82 s10 ls1 build.

[Aint Skeered]

I recently swapped my 64 chevy II race car for a 82 s10 that was setup for a small block Chevy. He had a 434 stroker and ran 9.90 on motor but in the 1/8 th mile on a 150 shot he went 5.70's.

Truck has a ford 9" read with 4.56 gears and a spool, caltrac bars and QA1 shocks on back, moroso front trick springs with CE 90/10 3 way adj shocks .
He started putting a cage in it but it's far from finished, need to put door bars and bars going to the bed. I may end up starting fresh with the cage, it's not tied into the frame like needed and some of it is not the best it seems.

It's a good starting point , 2 batteries in back and a 5 gallon fuel cell, though one of those batteries will be removed as I will run an alternator .

For an engine I will be rebuilding my ls1 347ci engine that I had in my Nova, it has scat I-beam rods with 7/16 rod bolts, Mahle 4cc flat top pistons, stock crank. Heads are ported 5.3 castings with 2.0 int. 1.60 exh valves . And 54 cc chambers for 11.7/1 compression with stock .051 gaskets but I'll be going to cometic .040 gaskets for 12.1/1 compression .
I have been running a truck intake and they actually perform as well as the ls6 but are tall and ugly so not very desirable . This along with a 78mm ported throttle body .

Transmission will be the one out of my nova as well, th350 with an 8" tci converter with about 5200 stall.
The combo ran 10.24@128 with a 1.43 60 ft in my nova@ 2600 race weight with 31x13x15 slicks . That was also before a swap, my old cam was for a stroked 383 and far from optimal on my combo, that has changed as well.
Previous cam was 239/243 .612/.612 112lsa 110 cl
New cam is 238/250 .603/.596 110sa 106 for a lot stronger power band. I had to turn 7500 with the old cam and the intake was done at 6800.
Should have a bit more Tq for a harder launch now and not loose any thing to 7000.

The car had 4.11 gears and taller tires , needed more gear and the truck has to much with the 28" tires so I plan to run a 30x9 radial slick when I get to that point.


I have a header thread in the ls section about tube size , I think I'm going outside the box and will run 1"7/8-2" stepped headers. The truck intake will get replaced but I'm not sure if I'm going efi super victor with a 4150 tb or pro flo with a 95 mm tb.

I received my oil Pan today for a hummer h 3 . I am going to mount my block and transmission maybe next week for mock up. Then will order headers once I see how my mounts sit compared to the ones Brp hot rods sells.
This will be a slow build to start as I am on crutches from a ankle injury on September 13 th. tore all ligaments and broke both bones . Had surgery on September 21 and had a second one yesterday dec 22 to remove some screws so now I can start putting weight on it. So it will still be a little while before I'm getting dirty on the truck.

Thanks to workmans comp and my company for being good to me for a 5 month paid vacation on my backside but now it's time to get moving. I have had enough rest for another 20 years of work:)
I bought a 92 s10 brand new as my first new vehicle at 19 years old. Always loved that truck so I did not hesitate to trade for this one. My car was not for me. It was all race car , this one can be driven to the local car show and mostly raced.
That's more my thing.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/0be634db.jpg
Truck
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/64%20chevy%20II/nova2-1.jpg
Car before I got it painted and changed the snorkel for a 6" cowl
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/64%20chevy%20II/1245355935.jpg
After paint
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/64%20chevy%20II/frontviewofnova.jpg
Engine going in truck

[406shark]

Truck looks good.....

That LS engine should make it fly. I'm curious how the headers will work out for you. I'd love to be able to make my fenderwell headers work when I someday switch over to LS power. I've heard of some cutting and re-welding the primaries to make them work?

I'll be watching your build for inspiration.


Jeff

[Diabolical]

Very nice rides..
The Nova looked tough.. I bet it was hard to let go..
I had a 66 Nova II for years.. Letting it go was like loosing a child.
Good luck with the build.. I'll be watching this thread as well :)

Mike

[Aint Skeered]

Very nice rides..
The Nova looked tough.. I bet it was hard to let go..
I had a 66 Nova II for years.. Letting it go was like loosing a child.
Good luck with the build.. I'll be watching this thread as well :)

Mike

Not so hard to do, I lost interest in the car. Hated spending a dollar on it so it was time for something else.

The truck has me like a kid in a candy store:)

[Aint Skeered]

Truck looks good.....

