Questions about Chevy S10s

[JollySipper]

Hey, guys..... I've got a few questions about the S10 pickups. I look at the ones for sale on Craigslist a lot.... There's as many 4WD ones as there are 2WD. Generally, I don't really care for 4WD, as I have no real world need for it. So I tend to pass over the ones that aren't 2WD. Then I got to thinking, the Syclone that GMC put out was "AWD", and was quite the performer. It being turbocharged was mostly responsible for that. They handled really well, also....... So, my question is..... could I take a 4WD S10 and make it perform like the AWD Syclone? Minus the turbo, of course. The handling would be what I was after.....

The truck would eventually get a SBC engine, so I would most likely get one that had the 4.3, so the conversion would be that much easier......

 

[NOBLNG]

Here’s a bit of info on this site:

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/gmc-sycolne-suspension-vs-regular-s10-suspension/191468/page1/

[JollySipper]

Cool, Greg man.... Thanks for that link! From what I can gather, the transfer case would have to come from an Astro van, they're single speed..... There's other minor differences, too, it seems....

[1930fordpickup]

With the large fan base and longtime love of the S10 line of trucks and SUV's I am surprised this is info is not very easy to find. Some very nice trucks and SUVs were made from these.  

[NOBLNG]

10 hours ago, JollySipper said:

Cool, Greg man.... Thanks for that link! From what I can gather, the transfer case would have to come from an Astro van, they're single speed..... There's other minor differences, too, it seems....

You’re welcome. I like the S-10s…I had an ‘84 extended cab 2wd with the 2.8 and manual trans that I really liked. Then I bought a brand new ‘91 2wd extended cab on impulse off the lot. I liked it, but it was gutless since it had the 2.5 and auto trans. Good luck with your project if you pursue it.?

[JollySipper]

The best little truck I've had was an '83 s10 single cab short bed with a V8 (it was a 305...). It would have eventually gotten a 350, but I ended up needing to sell it...... They can be found pretty cheap here, since there's so many of them.

[stavanzer]

Man, they have disappeared around here! And when you do find them, they are worn out annd expensive.

[1972coronet]

My dad had an '82 (first year) in 1985-1987. Fully-loaded (except for cassette) - I've forgotten that trim level's nomenclature - and clean.

Total piece of it. 

2.8 V6 was a gutless gas hog; that stupid electronic carburetor was "set" and therefore nonadjustable.  

TH-200 trans was slipping. 

Radio stopped working (analogue dial which was stuck on some crumb bum station).

Paint faded on the sides first. Those early base/clear paints were trash.

That being said: There were a handful of them around with 350/350/10 Bolts which were super nice. You just know that those trucks went through in absentia emissions testing (i.e., 50$ will pass anything... presence not necessary).

[JollySipper]

On 4/10/2023 at 6:12 PM, stavanzer said:

Man, they have disappeared around here! And when you do find them, they are worn out annd expensive.

I look at craigslist a lot for the SoCal area ( that's where all the cool cars are... ), I see a bunch of them Mini'd there.... or worn out, like you said.

[stavanzer]

Yeah, it is very hard to find one in gook, stock condition.

So many have been 'Customed' (poorly in most cases) that the good ones are rare.