1986 S10 Daily Driver Rollover Rebuild

[Bigdually]

Originally Posted by Katrina/10

Thanks, I'll take a look for the mats. I didn't know they made those, and mine is cracked.

No problem! I got mine from RockAuto, just over $100. Carpet is the same price, odd enough, but I wanted the vinyl for this truck since I drive it to and from work with dirty boots. Don't know yet how it fits, but if it's like the other ACC products I've used, probably just fine.

[Myself]

Throw that old radio on ebay. I had one similar I had taken out and sold it for several dollars! It's actually an uncommon unit.

[Bigdually]

Originally Posted by Myself

Throw that old radio on ebay. I had one similar I had taken out and sold it for several dollars! It's actually an uncommon unit.

I thought about it, but I might just keep it around as a backup unit. I've kinda got attached to the old thing, it always pulled in the stations really well.

I did sell a bunch of the leftover stuff from the build that was too good to throw away just today. $75 for it all. I was happy to have it gone and the kid who took it was happy to have parts to fix his truck.

[Bigdually]

Well, life and work have me at a place where now the truck is running and on the road I'm sort of not doing much to it. I still have the flooring out of it and there are a few odds and ends I need to wrap up, but it's been running great and I've been driving it every single day.

I did have a small issue that is gonna force me to park it until I get it fixed, the muffler blew out and split open! I noticed it getting a little louder but yesterday it gave way completely and the drone in the cab is so deafening that it actually hurts to ride in the cab New exhaust coming very soon, but for today I'm driving the big truck.

[Myself]

My Nissan tow rig is about to do that same trick

[Bigdually]

Originally Posted by Myself

My Nissan tow rig is about to do that same trick

It definitely wasn't pleasant on the little 4 banger when it happened, the drone was ear-splitting. I'm talking like a 19 year old with a Civic type of bad




Parts to fix the exhaust came in today, and I wasted no time in getting them put on the truck. Summit sells an absolutely WONDERFUL fitting mandrel bent THREE INCH exhaust kit for an S10. And it's $167, which is cheaper than anyone local could or would make the same stuff IF you can even find a shop that will mandrel bend you some 3". It even comes with the hangers to install it just like a factory system and a weird pivot joint that I was skeptical about, but doesn't leak.

Surprisingly, it doesn't sound at all loud or ricey! I was very happy with how it turned out, it's actually very similar to how quiet it was with the old muffler before it gave up. There's a slight bit of resonance at a very specific RPM point, but I'm not too worried, I have more to do on the exhaust that will change and fix that issue anyhow. The factory manifold is actually not at all bad, the collector is 2.5". It has a weird flange/restrictor deal on it that narrows it to 1.5" though, and there's tiny pipe for the crossover. I will be modifying the manifold with a 2.5" Vband and having a 2.5" crossover pipe bent, and then running back and into a 2.5" to 3" transition at the muffler. If I get too much drone I will stick a resonator in the straight run under the passenger floor where the cat resided long ago.

Until the point I get the other work done, I can drive it as is. It'll be back on daily duty in the morning.

[Katrina/10]

I'm sure the 2.5 will love the big pipe! Nice to find stuff like that.

[Bigdually]

Originally Posted by Katrina/10

I'm sure the 2.5 will love the big pipe! Nice to find stuff like that.

So far it's a lot better than a blown out muffler, but driving around the last couple days I've found its still a little loud, mainly due to drone, for my tastes.

I ordered a brand new factory style manifold to hack the tiny outlet off of and put the 2.5" V band that I ordered onto. I have to go by a muffler shop and have them bend up a crossover pipe for me that's 2.5", and also the step up over the parking brake cables that's in front of the muffler, plus a transition to 3". I have a shiny new Magnaflow 10416 to put in where the cat lived years ago to kill the drone.

This will definitely make things flow a lot better, and hopefully it'll sound decent with minimal drone by the time all is said and done.

[SCOTI]

Any updates?

[Bigdually]

Not too much is different with the truck, I did stick the MagnaPak on it as a resonator and it did do away with a lot of the drone. I modified the new manifold but haven't had the time to stick it on and get it to the muffler shop to have them bend up a crossover pipe.

I drive the truck to work every day, it's been pretty much flawless with the exception of eating a right outer front wheel bearing. I fixed that a couple Saturday mornings ago. Still on my to do list is the floor mat install, wiring up my speedometer drive motor, and at some point I'd like to beat the bed back fairly close to straight and maybe make it all one color. Even if I have to use a roller and a brush

[LT7A]

Good work on this. Despite the accident you showed a lot of resolve and got the job done quickly. It's a cool little truck and I like the upgrades you made.

[Bigdually]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Good work on this. Despite the accident you showed a lot of resolve and got the job done quickly. It's a cool little truck and I like the upgrades you made.

Thanks! It's still going strong as ever, it's a reliable and pretty great daily commuter.

[Katrina/10]

How's your MPG been?

[Bigdually]

Well, it's been quite a while and life has been busy. Fiance and I are getting married, new house, both had the virus and healed up. What a year.

The S10 is still my daily, or at least was until a few weeks ago when I pulled it in the garage and decided to fix some of the ugly. It's not perfect, I'd say it's a 10 footer, but for a work truck I'm happy with it. It's been using some more fuel lately and getting loud, plus stumbling occasionally. I believe I have a cracked manifold, gonna fix that too while it's down.

[SCOTI]

😎 It's bright!

[Bigdually]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

😎 It's bright!

I was so tired of it being dull and ugly. Knew I wanted it to be red again, and when I saw that bright cherry red I knew what it had to be

[Warrens69GMC]

Looks good!!

[Bigdually]

Originally Posted by Warrens69GMC

Looks good!!

Thanks!

[Bigdually]

Little bits of progress on the paint project, I freshened up the original grille with some Rustoleum silver wheel paint. Turned out just about the right color and metallic look to match the color GM used. Don't know how it'll hold up, but if it's decent I definitely will use the same stuff to restore the grille on my big truck.

Don't worry, I did tape off the bow tie. Although seeing the tape on there before paint gives me the itch to have a classic blue bow tie on the grille

I also hit the front and rear bumpers and my wiper arms with some JD blitz black I had, I like the satin/semi gloss look on bumpers over gloss

[Bigdually]

Reassembled the front end this evening with my new headlights, bezels, and all new lenses. The bumper turned out OK, I could've prepped it a little better, but the grille turned out nice, looks brand new!

Still to do is wire up the halos on the new lights and install my new air dam, then I need to move out back and stick my new tail lights in. Went with all new lenses on the truck so I wouldn't have anything old and dull against shiny new paint.

[Warrens69GMC]

nice!

[Bigdually]

Originally Posted by Warrens69GMC

nice!

Thanks! It feels like it's taking me forever, but it's coming along. I can't wait to start driving it again and save the miles on my good truck.

[SCOTI]

Fresh lenses & glass are two of the most impactful upgrades one can make to their vehicle.

[Bigdually]

SCOTI, I agree the lenses sure did make it brighter all around! The tail lights are installed now, plus new license lights. I had some clearance lights burnt out I'd not even known about, so I sprung for all new bulbs all around too.

Also, I finally got rid of the big mirrors for the first time since the wreck! I had Blazer/Jimmy power mirrors on it because I like the lower profile look and good fitment, but broke one in the rollover. I now have two again and I'm very excited about that, they're getting to be really hard to find.

[Warrens69GMC]

Definitely looks muck better, Congrats!!