That LS engine should make it fly. I'm curious how the headers will work out for you. I'd love to be able to make my fenderwell headers work when I someday switch over to LS power. I've heard of some cutting and re-welding the primaries to make them work?

I'll be watching your build for inspiration.


Jeff
I might be able to modify the headers that came with the truck. They are home built but not to bad, I really want to do this build right so that is why I'm looking to go with the hedman hustler header .
I'm hoping the truck runs close to what I did in the car, it's only about 200 lbs heavier but less tire to turn and over all will be better set up. Better headers, more gear and going to a better intake .

[Aint Skeered]

And a bump in compression :)

[s10nation]

Looks good, will be watching as this one gets going , nice looking s10....

[lxtasy]

I will be watching this one also

[East End Riders]

Looks like an awesome start! I will defiantly be watching this build as I plan on going LS in the near future.




LT

[Aint Skeered]

Thanks guys, I will get started doing a few things Monday or Tuesday . I have my Trans am on my rack right now to find an oil leak. Once it's off the rack the truck will go on and I will set a block down to see where the motor needs to sit. I'm pretty excited to get started on this and keep looking at parts I want to order but I'm not ordering anything until I know it will work.

Since I posted my truck and my Nova , I figured I would show my real pride and joy.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/512c7ab4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/8cb32b90.jpg

[Aint Skeered]

I picked up my new oil pan for the s10 but it did not have the pick up tube or windage tray. Had those ordered and should get them soon. I pulled the oil pan off my engine (gto pan) and sold it yesterday . Found a good bit of metal in the pan, will try to tear the whole engine apart tomorrow and see the damages.
Hopefully not to bad , I can get another crank if needed for $100.
I will post pictures of damages when its apart.

[Diabolical]

Damn.. Hope its not too bad.

[Aint Skeered]

I figured it was a bearing , I just hope it did not damage other parts besides the crank.

[Aint Skeered]

Here is some rear suspension pictures of the truck
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/ceefea18.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/18374f07.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/3de4adc4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/3de4adc4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/373ee6ae.jpg

This is at rest and not jacked up but it seems that I have a bit of room on my rear shackle. I will confirm when I can jack it up

[406shark]

Your rear springs look very similar to mine... no arch.

How much arch do they have out of the truck? Mine has 6.25" laying on the floor... basically no arch at all once in the truck under weight. Not good.


Jeff

[Aint Skeered]

I remembered seeing where you had posted that and I was thinking the same about mine. I will see how the truck drives and leaves the line when I get it running, I have been on caltracs sight quite a bit looking at the split mono leaf springs .

I'm glad you stopped in, that confirms that my springs are like yours.

[Diabolical]

Nice bars!!

[Aint Skeered]

Is that caltrac bars or is that daggers ? I was told caltrac but don't know what the dagger looks like.

[406shark]

Those don't look like any Cal-Trac's I've seen.


Jeff

[Aint Skeered]

Slide a links maybe? Now I'm curious

[a_penquin]

Im going home brews

[wikd]

im with chris... thoes look to be a set of home made units... the slide a links are actually a set of sliding bars with a rubber durometer in the middle of them to cushion them some...

the nut being kind of crooked is a dead give away for a home made unit... the brackets look unpolished and refined... but if they function like the other style bars then give em hell...

[Aint Skeered]

Hmm, I was told they were caltrac bars. I hope they work.

[s10nation]

I am going with wikd they look home made , judging by the welds on them , but never know they may work awesomely , wont know till you try them..

[a_penquin]

Hmm, I was told they were caltrac bars. I hope they work.

they are styled off of they're design, but someone made them themselfs instead of buying the brand. If those are how caltracs come I would be pissed with the quality of those brackets and welds.

[Aint Skeered]

Well they are on there now so I will wait until the truck goes down the track to judge them. Thanks guys, I thought they were caltracs . As log as it hooks I'll use them. If they don't work then I may get ladder bars and coil overs . That's a ways out still.

[lxtasy]

caltracs are also tagged "caltrac" on the side. I have caltracs and those are not them. But still similar in design to run the heck out of them

[Aint Skeered]

I am leaning toward pulling the body off and cleaning the chassis up . I dont have any of the roll bar tied to the frame and before I run the bars out to the back it will make it easy. Not so much once those bars are ran.
I'm still in the research stage at this point. This broke ankle should be healed up in a month or so , then it will begin.

[a_penquin]

I can see an issue here, the entire cage must be tied to the frame to be legal and certified.

