My 86 S-10 Blazer build

[Blaze]

Finally going to do it. I've had this thing since 1995, it was my first car. I haven't driven it on the road in over 5 years, it was so rusted I didn't feel safe driving it anymore.

Well, the time has come to give it some loving. My Trans Am is almost done and this one is next.

Plans are:
Coil sprung SFA, some kind of Jeep axle I would suppose
Stock rear with SOA
Maybe a 1" body lift
Redo the sheetmetal on the body. Clean it up and get rid of all the rust. Fresh paint and some Al's Liner on the underside and inside of the cab to keep the rust from coming back.
Redo the interior. It is pretty nice, but just dirty and some parts are broken from the years.
6.0L and rebuilt auto
Basically keep the exterior and interior pretty much stock but the driveline will be a nice upgrade.

Now all I need is to find a cheap front axle and someone who has an old parts S-10 Blazer in their way that they want to let go cheap.

Here it is when I got it, with a scrawny 15 year old version of myself, and one when I was bringing it to storage 3 years ago.

 

[Blaze]

Change of plans. My son, who is normally all about jacked up trucks, does NOT want it to look anything other than stock.

So plans are an AWD tcase and a mean SBC. Fast simple and cheap.

 

[WARRIORWELDING]

also twitchy!
I re-geared a friend of mine's in Bethlehem and his had a Corvette swap in it. Now it wasn't one of the latest all aluminum go fast jobs but it got the job done pretty quick like. The hood area was stuffed with the injected motor, and the ass end didn't like to track straight with the skinny pedal pushed. I it was a two wheeler though.

 

[Blaze]

I had no idea there was a Bethlehem, NC. I was born and raised in Bethlehem, PA so that caught my attention until I hit Google.

I had a friend in high school who had a Typhoon that had a 355 in it (this was 1996, it was a salvage vehicle that had an engine fire and his dad stuck a 355 in it) and it was 2wd and that thing would smoke the hides off the rear tires in heartbeat.

That's why I'm thinking doing the AWD case.

 

[Blaze]

OK, here's my plan for now:

Basically stock lift, maybe a SLIGHT t-bar tweak to get maybe an inch.
Trying to figure which transfer case I can use and still retain 4-lo capabilities. I think that an NP247/249 might be the best since it has a viscous coupling that would make the AWD better for the street, but I'm not sure if I can convert them to mount to a SBC or if they will even take the power.
Body is going to be stock but rust removed
Trans will be a built 700R4
Stock S-10 wheels with some decent all-terrain tires, biggest I can fit with what lift I have
Engine I'm not sure of. Gotta have a bunch of power. I am debating whether I want to do a TPI 350, a carb'd 327, or an LT1.

 

[amajeepman]

I have a friend with a good running lt1 for sale right now. Let me know if you might be interested.

 

[NCDieselWrench]

I have a set of 4wd v8 mounts, modified a/c box, and the jags that run conversion book that I'll let go for a song if your interested

 

[Blaze]

NCDiesel, PMsent.

amajeep, I'm not looking to buy an engine any time soon, thanks though!

 

[Blaze]

Well, I went over to pull the thing out of storage and it wouldn't start. Fuel pump is dead. The thing has started without fail every single time for the last 16 years until now. Of course.

One of the tires also blew out the sidewall and is completely flat on the ground. Ugh.

I'm going to replace the fuel pump and try and find some cheap rollers so I can get it home.

 

[Blaze]

Well, I went over to pull the thing out of storage and it wouldn't start. Fuel pump is dead. The thing has started without fail every single time for the last 16 years until now. Of course.

One of the tires also blew out the sidewall and is completely flat on the ground. Ugh.

I'm going to replace the fuel pump and try and find some cheap rollers so I can get it home.

 

[Blaze]

Oh, and I think I've decided to go with a carb'd 383. I know it isn't some groundbreaking new thing, but its what I've wanted in this thing for a while.

 

[HGSR]

i have a nice 355 with dart heads and a lot of other good stuff ill sell cheaper than you can build a half assed 383 for, so i can get this 6.0 deal i found, 6.0 deal wont last long. call me 704 648 5493 if your interested. its still in my truck to so you can hear it or drive it...

 

[paradisePWoffrd]

I know that you will run what youve wanted, as its all played out in your head....


but I would look into getting a drivetrain out of a SS silverado... It would give you an easy 300+ hp engine with OD trans and awd case. Probly no lowrange though.... and you could possibly be in something like that for the cost of building a 383 & 700r.

You might look into a 242 tcase... they give you 2 hi, awd, 4hi, 4lo and are stronger then the 249.

you should be able to hook them behind the 700r with a 27spline input vs the 23 spline.

 

[Blaze]

HGSR, I'm not looking to buy an engine any time soon. Thanks though.

Aren't the SS Silverados LSx platform though? They are pretty much impossible to swap into a 1st gen 4x4 S-10 without doing a SFA.

I know the 242 is an open differential case rather than a viscous coupling like the 249, not sure which woudl be better for a mostly street truck.

 

[Blaze]

Bought some ZR2 wheels and tires today since my old tires are blown out from dry rot.

I might try and get to storage and put them on tomorrow. If not, I'll do it Monday.

 

[aron0128451]

if youre wanting to do an ls swap, check your bellhousing bolt pattern. ive seen a 08 ls with a late 70's sbc bellhousing on it with a sm465.... stands to reason you could use a late 80's 700R4 or 4L60E

or is it a clearance issue for the oil pan?

 

[paradisePWoffrd]

silverados are LSx. I figured they would be as easy as a SBC to swap...

Im not sure if the diff type or viscous coupler would work better, but if decide to go with a 247/249 i would make sure it had a good one... they are $$$$

 

[Blaze]

LSx has a clearance issue with the oil pan. It really can't be done with the stock IFS stuff.

 

[Blaze]

I went over to storage and worked on it a bit yesterday. I put two of the new wheels and tires on it, trying to figure out how to get the other two on there, the thing is tucked up against that wall really tight.

That front driver's side tire wouldn't hold any more air that that, it was leaking out of the widewall cracks and would maintain that low pressure.

Here are some before pics:

 

[Blaze]

OK, got the old flat tires off. They were REALLY bad. It was a pain in the tail to get them off the side against the wall, but I did it.

And I am not sure if the rear springs have sagged or if I did something with the rear shackles before I parked it, but the ass taildrags a bit. Not terribly important, but still bugs me.

Pics with the 31s and ZR2 wheels.

 

[Blaze]

It's home!

And I washed it, first time in probably 6-7 years.

Here's what I have to deal with:

Frame is a little tweaked, but doesn't crab walk. I hit a hill in the ice straight on back in 1995. I'm not sure if I'll have the frame bent back or if I am going to modify the core support to make them line up better. We'll see.

 

[K45]

Those newer zr2 wheels look good on it. i miss my old s10 blazer.

 

[Blaze]

I know, I'm kind of surprised. My old tires were crap so I got a good deal on these on CL. I thought I'd just run them until I refinished my old wheels, but I really like these and may keep them now.