The truck i used to have

bigheavy150 · 01-12-2011, 03:10 PM

I had a "project bastard" back when i was 16-18 it was a $100 91' 2.8L v6 S-10 that was practically given to me DOA as a project.I Made it purely for going at ridiculous speeds down gnarly dirtroads.

The truck itsself looked like a joke, truck all rusted out and the interior was fubared.I never fixed the cosmetics but i rebuilt ALL suspension and steering parts, single leaf in the back, custom springs and adjustable,doubled up shocks in the front. Front and rear swaybars. disc brakes all round(and a adjustable pressure control).Never really needed more power then the 2.8l.Because with the 2.75 rear end it would go 65mph @5kRPM in 2nd and never quit spinning till 3rd.im sooooo lucky that truck didnt kill me :twisted:

People could not belive me when i told them i didn't touch the engine (TBI) only rated at 120hp new at 200k miles and 90PSI of compression i bet it was only making 100hp. Well, the exhaust and air breather did help just a tiny tad.But i could steadily spank 280hp V-8s in 1/2 ton trucks. on the 1/4mile asphalt. Or dirt it didnt matter. It was made to handle the roughness of sliding through ruts and potholes at 40mph and boy did it never broke anything in the frame/suspension

I watched my friend get the front end ~7feet in the air then slam back down.It exploded the cheap tire on one side and busted the windshield but thats it! meanwhile i had a stupid friend thrashing his 2004 chevy 1/2ton and he snapped a balljoint while following me down a fast straight stretch.

I guess my point is, if you want a truck for thrashing look into s-10's they kinda suck for using as a daily driver on asphalt but they live for the dirt.You can find them everywhere for real cheap in USA and there is some performance parts for the 60* V-6's All the suspension/frame/important stuff is built just as heavy as a 1/2 ton but with 2/3 the weight on top

anyone else ever build a dirtroader?

Weldangrind · 01-12-2011, 03:49 PM

Nope, but it sounds like fun.

I bought a China atv for pounding on. Worth every penny.

bigheavy150 · 01-13-2011, 12:13 AM

ok i found a pic with the truck in it. since 99% of my pictures got lost when my laptop quit working.

Not much of a pic i know, But it gives you an idea of how ugly it was

no,I did not drive with the camper on, i think this pic was when the clutch was out of it.

Weldangrind · 01-13-2011, 02:29 AM

Just like Rangers, you can pound those into the dirt. They even accept small blocks without too much fuss.

Whenever I see one in stock form, I think of the line from Arnold in T2: "This is the vehicle's top speed."

katoranger · 01-13-2011, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Just like Rangers, you can pound those into the dirt. They even accept small blocks without too much fuss.

Whenever I see one in stock form, I think of the line from Arnold in T2: "This is the vehicle's top speed."

I drove an 85 s10 with the 1.9L. It did top out a 65mph. Down hill.

kmoore · 01-13-2011, 10:12 AM

lol add ground fx and a tonnu cover and your lookin at 55 mph downhill with a strong tailwind lol

bigheavy150 · 01-13-2011, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Just like Rangers, you can pound those into the dirt. They even accept small blocks without too much fuss.

Whenever I see one in stock form, I think of the line from Arnold in T2: "This is the vehicle's top speed."

yea,rangers are tougher then s-10 my mom had a 2.3 I4 make it to 300K miles(with about 60 psi compression but no problems starting)but it toped at about 70 @ 4krpm it was a 88'4wd and was a bit of a deathtrap above 35mph

Oh yea, the thing that finaly killed it was my sister driving in 4wd on asphalt for 100miles :X locked up the transfer case and shelled the tranny. she was going 25mph and locked up all 4 wheels.....she was lucky.

lego1970 · 01-15-2011, 09:47 PM

In the family, we had a 88 S-10 and a 94 S-10. Both were bare bone trucks. No A/C, sticks, Am radio, I-4 bangers, but both lasted a long time, were pretty maintenance free and always did the work they were asked to do. They were great as long as you didn't want to go over 60mph, listen to music, or stay cool in a hot Missouri summer :wink:

katoranger · 01-15-2011, 10:11 PM

We upgraded to another 85 with the 2.5l and power steering after the frame failed on the other one. Many years of MN winters and a half ton load of scrap metal didn't agree.

bigheavy150 · 01-15-2011, 11:43 PM

One big downfall of the 60* V 6's is the horrible gas mileage. at best, going down a toll road you get 24mpg with the way i drove it was more like 12mpg

katoranger · 01-16-2011, 08:51 AM

I don't get 24 with the 4cyl.

