s10 aftermarket

[ILOUTFITTER]

Is it just me or is there really no aftermarket for the 4x4 s10 first gen's anymore?

Ive come across some stuff but not in the numbers I had hoped to find.

Is there any specialty companies out there for us that deal alot with this body style?

I have a 92 and a 93 2 door 4x4 carryalls, one chevy one gmc. and they both need some beefier parts.

Thanks in advance.

[Tink]

What kind of stuff are you looking for?

[fastSdime]

Yea what kinda things are you looking for its easier to search for something then.

[ILOUTFITTER]

Practically everything, nothing in particular, just an assortment of stuff mainly suspension, alot in the drivetrain, engine parts. Id like to find durable parts.

I have a few of the big name catalogs here, like 4wheelparts and the like. Summit and jegs but im not to much into what they have to offer for these vehicles.

I used to go straight and fast, now I like to get dirty. If I had the time Id do exactly what tink did to the baja but I dont sadly. The 92 im looking to make a mud toy, if that narrows it down. We got some nasty decieving mud up in these parts.

[dt4ts3]

LMC Truck, however I understand a lot o their stuff is junk

[89BLAZE]

yukon makes some decent axles for the rear end. In the way of susp. trailmaster, bds, and rough country all makes lifts for them. For bumpers you have to make your own like i did. As far as engine i think comp cams makes a cam to fit the 4.3 in a grind especially for offroad/4x4 use. the front end is hopeless to be made stronger but will handle up to a 31 in. tire just fine with mild abuse as long as you dont get crazy. what else you want to do?

[ILOUTFITTER]

Id like to keep it stock appearing body wise, I got bad mounts under the front floor boards, Im looking for those, ill just use plate steel if I have to fab new ones but id like to find weld in ones to save time.

Engine, id like more grunt but Id like to build it like a v-6 version of a 355 sbc.

I dont want to do a v8 swap, ive played with enough v8's id like to get similar numbers out of a 4.3 instead. Id like to SAS the front end, I jsut need new parts, the diff I have needs ALOT of work that I dont want to pay for.

who makes good tie rod ends and ball joints that can withstand the abuse?

[Tink]

LMC has the metal for the front cab mounts... I used them on the Baja.... I thought they were pretty decent.

If you are keeping it IFS, I'd suggest NAPA Chassis parts for ball joints and what-not. I've been pretty happy with their parts. Their idler arm has outlasted others I've used. I'd also suggest changing to Edelbrock heavy-duty tie rod sleeves (you can check them out here: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=EDL%2D5250&N=700+311238+115&autoview=sku (http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=EDL%2D5250&N=700+311238+115&autoview=sku)). They will stiffen your handling a bit and make adjustments loads easier. For CV shafts, I've been going with Advanced because of the limited lifetime warranty - blow a boot, take off the CV shaft and get a new one for free. Also, another biggie is to ditch the rag joint steering shaft for one off of a Jeep Cherokee. I pulled one off of a Jeep Comanche for my Blazer. That is how I set up my 91 Blazer and I never really had much breakage wheeling...
You may also want to consider a full-size (3/4ton) idler and pitman arm. If you want more info on that, I can find it...

As far as the motor, I'd suggest the comp cams too... although if you are looking to save some $ (those 4.3L cams are pricey), I still have the Edelbrock cam out of my 91's 4.3L... has maybe 20K on it and I'd send the lifters with it (shameless sales plug :o ). I'd recommend a 3 angle valve job on the heads and a change to screw-in rocker studs and guide-plates.

Whats up with your front diff? If you do consider any of the suspension lifts, you may be better off swapping in a Reverse Cut Dana 30 from an '87 - '95 Jeep Wrangler... easiest axle to use for a solid front. The IFS lifts are quite expensive and almost all of them seem to have a down side.

[JONGO8]

Thanks Tink. Thats a lot of good info....

[ILOUTFITTER]

I want the IFS gone off the 92. My front diff is on the opposite side and the races are shot as well as the yoke end of the diff has a nice score in it that was hidden by the spillcap.

Where do I find SAS suspension parts at? like mounts and such.

