Project S-10?
 

I got sick of fuel prices, so I bought a really clean 99 S-10 Regular Cab Short Bed Fleetside with a 2.2L and 5spd. All regular cabs came stock with a 3.73 rear.

Re: Project S-10?
 

I've driven my dad's 2000 S-10 (same configuration as mine except a stepside) and I was OK with the weak power. After a couple weeks, I wasn't OK with the crappy power anymore.

I don't have huge plans for the truck, but merely a few upgrades are in order. With the '67 done I need something to tinker with.

I joined an S-10 forum (I think the average age for the owners of these trucks is 19 :( ) and I learned a lot from there.

The first thing I did was remove the heavy, dragging, clutch fan from the motor and installed an electric fan from a 90-95 3.8L Taurus. I used a complete wiring kit I got off ebay that included an adjustable thermostat and all the wiring and relays I needed. I just had to trim the S-10 shroud to fit around the Taurus Shroud and everything fit well.

I didn't really take any pics of this install... whoops.

Anyway, what it did for the truck was amazing. The "feel" of power was significantly increased. Removing the clutch fan had to "give back" at least 5 hp to the motor. I also saw an increase in mpg too. I *was* getting around 21 mpg city (the same driving was getting me 12.5 with the C-10 and 14 in the Silverado) and now I'm getting a consistent 23 mpg.

Relay kit: $50
Junkyard fan: $40
Extra wire and ends: $10
Not being passed by bicycles: Priceless :metal:

Re: Project S-10?
 

The final thing I've done so far is install a cold air intake kit from ebay. I seriously thought these things were jokes and didn't do crap to help out an engine. Maybe they don't do a whole lot for a 5.3L but they sure do help wake up a 2.2L!

The install was easy, almost too easy. Plus, you get to remove a lot of the stock crap which really clutters up the engine bay and is a total pain in the ass to have to remove to work on stuff, especially considering that the A/C lines RUN ALL OVER ON TOP OF IT. Good call on that one GM :waah:

In all honesty I did not notice any acceleration increase, nor did I notice a fuel increase. I've had it for "2 tanks" now and both were right around 23 mpg. BUT where I did notice a clear power increase was in 4th and 5th gear on the highway. It's easier to pass/accelerate now in both 4th and 5th gear. It's not an amazing performance add on, but it does make a difference!

Here's some pics:

Re: Project S-10?
 

In the pics above you can also see that I have completely retained the "stock look" to the radiator and the relay switch will all the wires powers my e-fan.

Re: Project S-10?
 

The kit I bought didn't come with instructions, but was easy enough to install.

There's a rubber grommet you need to install in the tube, then you need to pull the IAC sensor from the stock intake and stick it in the rubber grommet.

The heat shield pinched my radiator overflow hose, so I had to cut a hole in it and notch it for my e-fan wiring (see pics below.)

The heat shield also required putting the supplied foam stuff on around the edges, I'm not sure if it makes a big difference or not, but I put it on there anyway.

You need to remove the stock bolt on the DS inner fender that held the stock air intake, with that gone you install the heat shield by removing the two bolts on the driver's side of the radiator shroud and slipping the heat shield on there and bolt it down (the radiator shroud is in two pieces split in the middle.) You then screw in the rubber bolt where you removed the inner fender bolt.

Once that's done you can install the blue elbow, the black tube, and the intake filter with the supplied hose clamps. Once it's in place use the washer and nut provided and install it on the rubber booted bolt to hold the tube to the inner fender.

Plug the IAC back in and run the supplied rubber hose and clamps from the port on the intake to the port on the black tube. I trimmed mine about 1" so it fit a little cleaner.

Re: Project S-10?
 

I also removed the stock air box mount from the core support to let more air flow in. All you have to do is pull in towards the engine bay and pull up and it pulls right out.

*ALSO* This modification makes your engine sound "louder" under acceleration, I'm not fond of the extra noise, but it's not too bad. It does sound a little "ricey" but oh well.

Re: Project S-10?
 

I'll be installing a bored TB next and I have a 2" belltech drop kit I got off ebay for $130 (front spindles and rear blocks with new u-bolts!) :metal:

Re: Project S-10?
 

Nice little truck you working on there. What is the S10 Forum you go to. No offense to these guys but info tends to be alittle slow in this particular area.

Re: Project S-10?
 

i just got one myself for the exact same reasons -- cool project --- i haven't spent enough time under the hood of mine to know if it is even electric or a clutch fan yet (4.3 litre), but i'll check it out tomorrow

They are fun little little trucks if you can get past the "Donkey Kong" feeling driving down the road

Re: Project S-10?
 

http://www.s10forum.com


Quite a bit of good information there. If you have a 2.2L here's the performance modification page:

http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f105/a...ick-me-200571/

What's the "donkey Kong" feeling? I actually really like how the truck rides and handles, I find it very responsive and easy to maneuver.

I've had 3 '86 Toyota trucks and they all handle/rode like poopy. I test drove a 96 Tacoma 2wd and it felt the same, poopy. We also own an '05 Tacoma (the NBS) and I feel that handles/rides like poopy too (the steering is very jerky and unresponsive and the suspension is "too rough" for a midsize truck), but the seats are much more comfy.