2LZ · 01-19-2011, 12:21 AM

Well, instead of trading in my S10 this week, I've given it some TLC and will drive it another year. Heck....it's paid for.
It's my second one and have worked on many 'back in the day' when I was a mechanic. (Glad I got out of that now!)
Presently got an 02 with 115,000 miles, a 4.3 V6, 2WD, 3 door unit. Runs perfectly and here in The PRK, passing SMOG is huge, as it does.

I love the power of this one. TONS of grunt. Spins the rear wheels in nothing flat. VERY quick for a V6.
My last one was a 4 cyl 2.0 unit with a stick and regular cab. Hippies in VW vans were passing me and flipping me off on uphills with that one. It was an SLT where my V6 is a base model. Really makes a difference in comfort and quiet, especially. This one is a work truck. Not even carpet.

I'll say this between the two.....neither got 'great' mileage..... For the tons of extra power.....I'll take the big V6 over the 4 popper for 4-5 miles per gallon difference. I don't care what they're rated, that's what it boiled down to. I barely have the weight of my foot on this one and she jumps. The 4 cylinder I was always in to with the foot.

With that 2.8 you got.....I'm totally SHOCKED you haven't grenaded a motor from an intake coolant leak. I was replacing those about 2 a month at about 60-90 thousand miles when I was a wrench. Even super babied, family Blazers. EGR would super heat one side of the aluminum intake and warp it a tad to seperate the gasket.....letting coolant leak into the valley. BOOM! Rod knock and whipped cream in the oil.

Weldangrind · 01-19-2011, 01:17 AM

It sounds like a cast intake would have been a better idea.

katoranger · 01-19-2011, 09:33 AM

The 4.3L was a far superior engine. You should be able to get many more years of service from that S10.

FastDoc · 01-19-2011, 12:15 PM

Even though I have a Ford I really like the 4.3 Vortec. Strong, reliable, and gives great economy compared with my 4.0 OHV Ranger. My buddy has a Blazer with it. I greatly prefer the ride and driving position and space of my Ranger to his Blazer, but he's got the nicer motor.

JMHO.

01-12-2011, 03:10 PM	#1
bigheavy150 Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 119	The truck i used to have I had a "project bastard" back when i was 16-18 it was a $100 91' 2.8L v6 S-10 that was practically given to me DOA as a project.I Made it purely for going at ridiculous speeds down gnarly dirtroads. The truck itsself looked like a joke, truck all rusted out and the interior was fubared.I never fixed the cosmetics but i rebuilt ALL suspension and steering parts, single leaf in the back, custom springs and adjustable,doubled up shocks in the front. Front and rear swaybars. disc brakes all round(and a adjustable pressure control).Never really needed more power then the 2.8l.Because with the 2.75 rear end it would go 65mph @5kRPM in 2nd and never quit spinning till 3rd.im sooooo lucky that truck didnt kill me :twisted: People could not belive me when i told them i didn't touch the engine (TBI) only rated at 120hp new at 200k miles and 90PSI of compression i bet it was only making 100hp. Well, the exhaust and air breather did help just a tiny tad.But i could steadily spank 280hp V-8s in 1/2 ton trucks. on the 1/4mile asphalt. Or dirt it didnt matter. It was made to handle the roughness of sliding through ruts and potholes at 40mph and boy did it never broke anything in the frame/suspension I watched my friend get the front end ~7feet in the air then slam back down.It exploded the cheap tire on one side and busted the windshield but thats it! meanwhile i had a stupid friend thrashing his 2004 chevy 1/2ton and he snapped a balljoint while following me down a fast straight stretch. I guess my point is, if you want a truck for thrashing look into s-10's they kinda suck for using as a daily driver on asphalt but they live for the dirt.You can find them everywhere for real cheap in USA and there is some performance parts for the 60* V-6's All the suspension/frame/important stuff is built just as heavy as a 1/2 ton but with 2/3 the weight on top anyone else ever build a dirtroader?
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01-12-2011, 03:49 PM	#2
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Nope, but it sounds like fun. I bought a China atv for pounding on. Worth every penny. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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01-13-2011, 02:29 AM	#4
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Just like Rangers, you can pound those into the dirt. They even accept small blocks without too much fuss. Whenever I see one in stock form, I think of the line from Arnold in T2: "This is the vehicle's top speed." __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

