4x4 s10 1/4 ton to a full size 4x4 1/2 ton

[hipasschev94]

i have a 92 s10 1/4 ton with IFS and i want to upgrade the suspension to something just a little stronger so i was wondering how much would be involved and what would i have to be aware of if i took the suspension set up out of a IFS silverado and transfered over to my s10 what would i have to do to make it fit at near the same width as the sock s10's wheel base width then what would i have to do to get the lift kit back in? im hoping to be able to put a 6" suspension lift in after that but then how much more modding would i have to do to get the lift kit to fit right and safe? or would it just be better to do a solid axle swap and upgrade to full size springs front and back from a second gen k10

[MADMIKE]

Originally Posted by hipasschev94

i have a 92 s10 1/4 ton with IFS and i want to upgrade the suspension to something just a little stronger so i was wondering how much would be involved and what would i have to be aware of if i took the suspension set up out of a IFS silverado and transfered over to my s10 what would i have to do to make it fit at near the same width as the sock s10's wheel base width then what would i have to do to get the lift kit back in? im hoping to be able to put a 6" suspension lift in after that but then how much more modding would i have to do to get the lift kit to fit right and safe? or would it just be better to do a solid axle swap and upgrade to full size springs front and back from a second gen k10

The first problem is how narrow the 2wd S10 is at ~60". The 4wd variants of the S series have a wider front and rear track width. The other difference is the front part of the frame is different between 2wd and 4wd. I don't mean just mounting locations, the frame itself is different to accommodate the 4wd running gear on those trucks. The 2wd uses a narrowed(centerlink/sway bar are different)'78-'88 A/G body front suspension, with coil springs. The 4wd eliminates the spring perches and uses torsion bars. As similiar as they may look cosmetically, the frame/suspension are two different animals.

[andrewmp6]

Honestly i doubt the ifs from a full size would fit with out a ton of work.A solid axle is a lot better option its what i would do.

[68GMC_Dan]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

Honestly i doubt the ifs from a full size would fit with out a ton of work.A solid axle is a lot better option its what i would do.

I agree SAS is the best route, but if you want the full width axles look at doing a k5 frame swap. I believe there are a few builds on s10forum.com

[andrewmp6]

Look at http://offroaddirect.3dcartstores.co...-S10_c_15.html there kit uses any 73-87 front axle and they have a spring over kit which will lift the rear up 5.5 inches.

[Mr. 250r]

The thing I would ask is are you breaking anything? I see so many people want to do all this bullet proof stuff yet they aren't breaking anything sure its a good way to be safe but if nothing's wrong don't fix it just my thoughts though
Posted via Mobile Device

[Redcap]

Sell the S10 and get a real truck?

[rayfinseats]

Whay would you even consider doing this?

[joe231]

Throw some yota or waggy axles under it, use some 56" full size springs front and rear
Posted via Mobile Device

[Redcap]

Originally Posted by rayfinseats

Why would you even consider doing this?

This.

[hipasschev94]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

Look at http://offroaddirect.3dcartstores.co...-S10_c_15.html there kit uses any 73-87 front axle and they have a spring over kit which will lift the rear up 5.5 inches.

i was looking at a kit just like that but it was 1400 but that one i might have to do seeing as its more affordable

[hipasschev94]

Originally Posted by Mr. 250r

The thing I would ask is are you breaking anything? I see so many people want to do all this bullet proof stuff yet they aren't breaking anything sure its a good way to be safe but if nothing's wrong don't fix it just my thoughts though
Posted via Mobile Device

no i havent broke anything yet but its still being built and it only hjas the 1/4 ton suspension but i need to upgrade it because im going to be using it for alot of towing

[hipasschev94]

Originally Posted by Redcap

Sell the S10 and get a real truck?

ha i prob would get a bigger truck later but this is my first truck so its here to stay and im going to build it up to take the abuse

[hipasschev94]

if this helps at all this is how the truck looks http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=489738
this is just the build thread though

[Redcap]

Originally Posted by hipasschev94

ha i prob would get a bigger truck later but this is my first truck so its here to stay and im going to build it up to take the abuse

It would be cheaper (much!) in the long run to just start with a fullsize, since you are planning on fullsize axles under that rustbucket.

[hipasschev94]

Originally Posted by Redcap

It would be cheaper (much!) in the long run to just start with a fullsize, since you are planning on fullsize axles under that rustbucket.

well it aint gunna be one for long, im doing a frame off resto on it then putting in a 350 then my parents are giving it to me once im done and its my first truck and i like to hold on to everything so i want to build it to last and be unique but im going to be doing alot of towing with it thats why i want to install a stronger suspension

[Redcap]

Originally Posted by hipasschev94

well it aint gunna be one for long, im doing a frame off resto on it then putting in a 350 then my parents are giving it to me once im done and its my first truck and i like to hold on to everything so i want to build it to last and be unique but im going to be doing alot of towing with it thats why i want to install a stronger suspension

Frame off resto on an S10...