[Aint Skeered]

Oh before I forget, someone from this sight built those bars for the guy I bought the truck from. He swears they work great so i will be running them but most likely with split mono leaf springs.
He also modified my ls1 headers on my old nova for his small block Chevy so may do the same to get me going with the old headers that came with the truck. Then get them coated to look better.

[Aint Skeered]

I can see an issue here, the entire cage must be tied to the frame to be legal and certified.

I know, it will be but since it's not in going to pull the cab and bed to paint the chassis and coat the underside of bed and cab first.

The bars are not ran to the back yet so this will be best to do it before finishing the cage .

[Diabolical]

I can tell you they are not my bars.
slow89s10 put a file together.
http://www.s10racer.com/board/showthread.php?t=3563
Maybe they were made from these?

[smsmith36]

Definitely home made copies. They don't look like my Cal-Tracs. Whoever made them was a little sloppy but if they work is all that matters.

[Aint Skeered]

http://www.s10racer.com/board/showthread.php?t=3563

These are the bars that he had built from this pattern.

[a_penquin]

Thats the caltrac blueprints.

[Aint Skeered]

I pulled my heads and oil pan today, turned the motor over on engine stand and it has bearing material squeezed between #7 rod cap and the crank z
Can't find my harmonic balancer puller so I left it as a short block . Going to call the machine shop tomorrow to see when I can drop it off.

[Diabolical]

That sucks

[Aint Skeered]

Yeah when it happened I parked the car and left it alone until I was ready. Now im ready and it don't seem so bad after 8 months.

[Diabolical]

I understand..
When I blew my motor at the last event.. I didn't touch it for 4 months.

[Aint Skeered]

I have all the parts needed to run fuel injection and even have efi live to do the tuning but have an over whelming desire to go carburator . It won't see the street and if it does it's very very little so gas mileage is not even a factor.
I think for what I'm doing it will be faster carb and also with a really radical cam , efi can be very finicky. I can get the tune to idle perfect but the next track day it won't make it to the line without surging.

[Aint Skeered]

Ordered the first parts today for the truck. This should help a lot with rear shock angle, if needed I will move top mount also to get it as straight as I can.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/f905f905.jpg

[Aint Skeered]

Landrum did not offer a s10 specific spring and was not sure which spring it would need. I went with the 2" drop Calvert racing spring. This and straightening my shocks should take care of my suspension needs.

Now I'm waiting on parts, should be here by the weekend so I can start installing them. :D

After this is done I will start the focus on getting the roll bar finished. After that the motor will go to the machine shop . I think I'm going to sell the sbc headers I got with the truck, I'll buy the 1"7/8 tube hedman muscle rod headers. Brp hot rods never answer but I confirmed a price match through jegs so I'll go through them for customer service reasons.

[Aint Skeered]

Well the competition engineering parts came in but it turned out that my brother had a set of lower coul over brackets . He had the part that welds to the rear end but not the pieces that the shock bolts to so I am custom making those to go back 4" from the rear to make the shock straighter then the competition ones. I will be sending these back to Amazon.

I finally broke down and sold all my fuel injection parts to go carburator . This being a race truck I decided I wanted the simplicity of carb. I already have a 750 CFM Holley double pump with the choke tower shaved. I called Sean Murphy induction today and after talking with him I will be getting my carb tricked by him. He said it will flow 830 on his bench when finished.
I will be running a super victor intake .

As for the headers I mentioned before that BRP hot rods had that were scratched and was waiting on email with pictures. They were supposed to be 1"7/8-2" stepped headers. I finally heard back and they are 2". I have done a bit of research and even though they are to big, I will be running exhaust so I think I will go with them. This is a race only truck with a 5000 stall and 4.56 gears in a lite vehicle so I should be ok. This will also work great with nitrous which will eventually be used. Along with a future 408 engine.

[lxtasy]

since you are ditching the efi, do you have the knock sensors that go into the girdle below the intake manifold?

[Aint Skeered]

Sorry I let them go with the other fuel injection parts.

[Aint Skeered]

2" tube 3.5" collector headers on there way. I'm getting excited about this build.

[lxtasy]

You will like those headers I am certain of that.

[Aint Skeered]

I love the price I got them for :D
They have some scratches from being installed previously but not through the coating to bare metal. I saved $300 over normal price of $769 before shipping and paid $500 shipped.

[lxtasy]

See, that is what I am talking about. When a deal strikes you have to go for it. I love it. Can't wait to see a picture of them when they come in. Curious on what they actually look like for the 1st gens.

