nocones said:
The ONLY 2 Iron duke modifications worth persuing are a "Super Duty" engine if you can find on, or a Mercruiser 3.0L swap. With the Age of Mercruiser 3.0L engines/boats it's likely you can find a bad boat for cheap. These engines had ~130-140HP and turned a bit more RPM then the Duke. They should be a near drop in replacement for a Carbed S10, and probably could be converted to run TBI or a Megasquirt in a EFI s10.
I'm currently in the market for a 3.0L Mercruiser... or volvo... or OMC. They are not cheap because marine. They are also not plentiful on the market because they don't die.
They are also not a drop-in swap. The 3.0L uses an SBC bolt pattern, so he would need a different transmission.
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:
nocones said:
The ONLY 2 Iron duke modifications worth persuing are a "Super Duty" engine if you can find on, or a Mercruiser 3.0L swap. With the Age of Mercruiser 3.0L engines/boats it's likely you can find a bad boat for cheap. These engines had ~130-140HP and turned a bit more RPM then the Duke. They should be a near drop in replacement for a Carbed S10, and probably could be converted to run TBI or a Megasquirt in a EFI s10.
I'm currently in the market for a 3.0L Mercruiser... or volvo... or OMC. They are not cheap because marine. They are also not plentiful on the market because they don't die.
They are also not a drop-in swap. The 3.0L uses an SBC bolt pattern, so he would need a different transmission.
Keep in mind that I'm quite landlocked and boats don't donate parts in the high desert.
After driving the truck, I'm ok with the 2.5. Not only does it seem to run great, but there's so much that I'd do to the truck before worrying about power that I'll have my hands full and budget empty for some time.
What year exactly is your S10?
I've had T5's that shifted oddly preform much better with a fluid change. Nothing fancy, just whatever it called for.
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
Mercruiser rated them at 130 HP at the prop in marine use with a carb. No emissions controls of course.
Edit: Oops, Nocones beat me to it.
The mercruiser is based on the Chevy 153 engine. They are not iron dukes. 2 different engine designs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_153_4-cylinder_engine
Now Pontiac did take some influence from upgrades made in Brazil to the Chevy engine they are 2 different engines and designs.
In reply to Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) :
This is a 1993. I plan to put fresh juice in all the moving bits. Fairly confident the synchros are toast though. I can live with it.
ToManyProjects said:
When I was 18, I had an absolute base model '85 with the duke. The truck had a factory 4.11 rear end, and a 4 speed, and mechanically it couldn't go more than 85 MPH, but it was surprisingly quick up to it's mechanical limit.
I loved that truck. If I found a clean 5 speed version for sale tomorrow for the right price, I'd snap it up.
Other than the fact mine was an 87, I could have written this comment. It would hit the rev limiter at the same time it pegged the speedometer. I am lowkey still looking for another.
barefootcyborg5000 said:
In reply to Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) :
This is a 1993. I plan to put fresh juice in all the moving bits. Fairly confident the synchros are toast though. I can live with it.
Ahhh.. last of the breed. 105hp instead of 94hp. (Accroding to wiki)
Cosworth also made a 16 valve head for the super duty 4 engine
Yes you are right. I am wrong. I know when I was into fieros people talked about using the Mercruiser parts with Iron dukes. But I never fully researched it. My apologies for spreading unfounded info.
But I guess that means you live with it or swap it.
Dusterbd13-michael said:
barefootcyborg5000 said:
1993 181k clean title. In this market, I'll take the price. I could reasonably slap a turbo and still make challenge. Probably still slower than my mustang.
Longer term- UCAs, tall ball joints, blazer bars, drop spindles and springs. Aiming for 5" total. I think I like these wheels. Interior refresh (reupholster seat, cover dash, carpet, funky headliner, replace horn
so, i did this with my 87. Look up drivabeater s10. Tall uppers, zq8 steering box, blazer sways and bilstein, belltech drop leaves, higher spring rates, etc. Never did the lowers or the blazer dual piston calipers before selling it. Also had a 2.hate that i put a complete camaro 3.4 in to replace. The fwd 3400 is better in every way but ease of swap. I kept the sfi and dis on my 3.4, and never got it tuned right. On used 245/50/16 g force ta on iroc wheels, it did full hpde weekends at cmp well.
I've read your build. I also did all of that to my 90. It handled better than any street truck should. I'm hoping that the 100lb lighter engine and manual steering help in that regard. Still can't figure out how GM managed to chop 2 cylinders off a 350 but only shave 40lbs. I liked the 4.3 but it was definitely an anchor.
Im not sure about the z28 box in this truck. If I go through the trouble and expense of upgrading the steering I may go full throttle and put a manual rack in.
The other thing was the diff. I put a NOS Camaro torsen in and it transformed the truck completely. I'm not sure I'll have the same traction issues with the baby motor.
Glad my previous self was able to help your previous self!
Always wanted to do an extended cab 4x4 Five speed with a northstar and brevada awd t case
We are now on page 3 of talking about the Iron Duke. We truly are a berkeleyed up and twisted group.
In reply to SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) :
30 years after it went out of production no less.
Y'all are my people.
I suppose I'll start a build thread. Hoping to bring it home Friday, get a better look, assess the scope of things. I have big plans for the interior. I want to keep it looking almost fleet spec white and stock outside (wheels and ride height aside) but go full space trip inside. Colors and design and just get silly with it.
On my second gen I wanted to swap the zr2 rear end (8.5" 10 bolt and 4" (?) wider ) under the rear and run ZR1 wheels 275/315 tires.
Back in the latter 90s I was a mechanic for the Postal Service and worked on all of the LLVs in the Fort Worth Texas area. All of the 87-93.5 model trucks had the 2.5. Great little engine. Tough a can be and a long term workhorse. Basically all the trouble we had out of them was cracking exhaust manifolds and leaking valve covers. In both instances we installed uprated aftermarket parts and the problem was fixed for good.
Ok, I did own one of these, a Tech IV in an Olds Calais. This was the car I bought as a license preserving car, super clean 250k miles on it and ran great. Zero personality, it just ran at nice slow speeds.
As a teenager I lost my privilege to drive after a display of smoke and noise, and later an evasive maneuver and fleeing the scene to avoid an even worse charge. The Calais was truly my penalty box and served well as one. I will now tuck that back into my forgotten memoirs closet.
nocones said:
Yes you are right. I am wrong. I know when I was into fieros people talked about using the Mercruiser parts with Iron dukes. But I never fully researched it. My apologies for spreading unfounded info.
But I guess that means you live with it or swap it.
Still love you.
PS.... if you come across a good 3.0L, I'll take it :)
Cousin_Eddie (Forum Supporter) said:
Back in the latter 90s I was a mechanic for the Postal Service and worked on all of the LLVs in the Fort Worth Texas area. All of the 87-93.5 model trucks had the 2.5. Great little engine. Tough a can be and a long term workhorse. Basically all the trouble we had out of them was cracking exhaust manifolds and leaking valve covers. In both instances we installed uprated aftermarket parts and the problem was fixed for good.
There's no doubt, it's a cockroach. From a performance perspective though, it's... well... it's a cockroach.
Found pics (buried here on grm) of my old truck:
vs new:
Same, but different.
*edit. Those 17" wheels. I might be sick.
In reply to barefootcyborg5000 :
See and I saw those wheels and went that's a shame somebody painted The Eagle Alloys. I love my '90s bill at wheels.
In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :
You'd forgive the spray paint if you'd seen the scabby condition of the wheels when I pulled them out of the yard. I was just after 17x8.