[hipasschev94]

Originally Posted by Redcap

Frame off resto on an S10...

so? :P i apreciate the second gen k10s more but my 78 is a later project also frame off, but this is going to be my first drivable truck that ill actualy use all the time so you gotta have some apreciation for what im doing to it instead of letting something like that rust even worse, it aint even as bad as some of the 1st gen s10's ive seen around here

[andrewmp6]

A s10 has a short wheel base it can be made in to a good off road truck with a ton of work.

[special-K]

To answer the original poster's quandary,I think the best way to accomplish what "you" want to do would be to swap your S10 onto a '92 and up Blazer/Tahoe/Yukon 2dr chassis. They are a bit linger than the 73-87 Blazer/Jimmys so you'd have to shorten the frame for a short bed S10. The majority of 4wd enthusiasts want to go bigger,whether it's tires,drivetrain,engine,suspension...I don't get what's so hard to understand here. Innovation has been where it's at with 4wds since the first ones came out. Tink put a early S10 on a 73-87 Blazer frame and it's one of the coolest trucks around. Her's and these two S10 Blazers are solid axle ut the IFS would make an awesome off road rig. Any complaints about strength of the full-size IFS are negated when installed under the far lighter and physically smaller S10. Hey,give Jeeps and Toyotas a run for their money! How cool s that. It's an S10 thing,you wouldn't understand

[hipasschev94]

thats the thing though, a frame swap would be cool but i want to keep the s10 frame and just modify the ifs to a 1/2 ton

[special-K]

Ok,I see. Well,there's a reason people choose to swap onto other frames. You will be on your own with design and fabrication to a high degree. As far as towing goes,the S10 rear is a stout downsized 1/2t rear and I doubt you'll be towing much in 4wd. I'd hope nothing heavy anyway. Stopping is a bigger concern than going where traction is bad. As far as springs go,you can beef them up. Not too much you can do with torsion bars up front,unless air bags could be fitted. It's been a while since a I looked at an S10 and I kinda doubt there is room. I have to agree,if you need more capacity than the S10 can handle you should just get a truck made to handle more. I had a '99 ZR2 and hauled some pretty good loads on a trailer,but it surprised me how easily the clutch would slip when maneuvering. I saw the claims they used to make for all the mid-size v3ehicles having 8,000# towing capacity,etc,and my first thought was that 8,000# would just push any mid-sized vehicle. If the manufacturer claims it can handle that much I think you are at the limit...in fact,I don't believe it. I think that's beyond the limit. I would never haul that much with an S10. I don't care what axles and suspension it had under it. I don't haul anything that weighs more than the tow vehicle.

[hipasschev94]

Originally Posted by special-K

Ok,I see. Well,there's a reason people choose to swap onto other frames. You will be on your own with design and fabrication to a high degree. As far as towing goes,the S10 rear is a stout downsized 1/2t rear and I doubt you'll be towing much in 4wd. I'd hope nothing heavy anyway. Stopping is a bigger concern than going where traction is bad. As far as springs go,you can beef them up. Not too much you can do with torsion bars up front,unless air bags could be fitted. It's been a while since a I looked at an S10 and I kinda doubt there is room. I have to agree,if you need more capacity than the S10 can handle you should just get a truck made to handle more. I had a '99 ZR2 and hauled some pretty good loads on a trailer,but it surprised me how easily the clutch would slip when maneuvering. I saw the claims they used to make for all the mid-size v3ehicles having 8,000# towing capacity,etc,and my first thought was that 8,000# would just push any mid-sized vehicle. If the manufacturer claims it can handle that much I think you are at the limit...in fact,I don't believe it. I think that's beyond the limit. I would never haul that much with an S10. I don't care what axles and suspension it had under it. I don't haul anything that weighs more than the tow vehicle.

well now im starting to look into a straight axle swap because then i could up it to 1 tons, i already have a dana 60 rear so i just need to find the front axle but im pretty sure it has to be beefed up because im going to be towing a 18ft boat and a tandem axle trailer most of the time

[special-K]

How much does that boat weigh? I have towed a 24' Shamrock Cuddy Cabin that weighed about 5,500# with my '92 K3500 turbo diesel and could really feel that thing back there. It would be too much for an S10. My truck weighs around 8,000#. I'm sure your boat will be a lot lighter. You'll have a fairly light 3/4t rear and a heavy duty front axle with that combo. Kinda the opposite of conventional thinking. Generally the front axle doesn't need to be as heavy as the rear because it is only used as an additional axles with the rear being the primary axle.

[hipasschev94]

i cant really check how much it weighs cause we have it all wrapped up for winter but when we tow it on our 1/2 ton k5 we can deffinitly feel it.. and one of the reasons that im putting a axle just as strong in the front is because im also going to be going off road alot