97 King Cab DS-Ton build - Rock Jock 60 and shaved 14

[r3dd0g]

r3dd0g submitted a new Build:

97 King Cab DS-Ton build - Rock Jock 60 and shaved 14

I "finished" this build about a year and a half ago, but right now the rig is back in my garage getting some major upgrades. I never posted the original build here so I thought I'd post up everything I've done up to this point and what's going on now.

First some background for those of you that don't know me or those that have met me at Blazer Bash but don't know my screen name (I don't post much here). My previous rig that is currently retired until I "finish" the Rock Limo is a highly modified and beat to hell '72 Blazer.

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Read more about this build here...

 

[r3dd0g]

This is what I started with, a '97 king cab S-10, 4.3 Vortec (blown head gaskets, left with the heads off for way too long, 200K+ miles), 2wd, automatic transmission, stepside bed.

My drivetrain plan was Goodwrench crate rebuild longblock, NV4500, NP241 (passenger drop), 12 bolt and narrowed D44 (to match the 12 bolt) from my '72 blazer.

 

[r3dd0g]

I started with the rear axle to make it easier to move around. For the rear suspension, I just did a spring-over conversion and poly bushings in the stock S-10 springs. The frame rail was modified to accept a standard bushing (the stock bushing was weird).

 

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Next I moved to the front, all body panels were removed and the stock suspension was stripped off and the frame was modified for clearance and to push the axle forward 2.5" from stock.

 

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Custom motor mounts using DIY4X motor plates (I ended up modifying them later as the engine was sitting too high).

Custom transmission mount and crossmember that bolts into the stock location.

 

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I opted for a radius arm front setup for stability since this would spend a lot of time on the road.

 

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With the axle pushed forward I realized that the steering box was going to have to move as well.

 

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12" Ballistic Fab coilovers, custom shock hoops and removable upper brace.

 

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Custom stainless exhaust.

 

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7/8" Ruff Stuff heims for steering.

 

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Shifter, boot and floor section from a doner S-10 (shifter modified to work on the NV4500).

Custom anti-wrap bar and frame mount.

 

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More exhaust work.

 

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Panhard bar installed and testing flex (with one radius arm bolt removed).

Front end finish welded and painted.

 

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Front axle fully assembled, ARB locker, 4.56:1 gears, Superior (RIP) shafts and u-joints (long side inner is 3.25" shorter application for a IH Scout).

Ceramic coating on the exhaust manifolds.

Everything is starting to come together.

Extra pedal and master cylinder installed.

Custom power steering lines.

 

[r3dd0g]

I decided I didn't have enough room for an external slave cylinder so I modified my bellhousing to accept an internal slave.

Custom ORD shifter for the 241.

Custom driveshafts, 1310 high angle CV front and 1310 CV rear.

You can see the modified motor mount in this shot.

Bodywork reinstalled.

 

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Rolled out of the garage for the first time, you can see the 126" wheelbase here that inspired it's name. I know that's not long for a suburban, but for a little S-10 on small tires it makes it challenging in the rocks. The blazer is only 114" by comparison.

No room for the battery under the hood with the shock hoops and relocated ECM.

Bus bar from an M1008 installed where the battery was.

First drive and test flex.

 

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PRP Daily Driver seats on modified S-10 sliders and new carpet kit.

RS9000 shocks with custom hoops.

Oasis compressor and Viair tank for airing up tires and running the ARB.

Truck bed toolbox to cover everything up and give me some storage space.

New Tires 35x12.5R15 Goodyear MT/R Kevlar.

 

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Custom winch mount and front bumper.

Custom rear bumper.

T-case skidplate.

Custom rock sliders.

 

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At this point the rig got taken out and used on the trail. I took it on a local week long overland run that I do every year and broke it in properly. Most things worked great, some things didn't.

Action shots from the run (pulling my custom overland trailer). Looking at these pictures I'm remembering that the rock sliders were added after the run.

This is the sort of wheeling I built this rig for. I enjoy hard core rock crawling, but I also love trail running and overland stuff. My blazer did both duties, but really didn't do either one particularly well so I decided I needed two different rigs.

 

[r3dd0g]

After wheeling it for a week, I learned that the stock rear springs sucked. That was remedied with a 63" spring swap.