S10 Swap Spindles

[Thadious]

Looking at my 2wd frame, with the 4x4 rear, and the thought of using 2" spacers to get the width right in the front is something I'd rather not use, if I can get away with it.

I've been trying to research the "tall spindle swap" for the s10 front end.
Without getting into a ton of parts and pieces from various donors, the best that I've seen is using the spindles from a 'late' 90's s10 blazer for a 1 1/2" increase in width. Has anyone tried this and had any luck? I'd like to use as much of the current s10 2wd parts as possible (just rebuilt it all).

Cheers,
Ted.

[iokua80]

I'm not sure if they will work. Even though the s10 and s10 blazer had a lot of similar parts I know that some things could not interchange. I didn't use any spacer or anything on mine. I liked how they were so far in from the fender because I could ride with it aired down and still be able to turn. That's just me though.
Later,
Josh

[Thadious]

Not finding alot of easy answers on this... doing alot of research and no one seems to make or sell simple tall spindles for an easy swap. I think it may be time to look at a hard mockup of a stock set of A-Arms and extend the template about 2-2 1/2" and just relocate the spindles to the correct location to get the track width right, without using spacers!

I've been fabbing stuff like this for years, but just looking for a simple swap of engineered parts before hand.

Cheers,
Ted.

[51chevytruck]

Thadious check out Advanced Engineering, http://www.ad-engineering.com/HOMEPAGE.html, click on S10 interchanges. He has a good write up on what he used, I did the same thing, uses a Belltech drop spindle for a 98 Blazer and up. Machine the bore to fit early square-body S10
4WD hubs (less expensive no ABS). You gain bigger rotors and dual piston calipers.

Hope this helps.

[Thadious]

Yep, followed along this path once in the last couple of days... thing that I found is that if you follow the install link... they still ended up using 2 1/2" spacers, but with a bigger rotor...

Same problem, bigger discs... rofl.

Cheers,
Ted.

[entourageguy]

I don't like the idea of the spacers up front.
Back is ok as there is not as much weight on them.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by entourageguy

I don't like the idea of the spacers up front.
Back is ok as there is not as much weight on them.

That is the big reason that I haven't been in favor of the S-10 swaps.

Thadious, If you figure out how to fab up longer tubular A arms that take the stock ball joints and bolt up to the chassis you will have a bunch of guys beating a path to your door with cash greenies waving in their hands.

[Thadious]

One of the largest concerns that I would be looking at is any of the legalities involved with the fabrication and installation.

The geometry wouldn't be all that difficult after the alignement and templates were made. I'm looking a 1 1/2" DOM, 0.250" wall tubing with the frame end rings machined from solid stock or equivalent DOM tubing that would be spec'd to work with poly bushings. 1/4" - 3/8" plating and gussets to boot. Some would think this slightly overkill in some areas, but where I come from, we build things to last and take serious abuse. The ball joint setup would run with stock ones unless it was found that they couldn't handle the extended strain, but I don't think that's and issue.

Right now, I'm looking at local regulations on fabrication of parts such as this. Last thing I'd need is to have void insurance for something I, or anyone else, has fab'd up.

Just looking at the 'angles' of everything atm.

And yes, spacers suck, but if you have no other choice....

Btw, what are the regulations for things such as this, south of the 49th?

Cheers,
Ted.

[Thadious]

One of the things that I've noticed from some of the fabricators like Belltech and such on extended travel arms is the disclaimer "Note: This kit is for off- road use only and is not intended for use on the highway." I would assume this is for liabilty issues regarding the use for such in the states and from what I would estimate from such a statement is that if you use these items on your vehicle, you're on your own if they break.

Thoughts or corrections?

Cheers,
Ted.

PS If these arms were fabbed and tested, how many would be interested? Not trying to pitch sales here, don't get me wrong, I share my info.