and i dont know how much was covered but what do you do to make your box supports and how you mount them. I might have missed it after read 700+ post on this thread.

Or if anyone knows the post number would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[OutlawDrifter]

skymangs, I saw the 52 GMC while browsing CL yesterday, figured it was one of yours.

[gigamanx]

As always, thanks for the post JoeDoh. Not sure I could have made it this far without your responses. Funny now that I have the S10 blown apart and I look at your Booger build thread, everything makes sense and looks right. I must be learning something! Any chance you have a picture of the V6 motor mounts? Do I just build an adapter plate with an 8.5" offset or is there more to it?

I'm finding myself with more and more questions simply because I am planning a few steps ahead and working on steps I know I'm good with. Obviously blowing apart the truck wasn't terribly difficult, but I didn't want to damage anything I wanted in the future. Looking ahead, I have to start thinking about what gets fabricated first, what I need to fit back on first, etc.

Just have the passenger side electrical and ECU to take out and the cab can come off.

[joedoh]

my fenix project is a 91 s10 like your current truck, and I go into detail on how I built and lined up the motor mounts. remember that you need exactly 16.5 inches between the mounts center to center, dont let them get wider as you go back.

also in this thread skymangs does a great job explaining how to hang the motor and build mounts.

on my first one (47 gmc) we built a bolt in adapter plate that moved the engine 6.5 inches, it needed a little more and it didnt make sense to use a plate to do that on the 49

[skymangs]

first of all thanks for all the props. i'm no where near the first guy doing this. i just thought i'd take a little of my time to share my knowledge and experience. i found it frustrating on my first build that no one would give up any real info.

gigamanx, 52ratrod and Mains52 spend some time reading the first few pages of this thread.

and mains52, you can use your stock steering column, classic parts sells a bearing that will convert your closed column to an open one.

for thoseOf you who don't know, I lived with my dad for the last six months. We were involved in a terrible traffic accident on 12 May, my dad passed six days later in the hospital. I am now living with my sister in northern Iowa. I still plan on coming all truck nationals though

[gigamanx]

Originally Posted by skymangs

first of all thanks for all the props. i'm no where near the first guy doing this. i just thought i'd take a little of my time to share my knowledge and experience. i found it frustrating on my first build that no one would give up any real info.

gigamanx, 52ratrod and Mains52 spend some time reading the first few pages of this thread.

and mains52, you can use your stock steering column, classic parts sells a bearing that will convert your closed column to an open one.

for thoseOf you who don't know, I lived with my dad for the last six months. We were involved in a terrible traffic accident on 12 May, my dad passed six days later in the hospital. I am now living with my sister in northern Iowa. I still plan on coming all truck nationals though

Funny you say that, I was just reading the first 10-15 pages again today. Every time I take a major step in the project and reread this thread things become a little more clear. Great example is using the brake pedal mount from the S10. Totally makes sense now haha

Sorry to hear of so much loss in your life. I can't imagine what it takes to fight through the day but I'm glad you're doing alright.

[skymangs]

Thanks, it's been a rough couple of years.my wife decided that she didn't want to take care of me for rest of my life, so she filed for divorce, and she's trying to be very greedy.