what are the best years of s10 for frame swap to 1952 chevy truck

[sparky smile]

I have a 1952 chevy truck and want to swap frame to a s10. I am also going to use a 5.3 engine. What are the best years to do this? I have herd that if you use a 1994 to 2004 the steering column and bake pedals are hard to use. If you use a1993 to 1983 that you can use steering column, brake pedal and wiring harness. I know the easyest to use is a long bed s10. I assume I need a automatic trans in the s10 because of steering column Is the frame better in the 1994 to 2004.

[47owner]

info i found on line, i plan to use the original 4.3 V6, but am a bit confused about the drive shaft, it's to high???

Now let's look at the Chevy S-10 Pick-up

S-10 comes in three wheelbase lengths. 108" Shortbed,
117" Longbed,
122" Extended Cab. 2WD and 4WD.
It has a variety of engines, 2.2 and 2.5 4 cyl, 2.8 and 4.3 V6
transmissions, T5 Stick, 60 and 90 deg TH700 4R automatics.
The rearend came in different ratios, 2.41, 2.73, 3.08, 3.23, 3.33, 3.42, 3.73, and 4.11.
The frame you want for your swap is the 2WD 117" Longbed. How to tell them apart?
The Shortbed has a standard cab and a one piece driveshaft,
The Ext Cab has the ext cab (obviously) and a two piece driveshaft.
The one you want is the 2WD Longbed, it has a standard cab and a two piece driveshaft
Try to get one that is 1989 or newer with the 2.8 or 4.3 V6 with an automatic transmission.
Any S-10 2WD Longbed from 1982 on will work.

WARNING: Stay away from the S-10 BLAZERS!!!
FYI: The GMC S-15 or Sonoma is the same pick up as the S-10, and uses the same frame.

Just remember: 2WD Longbed 117" wheelbase.

The S-10 Frame:

>33" wide at the front and 40" wide at the rear. Normal stance is about 10" to 12" from the ground. The frame is boxed from the front to the back of the cab, measuring 4" high and 3" wide, and expands to 5" wide at key stress points.
>The frame is NOT flat by any means. The center portion of the frame is 3" below the front A-Frame rise and 7" below the rear rise. Formed much like a Z'd frame.
>The front is an Independant Suspension with coil springs and torsion bars. The rear is offset by 1" and mounted above the leaf springs. Both can be lowered inexpensively.
>Hubs and drums are interchangeable with any year S-10, S-15, S-10 Blazer, most mid size GM. The bolt pattern is 4 3/4 and both the 14" and 15" rims fit.
>The fronts are power disc brakes, in newer years both front and rear are power disc brakes. All S-10/S15/Blazer differentials will swap out. 4WD are 4" wider.
>Power steering was the norm, but there are some older ones with stock steering.

Note: A "Rolling Chassis" is what you want, but make sure it has the power steering box.
$200-$300 from the junkyard.

If you already have a complete 117" Longbed truck, then you've got some stripping to do. invite a couple of buddies over, fire up the BBQ, chill a few six-packs, and let's start stripping.
When you strip and dismantle, keep in mind that some of these parts can be used again.
you may be able to sell most of the body parts and get back some of the money you paid out.
I paid $400 for my non-running S-10 and sold the engine for $150, the bed for $150, the complete front for $200 and I gave away the cab. I ended up with a frame, a $100 and I didn't have to cart anything to the junkyard. I'm sure you know how to strip a vehicle down to the frame.

Here's a list of parts that you may want to re-use:
Emergency brake cable. Don't cut this cable. Carefully remove it from the E-brake pedal assembly and pull it out of the cab.
Brake pedal assembly and booster with Master cylinder. Don't cut the brake lines.
Steering column and steering shaft. Don't cut wires. If you have column mounted headlight/dimmer switch, or washer/wiper switch, or ignition switch this could be useful.
Wiper motor and assembly. I haven't figured out if it will work, but you might.
Seat. Check the width, I believe it's less than 52"
Anything electrical that you want. Bulbs, sockets, fusebox, radio, radio antenna, dash mounted headlight switch.


Note: These items will do nicely...
Ok...You've got your frame stripped down, cleaned up, and ready for the engine and transmission.
The S-10 frame will hold almost any American made engine, small block or big.
They've come from the factory with engines as small as a 1.9L 4 banger, and I've seen 500 cube Cadillacs put in them. Whatever you decide, be sure that you choose a good strong engine mount.
The reason for this is that you will be using a one piece driveshaft, and you've got to be able to adjust it so that the tail of the transmission will be at the same or near angle as the pinion angle in the differential.
What's wrong with the original two piece driveshaft? Nothing, except it sits much to high above the frame, and it can't be lowered without changing the angle. If you were to keep it at the present height, you would have cut an eight wide inch strip out of the floor and cover it with a eight inch wide by eight inch high driveshaft tunnel. To me that's a lot more work than adjusting the transmission to the right angle, having a driveshaft cut to the right length, and bolting it on. If you're using a small block Chevy with a TH350/9 inch tail or TH700 4R, then use the standard engine mounts from a Chevy pickup, and a driveshaft from an 88 Chevy Caprice 4dr wagon with an automatic that has a 9 inch tail. No cutting needed. Of course you'll have to drill new holes in your transmission mount.

[Ziz]

I have a 1952 Chevy truck and want to replace the chassis with a 1989 S15 standard can. Everything I am reading says that an automatic must be used. This S10 is a 5 speed. Will it work?
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[mongocanfly]

you need a reg cab lwb....read thru joedohs builds and skymangs howto...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=632686

[Ziz]

So it sounds to me like I can use the 5 speed providing I have the steering column and it’s from a standard long bed truck. Am I interpretimg that correctly? Any insight you can provide would be greatly appreciated!
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[joedoh]

you can use any year, any engine/trans. I have done a 1998, 1999, 2003, 1991, and a 1995. using the steering column is challenging with 98+

read skymangs sticky s10 swap how to. its got a metric ton of info and if you have questions skymangs is a dynamite human being.

do you plan to use the s10 drivetrain?

[mr48chev]

If you can find a complete truck with a title get it rather than just dragging a rolling chassis home. To be totally legal with all involved frame swap rigs need to be inspected and documented when done. The title to the donor proves you owned the donor even if you name wasn't on the title. The title in hand thing. Inspection and documentation of the swap means that if you get in/cause an accident your insurance can't back out because you have a rig that is not as you represented it or you can't be sued because some lawyer picked up on the frame swap thing and claims you were driving a faulty rig because of it. Think back to those cobbled together 4x4 abortions you saw running around a few years ago with who knows what body stuck on a 3/4 ton 4x frame with water pipe nipples for cab spacers. Last thing we want on here is that you got in a wreck with your truck and now the insurance isn't going to take care of you because they say the truck is not as you represented it to them.

[whitedog76]

If your frame is in good shape on your 3100, I don't see any reason to go with an S10.

You're not really gaining anything other than a whole bunch of work.

If IFS and discs are your goal, there are lots and lots of Bolt on and weld on IFS kits out there that are better than what an S10 offers.

[Desert1957]

Originally Posted by whitedog76

If your frame is in good shape on your 3100, I don't see any reason to go with an S10.

You're not really gaining anything other than a whole bunch of work.

If IFS and discs are your goal, there are lots and lots of Bolt on and weld on IFS kits out there that are better than what an S10 offers.

This controversy will always exist, (S-10 or stock frame) many factors come into play. Money,skill set, time of construction,place to perform all the surgery etc. Good Luck on your build, I'll be watching.