[Aint Skeered]

The picture they put looks the same for every set on the web sight. I'm curious also, I know that two tubes will go between the eng an frame and two tubes will go around the frame and back into the collector.
I got the message from them yesterday that they were 2" and would take $500. I called and asked if it was shipped for that price and he said no. I said if it was $500 shipped then I would buy them right now and he said ok :).

Now I have to save some more money and start waiting on a super victor to be a good buy. I can't figure out why the carb version of that intake is $100 more the the fuel injection model.

[lxtasy]

Do you know anyone that can weld aluminum up? If so, get the fuel injected one and weld the injector bungs up.

[Aint Skeered]

I actually might get the injector one and put freeze plugs in. That way if I ever go back fuel injected it will be easy. And save money too.

[lxtasy]

you think like I do :D Check ls1tech.com I see the intakes come up there for sale alot

[Aint Skeered]

I seen a good deal on a black powder coated one for $340 brand new but passed because it was for fuel inj. That's before I thought of freeze plugs.
I also wanted the Calvert springs and decided to work on suspension first .

I'll keep an eye out and see what I can dig up on tech.

[Aint Skeered]

Just thought of another good reason to run the injection intake with freeze plugs, when I add nitrous incase of a back fire, the plugs will blow out before destroying every thing else.

[Aint Skeered]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/6ea16fa5.jpg
Parts are starting to arrive :D

[lxtasy]

I like those springs :D

[Aint Skeered]

I moved the truck out to my shop and picked it up on the lift. I'm hopeing Sunday I can swap out the springs. Tomorrow looks to busy .

[Aint Skeered]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/415ea4e9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/4f142beb.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/0abfd11f.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/8afa57d9.jpg

They do have a bit of scuffing but I can tell theat will happen the first time I try to put them on the truck . They look like it will be a chore to put the tubes together in truck .

The tubes are 2" but collectors are only 3" , I thought they were 3.5" . I don't think that will hurt one bit though .

[406shark]

Looking good... :rock:


Jeff

[Aint Skeered]

There is something that has me wondering. I have never seen how a sbc is put in an s10 so I don't know what is done here. Is this stock location or did they weld plates and move the mounts forward?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/5a763161.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/a0f94322.jpg

[lxtasy]

They welded plates and moved it forward. get a grinder out and grind those welds off the frame and the plates should fall off exposing the factory bolt holes.

[lxtasy]

BTW, headers look pretty damn good sir.

[Aint Skeered]

They are scuffed a bit but I don't mind. None of the scuffs go to bare metal . I'm happy with the purchase.

[s10nation]

good looking headers ... x2 what Hal said about the plates

[BUTCHERBOY]

Nice headers man! I too can't wait to see how they install!


Yeah just get that grinder out, loose those mounts. The stock frame mount bolts be under it.

[Aint Skeered]

Hopefully they are still there, if not I may do motor plates. The headers are going to be fun to install, any one know if putting anti seize on the tubes will help slide in and out the collector better? That is going to be the worst part.

[01XtremeLT1]

graphite will help the tubes slide in and out. graphite will not burn either like a lube will and it can take the heat of the exhaust. just something to think about. x3 on the good looking headers

[Aint Skeered]

Is graphite the same as anti seize?

[lxtasy]

I have had my collectors off and I used a rubber hammer to put them back on

[Aint Skeered]

I started to buy one at harbor freight the other day . I guess next time I go I'll get one, thanks

[Aint Skeered]

I finally was able to put the Calvert racing springs on, the truck came up a bit, once the engine and Transmission is in I will decide if I want to lower the back some more.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/2ed07ba7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/4c8281a4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/e0de85ee.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/7e882e24.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/267eceb8.jpg

[Aint Skeered]

The pictures are not the best but just wanted to show that the springs are on . The shocks did not straighten up much so I will still be putting coil over shock mounts on the rear and modify the top mount so that they stand straight up and down.
That is going to wait until the engine and Trans ls in so that I weld them straight up an down as te truck sits. Also after I have pinion angle set.

[Diabolical]

Starting to make progress!!

[Aint Skeered]

I am walking again so now I'm able to get out in the shop. I noticed today on that #7 piston touched the head. Don't seem to have damage but will know more when it goes to machine shop to get it all checked .

I have 4 more weeks of phisical therapy and I am reporting to the office on lite duty until I'm finished pt. once im able to go back to full duty , I will be able to make a good bit of overtime so I will be able to start buying more parts.

[BUTCHERBOY]

Looking good. Thanks for pictures of calverts leafs.