Re: Project S-10?
 

Its probably a personal deal and wouldn't really apply unless you are over 6'2" or over 250 pounds.

My wife saw me hunched over the wheel of my first "baby truck" as she calls it and said i looked just like Donkey Kong when he's driving the little car. :sumo:

Nothing to do with the way it drives or handles -- in fact, i have as much leg room in my little truck as i do in my '69 C-10, plus the steering wheel doesn't crowd me

Re: Project S-10?
 

ohhh, gotcha. I didn't think of you as being "Donkey Kong" which was my favorite game for my super nintendo back in the day :haha:

I'm only 5'8 and around a buck sixty five, I've got a ton of room :lol:

And yes, I completely agree, at 5'8" I too feel cramped in my 67 C-10.

Re: Project S-10?
 

Thanks, for the link.
I must look like King Kong then. I'm 5'10, and 285. Yeap I'm a big ol boy.

Re: Project S-10?
 

My truck has always been a little bit nose high, so I brought her down to earth a little bit this weekend. Yes, I know my parking "sucked" but it was so I didn't get hit while I was working on it.

I installed a set of belltech 2" drop spindles. I discovered that the front suspension could use a rebuild. I think the nose needs to come down more, so I think I'll do a 1" spring drop as well next year when I rebuild the suspension.

Before:

Re: Project S-10?
 

After (it only dropped a little over an inch at this point, the springs still needed to settle???)

Re: Project S-10?
 

Here's the full drop after the springs "settled" back into their pockets after driving around a good bit. I also got rid of the fugly tool box. I still need it, so luckily, it fit perfectly on the inside of my Silverado bed!

Re: Project S-10?
 

The truck always looked "nose high" to me so I'm going to save my 2" blocks for later and just drop the rear 1" for now. (Need to get the blocks.) I actually like the little rake it has right now.

Re: Project S-10?
 

Needs to be lower! Just kidding. I tend to go too far when I lower. Ive got a set of bell tech front springs if you decide to go further later on. They are for a 4cyl too...

Re: Project S-10?
 

67ChevyRedneck, your apartments look real similar to where my Mom lives just off Mitchell road. Truck's looking good.

Re: Project S-10?
 

I was FINALLY able to install the tach dash that I bought like 6 months ago. I wanted to wait for the mileages to match... and today they did! (after some drivin' around for fun.)

First pic is the old dash, the next few are the new dash installed :metal: S-10's are plug and play, so as long as you have the correct dash, it's a simple plug in!

The brake and seatbelt lights are on 'cause I had the e-brake on and my seatbelt off. Everything works as it should :D

Still averaging 22-23mpg, almost all "city driving" so I'm happy with the little truck.

Re: Project S-10?
 

Nice truck!!

Re: Project S-10?
 

Nice I sold my honda ,my daily driver ,was going get one of those to replace it with.But my wife said nahhh, too put that money in to my 72 short bed.
Good luck nice starter ;)

Re: Project S-10?
 

Thats a very clean s10. Cool little project. I hope to find something similar to daily drive since my current s10 has gotten a little out of hand lol. check out s-seriesforum.com too. Not as much info but a much more reasonable croud of great people

Re: Project S-10?
 

I played with the truck some more this week. I've always wanted a set of leather bucket seats for it and I finally found a set at the local LKQ (pick n pull place).

I forgot to take pics, but I had the 60/40 split cloth bench in my truck. I'm sure it was a comfortable enough seat back in '99, but 11 years later, not so much. Plus, if anyone recalls, I posted asking about how to fix a broken lumbar adjustment and I never did fix it.

The seats came out of a 94-97 Blazer, SC doesn't have inspection or registration stickers or anything, so I didn't check the VIN for the year, but it did have the 94-97 grill.

I'll make this a "how to" as much as a "what I did" so if anyone else wants to do this too, you'll have a guide.

Get the factory seats out. It's simple. Even though it's a 60/40 bench it bolts in just like 2 separate bucket seats. There's a plastic cover over each bolt, they all pop off with a screwdriver or gently prying on it. Take the 4 bolts out and pop each seat out. On the 98+ trucks the seat belt buckles are integrated into the seat track assembly.

Once the seats are out, clean out your nasty interior (at least mine was.)

Re: Project S-10?
 

The driver's side is full power (sweet, huh?)

If you notice, the brackets don't 100% "work." The last bolt for the inside rear bracket is in the wrong place. This is an easy fix, just drill a hole in this spot and buy a Grade 8 bolt/nut/washers. You'll need the "extra" hole for the seat belts.

I can't verify this for the 98+ blazer buckets, but you may not have to do ANY modification because the seat belt buckles are integrated into the 98+ buckets. The 98+ buckets are easy to "spot" too because they have the "full" head rests, where the 94-97 have the crescent shaped ones (see last pic for 98+ blazer buckets, it's a fleabay pic.)

The LKQ did have about 8 Blazers and 2 or 3 trucks, but only 2 blazers were 98+ and were cloth. It's hard to find 98+ leather buckets at a decent price, they normally sell for over $300 on fleabay. I actually had 3 leather 94-97 buckets to choose from, but the other 2 sets were torn badly.