01-15-2011, 10:11 PM	#9
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	We upgraded to another 85 with the 2.5l and power steering after the frame failed on the other one. Many years of MN winters and a half ton load of scrap metal didn't agree. __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
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01-16-2011, 08:51 AM	#11
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	I don't get 24 with the 4cyl. __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
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01-13-2011, 12:13 AM	#3
bigheavy150 Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 119	ok i found a pic with the truck in it. since 99% of my pictures got lost when my laptop quit working. Not much of a pic i know, But it gives you an idea of how ugly it was no,I did not drive with the camper on, i think this pic was when the clutch was out of it.
	0

01-13-2011, 10:12 AM	#6
kmoore Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: lawrenceburg, tn Posts: 122	lol add ground fx and a tonnu cover and your lookin at 55 mph downhill with a strong tailwind lol
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01-15-2011, 09:47 PM	#8
lego1970 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Blue Springs, Missouri. United States Posts: 505	In the family, we had a 88 S-10 and a 94 S-10. Both were bare bone trucks. No A/C, sticks, Am radio, I-4 bangers, but both lasted a long time, were pretty maintenance free and always did the work they were asked to do. They were great as long as you didn't want to go over 60mph, listen to music, or stay cool in a hot Missouri summer :wink:
	0

01-15-2011, 11:43 PM	#10
bigheavy150 Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 119	One big downfall of the 60* V 6's is the horrible gas mileage. at best, going down a toll road you get 24mpg with the way i drove it was more like 12mpg
	0

01-19-2011, 12:21 AM	#12
2LZ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Volcano, Ca Posts: 7,098	Well, instead of trading in my S10 this week, I've given it some TLC and will drive it another year. Heck....it's paid for. It's my second one and have worked on many 'back in the day' when I was a mechanic. (Glad I got out of that now!) Presently got an 02 with 115,000 miles, a 4.3 V6, 2WD, 3 door unit. Runs perfectly and here in The PRK, passing SMOG is huge, as it does. I love the power of this one. TONS of grunt. Spins the rear wheels in nothing flat. VERY quick for a V6. My last one was a 4 cyl 2.0 unit with a stick and regular cab. Hippies in VW vans were passing me and flipping me off on uphills with that one. It was an SLT where my V6 is a base model. Really makes a difference in comfort and quiet, especially. This one is a work truck. Not even carpet. I'll say this between the two.....neither got 'great' mileage..... For the tons of extra power.....I'll take the big V6 over the 4 popper for 4-5 miles per gallon difference. I don't care what they're rated, that's what it boiled down to. I barely have the weight of my foot on this one and she jumps. The 4 cylinder I was always in to with the foot. With that 2.8 you got.....I'm totally SHOCKED you haven't grenaded a motor from an intake coolant leak. I was replacing those about 2 a month at about 60-90 thousand miles when I was a wrench. Even super babied, family Blazers. EGR would super heat one side of the aluminum intake and warp it a tad to seperate the gasket.....letting coolant leak into the valley. BOOM! Rod knock and whipped cream in the oil. __________________ "Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350
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01-19-2011, 01:17 AM	#13
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	It sounds like a cast intake would have been a better idea. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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01-19-2011, 09:33 AM	#14
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	The 4.3L was a far superior engine. You should be able to get many more years of service from that S10. __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
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01-19-2011, 12:15 PM	#15
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Even though I have a Ford I really like the 4.3 Vortec. Strong, reliable, and gives great economy compared with my 4.0 OHV Ranger. My buddy has a Blazer with it. I greatly prefer the ride and driving position and space of my Ranger to his Blazer, but he's got the nicer motor. JMHO. __________________ Happy to serve.
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