I'm trying to put together this S10 for the $2k challenge. The truck was a project of a family member who had put it on the back burner for a few years. It came with several extra parts and a little bit of a head start as the front suspension has had some attention already. It's a 4.3l with a 5 speed manual. The interior has been gutted, pretty much all of the parts from the interior are long gone with the only exceptions being the seat (that a cat literally gave birth on), seat belts, and gauges. It drove to where it's parked at now, but after sitting for a few years it wouldn't start when I bought it. Here are the before pictures and some of the spare parts:
Today was my first day working on the truck. Had my dad helping me and when we tried to jump it off the engine turned over once and then the ignition switch wouldn't engage the start position again. After dropping the column we found the electrical part of the switch was out of adjustment with the rod that connects it to the key switch.
Once that was sorted it would turn over and even start up when I sprayed some carb cleaner down the throttle body, but the fuel pump wasn't running. After checking the fuses and fuel pump relay it was determined that the pump itself wasn't working. Ohming it out showed 20 something megaohms. I pulled the pump which looked like it had been replaced not too many miles ago and hit it with a small hammer while my dad cycled the ignition switch. That did the trick and it started humming, so I stuck it back together and she finally started up. It smoked a little at first but that cleared up and wasn't making and awful noises and idled semi-smooth. That's a win in my book.
Then I got the seat and seat belts reinstalled and started checking for brake clearance and measuring for wheel spacers. The truck came with 18x8.5" Camaro wheels. We weighed one of them and it came in at about 24lbs. I wish they were lighter, but they will work.
I hope to get the truck driveable and road legal by the end of the month so I can get some seat time while hopefully working the kinks out and figuring out where my budget will be most effectively spent. I'm pretty excited.
Your budget will be most effectively spent on lowering, n0s, and great tires.
Dirt track upper control arms from summit, tall ball joints, drop spindles, moog zq8 front springs, the big sway bar you have in your parts stash and a mid 90's grand cherokee steering box are the ticket to handling in the autocross. Also as previously mentioned sticky tires.
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/starting-my-2017-build-before-i-finish-2016s/109986/page1/
In reply to pimpm3 (Forum Supporter) :
When I got it it already had tubular uppers, new ball joints and the stock springs cut (which should be slightly stiffer than zq8 springs), so I'm not going to mess with any of that for now. I have a blazer/zq8 front swaybar and the stock front bar. I'm going to put the bigger bar on first, but hang on to the smaller bar in case I need to use it to balance things out.
In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :
Ive probably read that post a dozen times over the past 10 years! Coot to know you're on here as well.
We're here to help if we can!
I may not remember it all though. Its been a minute. But, the pro touring s10 scene was awesome when i was in it.
Those are some sexy calipers in the spare parts pile, and it looks like the rear is already spring-under with some blocks too. I too have been down with the S truck platform. Seems like you're off to a good start!
