Chevy s10 possibilities as an expo?

[haven]

Here's an S10 that doesn't pass the smog test, either



As seen on Xtreme 4x4 TV
http://www.powerblocktv.com/magazine...25b379&page=42

[poriggity]

Haven, that is a beautiful "S10"... I have already been down the green stickered route, with my last jeep, and don't want to go that way again. I have a ton of fun trails, practically in my backyard, but those trails require you to be registered for street use, in order to travel them. I currently don't have another "rig", besides my dodge ram, that I have tossed around the idea of turning into a slight "expo rig", but it's a quad cab long bed diesel, and therefore, a LOOOOONG SOB! Thanks for all the opinions so far.. I know I will do what is right for me, but I am always looking for opinions, so keep them coming!

Scott

[UHAULER]

My grandpa used to drive a 66 chevelle ss396 4 speed and pulled a homemade pink utility trailer on occasion with it. When he made a dump run he would pay the worker there a few bucks to back it up for him. When my brother was 16(1980) he begged for that car but gramps said no and sold it a few years later to a stranger for $800.

I think it's a super clean truck and has sentimental value but if you start using it as intended it will soon be an average old s10 that isn't worth much.

[poriggity]

Here's the thing about that truck. It is not original paint. Grandpa used it for exploring, and expedition type stuff back in the day.. then when he passed on, my grandma had it repainted. That being said.. I am still on the fence, but I think grandpa would be proud if I used it the same way he did... I'm going back and forth still though.
Scott

[getlost4x4]

i'd say keep it and use it to haul stuff to the dump, run errands etc.

those things are so low to the ground. it might be fine for fire roads but eventually you want to explore tougher stuff and that truck will be hard to upgrade for that. then you'll have a lot of wasted money in that truck that you will never get back.

[Richie]

That's a beautiful little truck. A buddy of mine has a Blazer of the same generation and it has been good to him. Unfortunately I don't know too much about them though.

I love the idea of keeping my ZR2 for as long as it lasts. It only has 49k miles. But the wife is wanting to have kids soon and it just doesn't have any room for little ones.

[Jnich77]

Here's the thing about that truck. It is not original paint. Grandpa used it for exploring, and expedition type stuff back in the day.. then when he passed on, my grandma had it repainted. That being said.. I am still on the fence, but I think grandpa would be proud if I used it the same way he did... I'm going back and forth still though.
Scott

well ya know... you can take it off road and have all kinds of fun..with out trashing it or modifying the hell out of it...lol

[poriggity]

I'm bringing this back to the top. I still have this truck, and have recently decided it was time to start getting things fixed up on the truck. I plan on fixing it and driving it, in honor of grandpa. I may even take it out to the desert and run some trails when it's up and running. Here's a list of what I am thinking it needs at a minimum. It's been sitting since 2008, so here's my plans for new parts:

Plugs
Wires
Battery
Catalytic Converter (so it will pass smog, as the current one is rusted out)
Gas tank (trying to decide if I should drain the stock tank, or just spend the $90 on a new tank, leaning toward new)
High pressure power steering hose (current one is leaking)
vacuum line (to trace cracked lines from the t case to get 4x4 working again)

Then I need to pay to have the registration current (about $100)
and pay to have it smogged ($50)

Overall, to get it road legal again, including smog and registration, I'll be into it for about $500 and probably a month of weekends.... I think it's gonna happen!
Scott

[Cee-Jay]

If you haven't already checked it out, http://www.s10extremist.org/forums/ is great place for info on S10s... lifts, SAS, engine swaps, etc. You should be able to fit 30x9.5s on it with no lift unless she's sagging... and the GM 7.25" IFS probably shouldn't be expected to handle much bigger than those anyway. That might be just fine for desert action... depending on what you have in mind, of course. Some Gen I Isuzu Troopers had the GM 2.8L, so www.planetisuzoo.com may also be a good source for engine information as a result. Many of those guys swap out the 2.8L for the 3.4L that appeared in some Camaros and Firebirds. I think you can buy new crate 3.4s, too. Isn't is okay to swap engines in Cali as long as the swapped engine is newer than the old one?

As I imagine you know from your experience with your Grandpa's vehicle, S10s are tough little trucks, though perhaps not the most convenient platform to build upon. Your S10 sure looks nice and clean. I still feel fondly for my old GMC Jimmy (sold it five years ago). Good luck!

[Mrknowitall]

My 1st car was an '86 like that- and it was a rust bucket 15 years ago. There are lots of nice things you can do. 4.3s are cool. I would probably stick with the motor group though and drop in a 3.4 long block for a camaro. Keep the tires to 235's. Add a trans cooler and remove the main radiator pass-through. Might be a nice little rig for a small pop-up camper.