Like to see how you mount those shocks.

Get back on the mend man.

Take care. Keep the progress coming! lol!

[Aint Skeered]

The shocks will get straighter with the lower coil over mounts but I am going to move the top as well. If straighter is better the. Straight up and down it will be :D

I appreciate the well wishes, I'm walking again after 4 months of no weight on it buy it's a slow process to get the flexibility back.

Pictures will come as I get more done , me and the wife are spending the weekend in New Orleans so I don't see much happening this week . With the truck that is . Lol

[Aint Skeered]

I have been out in the shop grinding down my motor mounts to the frame. They are for the deep style motor mounts but the plates I am using to connect the sbc mounts to an ls1 make it to thick . I'm going to use the short motor mounts to see if it will sit down in the frame a little deeper.ill take pictures after my phone charges.

[Diabolical]

Cool!!

[Aint Skeered]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/44ca5f16.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/33e4d2e2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/b08fba03.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/chad12345/4112a813.jpg

I had to put my rubber motor mounts on as my steel ones that bolt outside my plates make the mounts spread to wide for the frame mounts . I may have to make some plates where the motor mount is one piece. I am actually thinking I may do motor plates. I will put my transmission to the back of the dummy block and get the Trans gross member bolted up and see if my headers clear right here. If they do then i will make a decision to do motor plates or just get short style steel mounts.

[Diabolical]

Looks good.
I would go with the motor plate.
The steering shaft looks like it clears nicely..

[Aint Skeered]

I'm leaning toward motor plates but I have never used them. Kind of intimidated by them for some reason.

[s10nation]

motor plates are manna from heaven, you will never wanna even see a motor mount again after using them ......

[Aint Skeered]

I may if the headers don't work where the motor sits now. I need a empty th350 core for mock up. I'm sure I will just man up and bolt my transmission to the block .

[BUTCHERBOY]

Looking dang good.

Good luck with the mock up.

[Aint Skeered]

Not much has been happening . I tried to drop the block to the machine shop but the shop was closed . Will get it to them tomorrow.

As for motor plates or mounts, it depends how close I am to fitting the headers where it sits now , if they fit then I'm leaving it where it is .
If I have to modify then I'm putting plates I guess.

[Aint Skeered]

Block is at machine shop, it appears that I had detonation in number 8. The bearron was beat out of it and messed up the rod. I tried finding a single rod bit no luck matching the weight. I ordered a new set of scat I beam 6.125 rods with 7/16 bolts.

Should only be a week or so and I will have it back and ready for install.

[lxtasy]

Good luck. I hope your machine shop works faster than the ones local to me.

[Aint Skeered]

They are pretty quick . I'm not in a big hurry though. After its built and fitted in the truck , I still have quite a bit to buy.

[88KansasS15]

that is a nice truck man! that sits about how i want mine to. im gonna order the -1" caltracs mono leafs and maybe do 2" drop spindles up front...truck looks sick tho man!

[BUTCHERBOY]

Sucks about the rods, but those scats won't let you down.


Kicking ass man!

[Aint Skeered]

They are good rod's, I had detonation that took it out though. Waiting on rods to get in to get everything balanced and should be ready to pick up soon

[Aint Skeered]

So I found a great deal on a 6.0, really thinking about going with more cubes. Decisions decisions. :D

[lxtasy]

Only one decision to make , pickup or delivery

[Aint Skeered]

It's been a while since I came here. I am back to work after 5 months off and have been worn down when I get home so I have not thought to update.
Short block is complete, had to buy new rods , turned out that the last machine shop did not torque plate hone my block and my cylinders were not true but that's fixed.
Ordered my super Vic intake today so I'm getting close to starting assembly.

Just wanted to update, hope you all are doing ok

[Aint Skeered]

Super Vic showed up today. I am going to take it and get it clear coated before install .

[BUTCHERBOY]

Haven't been paying attention to your thread man.

How's the progress coming?

[Aint Skeered]

I have every thing except the msd box. Should start coming together real soon .

[Aint Skeered]

Long block is together , super victor intake is for a efi so I plugged the injector boss's with 14mm freeze plugs. I then had the intake clear coated to make clean ups easy later on.

All I need is the msd box but that can wait until last. I'm also going to
Think about going with msd's atomic fuel injection.
I'm also considering putting the 6 spd from my Trans am into the s10. I love banging gears on the track but not so much on the street while cruising.
I am going 4l60 in my Trans am soon.