Yeah, the Hummer H3 Alpha exhaust manifolds might work also!

 

Do any of you that have done the conversions have a newer 02 or up s10 or blazer as the factory RDS radio in it. Mine does have the newer radio and I was curious as to whether or not the different VIN in the pcm would cause the theftlock to activate and kill the radio.

 

I got some time this evening to tinker with the rainier cluster. I cut the top tabs off and did some trimming and it fit the dash pretty well. It's out of an 04 I had at work. I think the wiring should be close to that of the s series. I am going to have to trim the dash bezel a pretty good amount and it is a **** hair wider than the current cluster. Do you thinks it's worth the effort for 20 extra mph. I wish I could find something close with a 150 MPH cluster.

 

on s10forum they are playing with the same idea. apparently 04+ works off of specific BCM and it has some type of network communication.

 

so i guess your sayin that the two clusters run off of different sources?

 

Based off of everything that my alldata says the basic functions of the cluster will work from the rainier that I got mine from. As long as the gauges work I dont give a damm if the mileage shows or the DIC works.

 

Hello, a little off topic but I was wondering if there was anyone in here using an 8.5 rear end. Just want to know how you like it or if you've ever had any issues with it. I have a 2001 S10 2wd 8.5 rear end and I can't see myself keeping it around if using it wouldn't make me a lil quicker than my 12 bolt.

 

I have an 8.5" out of a 2001 Blazer 5spd. I havent had any problems with mine. I am running much larger and stickier rubber now than before but I never had any problems with the smaller stock diff.

 

8.5 huh what drivetrain combo does your truck have. The 8.5 is like a unicorn they have been discussed and talked about but very few have actually been seen.

 

lol. I bought it a while back. They were only used in 5 spd V-6's of certain years. I have one for a 2wd (54 1/2 in wide) but it's time to clean out the garage.

 

It will work for a little while if your lucky. But it will eventually lock. Every conversion I've done has locked.

 

I've seen 8.5's hold mid 10 sec passes with only an eaton, different input shaft and aftermarket gears. Without being a stripped lightweight drag truck.

I found one for mine afew years back, and have it installed in my truck. Im also running an eaton, richmond gears, and a diff cover. Also replaced the input shaft with a billet one to run a 1350 joint. My truck has only managed mid 12 sec runs (117 mph best so far) due to traction problems, but its taken them in stride. Also am running a 6 speed, so the shock load of the stick is much more abusive. I think an 8.5" will be plenty strong enough for a 3500 ish truck to run atleast into the 10's.

 

yup, 8.5" rears are common in g-bodies. I see them dip into the low 11's and high 10's alllll the time without much work in malibus and montes, which is heavier than an s10.

 

All this talk is getting me to lean towards the 8.5.
Blazer- You said you were having traction issues, have you seen the CalTracs traction bars for the S10? I've read they work very well. I think I'll be buying me a set soon.

 

I need your help there is a lot of good info on this sit about the LS1 swap into the 95 and later S10 trucks I read alot of the post that have been listed and I am now really confused. I haven't started the transformation yet but I am trying to gather parts. I dont want to cut my A/C air box I dont mind notching the cross member I will mount the back coils on the firewall if I have to. My truck is a 95 Ext. cab sportside S10 and now has a 4.3 V-6 T.B.I. low fuel pressure (12-13 pounds) and a 5 speed manual trans. I have purchased a complete running 2000 Z28 Camaro from a salvage yard with a LS1 and a t56 six speed trans ever who had the car before it was salvaged had put aftermarket lower control arms subframe connectors and also a set of mid length headers on it. Has any of you took the steering rack from a F-Body and mounted it on a S10 and made it work. I really dont want to buy the hard to find corvette acc there way to exspensive I want to use the camaro acc if there is any way possible. Also will the camaro pan work if I notch the cross member. Will I have to have the drive shaft shortened will the trans cross member have to be relocated It also looks like the shifter on the t56 comes out about 12 or 13 inchs behind where the 5 speed is now. Will the fuel pump from the camaro work in the S10 fuel pump assembly .Can you tell me what all I will have to do to make this swap in the S10 I have tons of questions and I know some of you that has already went thru this can help me thanks

 

Also can I leave the radiator in its stock location and install the camaro electric fans on it or is it to close to clear. I want to use as many parts from the camaro as I can to try and keep the cost down. I know I will have to purchase a harness from current performance and mounts the more parts I have to buy the longer it will be before I can start the swap, so thats why I want to use as many parts from the camaro as I can. Thanks

 

You don't have to transfer your steering rack over to the S10, all you have to do is have a custom power steering hose made (F-body fitting on one end, S10 on the other). You will have to move the alternator to the top. I used a Corvette bracket and alternator with 3/4" spacers behind the bracket to line the alt. pulley with the rest of the F-body acc. Cutting the crossmember wouldn't be necessary if you use an H3 oil pan. Only thing you would have to notch is the passenger side frame if you want AC. As far as the radiator is concerned, I'm not sure if the F-body radiator will work. I went with the tried and trued Corvette radiator w/electric fans. Hope this helps.

 

oh yeah, if you have the 7.5 rear you might want to upgrade that too

 

you will definately want to upgrade your rear end,8.5" will do the job,many have used the 8.8 ford explorer rear since the majority came with lockers and gear ratios from 3.55-4.10 at roughly 200.00 bucks complete w/disc.

 

Thanks for the info so your saying if I buy the corvette bracket I can use the camaro alt. and power steering pump as long as I shim the bracket out 3/4" are you using the corvette fans with the corvette radiator or aftermarket fans do you think the camaro fans will fit with the corvette radiator. Do you have your radiator mounted infront of the core support or on the engine side of the core support. Thanks