[firefighter]

I've noticed with alot of stuff you gotta know what else it worked on sometimes you gotta be smarter than the search engine. For example I saw you made a comment on another thread when they were talking about an aluminum girdle for the rear look under a Camaro and you will find it. Heck the 7.5"/7 5/8" 10 bolt has been in everything from a Monza to a G-body/B-body/F-body to the S-series.

When you choose (like the rest of us) to get a vehicle and do something that 90% of the other owners wouldn't do you gotta work harder to get it done.

Also NEVER be afraid to ask around here we actually can be a pretty helpfull bunch of monkeys you'd be surprised.

[Tink]

Well, before my 91 died, I was considering swapping in the Reverse Cut Dana 30 from an '87 - '95 Jeep Wrangler. The pinion yoke and transfer case yokes are the same as the S10, the brake lines adapt without a problem and the steering is a direct bolt on since any Jeep Wrangler pitman arm will bolt on to the S-10's steering box. Spring perches are also at a good distance apart, at 31", which allows the springs to sit inside of the frame rails. I hadn't thought much beyond that, but I'll see if I can dig up anymore info on anyone who has done a SAS.

[neo71665]

I really hate to suggest another site on one thats as good as this one but over at www.s10extremist.org they are mainly 4x4 guys and have already tested/done a lot of the suspension mods you are asking about.

[ILOUTFITTER]

Im on the s10extremist site too. very informative, but again, im on original.

Ive blown up enough 10 bolts to know they come on everything the general whore put out during the disco and 80's hair metal eras. I am/was a die hard G Body fan, built a few of em. Those parts were very easy to find.

I do my own fabricating but somehow with a new wife and two kids its alot harder to spend the time doing it then ordering it at this point in time.

Ive been on this site for almost 3 years now. I was under another name but forgot my info and got rid of the email addy I used at the time.

I think it was detroitmuscle or racindaelky78 not sure which.

you guys have been helpful with this. being its my first dime and its a reliable one id like to pamper her with some new mud toys is all.

[ILOUTFITTER]

Well, before my 91 died, I was considering swapping in the Reverse Cut Dana 30 from an '87 - '95 Jeep Wrangler. The pinion yoke and transfer case yokes are the same as the S10, the brake lines adapt without a problem and the steering is a direct bolt on since any Jeep Wrangler pitman arm will bolt on to the S-10's steering box. Spring perches are also at a good distance apart, at 31", which allows the springs to sit inside of the frame rails. I hadn't thought much beyond that, but I'll see if I can dig up anymore info on anyone who has done a SAS.

so a late 80's early 90's wrangler? not any special trim of wrangler right?

[89BLAZE]

you cant. no one makes a kit to use a solid axle in a s10 anymore. but on the up side you can use sky offroads front cross member for toyota swaps but it requires some mods and alot of good welding to work but is possible or you can just make your own. Or, you could use coils up front but then you have to build buckets for the coils and mounts for all the links and radius arms. Oh almost forgot if you go with a leafsprung set up make sure to get springs that are long enough to go from your front mount all the way back to a good and sturdy location to mount a shackle to. If you dont you will have to notch the frame and fab up a mount to make a sturdy enough mounting point and then bolt in in then weld it as well for extra safety. X2 on what tink said on the d30 from a wrangler try to get a leaf sprung one from a 80s or early 90s one the perches are almost perfectly spaced and steering is a ALMOST complete bolt on since the gearbox is the same as the s10. That and you dont have to chunk down extra money to cut it to the width of the truck. Not to mention you get more lift out of a leaf set up and doind this swap will net you some lift anyway because of how you have to design it. to lift the back just do a spring over on the rear and your done and be sure to put a track bar on it so that you dont roll the axle outta the truck when wheeling it. thats all i can think of right now hope this helps.

[89BLAZE]

http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/toyota.htm heres the cross memeber you can use

[Tink]

There is a company that makes a soid axle kit for an s-series using a Dana 30... http://www.setstr8.com/

[ILOUTFITTER]

thanks guys, ill check em out when I get home for good tonight.

Id love to have everything bolt right in but life just aint that good to me lol

[Donahue]

this is exactly why we decided to get into the s10 market, because there is very little in the way of off road support. we (3 Leaf Fab) should have a bolt on sas kit coming out this summer, its in the prototype phase right now, still needs to have some abuse thrown its way.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Devin.Donahue/SCNxWWiYEzI/AAAAAAAACcQ/nXJiES21zGY/s800/PIC_0113.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/Devin.Donahue/3LeafFab/photo#5198123023736509234)
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Devin.Donahue/R-CT5UWBY1I/AAAAAAAACYQ/vV2AMVo2us0/s800/PIC_0083.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/Devin.Donahue/3LeafFab/photo#5179302184398971730)

[ILOUTFITTER]

ill keep tabs on the bolt in SAS as it progresses, that has definetely got my attention, and it looks good too.

will powdercoating be available for the finished product?

[Donahue]

ill keep tabs on the bolt in SAS as it progresses, that has definetely got my attention, and it looks good too.

will powdercoating be available for the finished product?powder coating will be the default finish

[ILOUTFITTER]

nice, where are the bolt mounts at? front tow hook holes?

[Donahue]

nice, where are the bolt mounts at? front tow hook holes?
all new holes will have to be drilled for the bolts, it mounts right below the front body mounts, and right below the firewall body mounts.

[JONGO8]

this is exactly why we decided to get into the s10 market, because there is very little in the way of off road support. we (3 Leaf Fab) should have a bolt on sas kit coming out this summer, its in the prototype phase right now, still needs to have some abuse thrown its way.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Devin.Donahue/SCNxWWiYEzI/AAAAAAAACcQ/nXJiES21zGY/s800/PIC_0113.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/Devin.Donahue/3LeafFab/photo#5198123023736509234)
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Devin.Donahue/R-CT5UWBY1I/AAAAAAAACYQ/vV2AMVo2us0/s800/PIC_0083.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/Devin.Donahue/3LeafFab/photo#5179302184398971730)
What springs are you going to use? How much lift will it have? Will it use the same stearing box Pitman and stuff?

[dt4ts3]

Blazelanche NEEEEEEEEDS that! Not want's, Needs. ^^^

[JONGO8]

It would look cool up in the air...

[ILOUTFITTER]

Front end is figured out, now the back, what kind of lift in the rear will I need to level it out with your SAS x member and perchs?

[Donahue]

if i get say, 10" of lift, the rear would probably consist of a 2" shackle, another 2" from a bracket i made to lower the front of the spring, and then spring over. that should be about 10". but my personal truck that is getting the front kit is getting 4 linked in the rear so i wont have any of that stuff.


i will put an update in my build thread to not clog this one with my own personal stuff. i mostly replied to this thread to say there is an aftermarket for these trucks, its just not as main stream as some people would like.

[ILOUTFITTER]

To be honest, you have been the only specific specialized company I have found, if you know where others are with 1st gen fitting parts, let me know please. I dont want to junk yard it or fab my own due to no time at all anymore.

[Donahue]

i dont know about specific first gen stuff, but i know there is a company doing a sas kit, perhaps designed for second gen or zr2's. ive seen it on zr2usa.com, http://www.zr2usa.com/mboard/index.php?showtopic=24105

ive also seen pics of some conversion that uses full size IFS parts, and its about 10" of lift or something like that. but i dont know the details.

then just the other day somebody said something about a company from detroit doing some sort of kit.

[Donahue]

also, the stuff that i am making is designed for the guy that wants choices. its not limited to a particular axle, spring, or lift amount. but with that ability to fit a lot of combinations, that means the consumer will have to make these choices for themselves.

[ILOUTFITTER]

thats good. choices are very good. I do appreciate you showing me the SAS kit you guys got. I have given the link to a few buddies who have recently got bitten by the blazer bug.

[89BLAZE]

yeah the kits looks great i will have to consider getting one for my blazer when it gets back together.

[Donahue]

our kit by the way, is still in the prototype/testing phase. that means its not for sale yet.

[neo71665]

Which means your on the computer way too much in your free time and not getting it ready, lol.

[Donahue]

Which means your on the computer way too much in your free time and not getting it ready, lol.touche' :D

[JONGO8]

Well.... Get off the computer and make us some lift......

[dt4ts3]

Is there an IFS lift available?

[neo71665]

Is there an IFS lift available?

You asking Donahue or just asking?

Last I heard 3 leaf fab doesn't plan on making one but Donahue can answer that better as its his company.

As for other companies, not one worth a crap since rancho quit making theirs.

[Donahue]

we have no plans to make parts for the IFS