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Going S10 Hybrid!

Ya! I like that idea!
I have both my trucks ready for the swap. The K5 tub is totally stripped, and the S-10 only has 6 body mounts left! The guys are coming out Saturday to help me out, so the new cab should be sitting on the frame by Sat evening. I cant wait. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Then the real measuring and work starts.
Joshua, everything I have measured seems to look like it will work. Where was your big issue with the firewall? I dont see anything yet that will involve a 4" shift in body or driveline. Of course, I will know more Sat after the cab is sitting there and it may become very obvious! Hehe.
Mike
 
Thats where I found the problem when I tried to sit the cab on. The engine sits further back in the frame than the s10 does so the valve covers hit the firewall. I am going to unbolt both crossmembers and move everything forward 4 inches. Once finished I will have both axles centered in the wheel wells and clearance for the distributor cab and all. It will look like a s10 with full size axles. When all is said and done I will have a 3/4 V8 S10.
 
Well, I have the S-10 cab sitting on my K5 frame! It looks awesome.
The way we started was to place the cab so that we had clearance for the distributer the same as a stock body was. I saw then what you meant by the firewall issue. But, when we shifted it back so the valve covers would clear, everything got even better. The forward S-10 cab body mount is exactly above the stock K5 frame forward body mount. The S-10 mount is a bit farther outboard tho. this is going to be very easy to build body mounts for. i will have to cut out the rear cab corners to clear the tires under compression, they wont quite clear. But the good thing is that I only have to cut up to the floor of the cab, so I dont have to tub the floor out. Too easy. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
One problem I will have is the steering column. Its very close to the valve cover. I can either:
Shift the entire column outboard until it clears. This will put the wheel closer to the door. I dont know if this is a good idea... although it will only be about 2" closer to the door than now.
Or, i can cut the firewall hole a bit larger and angle the column towards the box a bit... this will put the steering wheel on an angle... not sure how this would affect the driveability of the truck.
Or, I could modify the valve cover... hopefully there is enough room above the rocker that crushing the cover a bit wont interfere with the rocker arm.

Any opinions?

BTW, this things is going to look awesome! I cant wait............... /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif

Mike
 
[ QUOTE ]
Or, i can cut the firewall hole a bit larger and angle the column towards the box a bit... this will put the steering wheel on an angle... not sure how this would affect the driveability of the truck.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats what I did. A little bit of a weird position at first, but you get used to it.
 
How is it offroading like that? I suppose it wouldnt be much of an angle for all I have to move it. I think the hole in the firewall will need to only be about 1 or 2" towards the outside. May not be too bad I guess.
My buddy suggested that I rotate the column 90*, then I would be able to use the tilt on it to turn it back straight... ya know, tilt it sideways hehe.
you extended your front quarters right to fit around the engine and rad? I think i will try that too. That way I can keep the S-10 look... maybe attract less attention from the local cops!
 
Well, started today by looking at the clutch pedal setup. The pedal bucket from the K5 is totally different than the S-10 one. If I had a hyd clutch, I would go to the junkyard and find a std S-10 and rob, but I dont so.....

Is the sole purpose of that big spring on the mech clutch pedal to return the pedal up? If it is, can I run a separate different spring from the pedal arm back towards the driver? it cant be too hefty a spring tho, cause youd be pushing against it all the way to disengage the clutch. Would any spring lighter than the one there be heavy enough to pull it back? Does anyone know someone who has done a mech clutch std trans hybrid?
Thanks
Mike
 
looking at it prolly helps a lot, but would it be possible to run a borg/flaming riv shaft with joints at both ends and just have the steering shaft be at an angle...while the steering wheel and box are in stock location/alignment? If not, how about mounting the steering box in a different place? watsons is on the passanger side... lol! maybe it could be mounted on top of the frame rail (obviously with mad support) instead of on the side of it?

j
 
[ QUOTE ]
How is it offroading like that? I suppose it wouldnt be much of an angle for all I have to move it. I think the hole in the firewall will need to only be about 1 or 2" towards the outside. May not be too bad I guess.

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I really do not even notice the column moved anymore. It is at a slight angle, but the S trucks have a weird steering wheel position anyway. I think 1-2" should be plenty, although I thought with my SBC I have now, it could be in the stock location. Again, I have the Borgeson shaft. I will have to look tomorrow.

[ QUOTE ]
My buddy suggested that I rotate the column 90*, then I would be able to use the tilt on it to turn it back straight... ya know, tilt it sideways hehe.

[/ QUOTE ]
/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

[ QUOTE ]
you extended your front quarters right to fit around the engine and rad? I think i will try that too. That way I can keep the S-10 look... maybe attract less attention from the local cops!


[/ QUOTE ]
I think you will get the best of both worlds this way. Room in the engine compartment, with a compact S10 front end. I extended mine by 8", but I will be cutting that back to about 5" now with the LT1 and electric fan.
 
Well here is the update. I had one day to work on Da Mutt this weekend and here is what I got done. the engine/tranny/transfer case now reside a full 3.75 inches forward of stock location. The change in the Driveshaft angle is not a big deal because I am going to put the stock shackles back on instead of the 7in shackles I have on it now, this will point the pinion back up to where it needs to be. I only have to cuta about 3” out of the front. The rear I have to have retubed and balanced. The steering shaft I have been told and still have to check that an astro van shaft cut and stretched will fit. I also got the body all on and positioned where it needs to be, its still sitting on wood blocks till next weekend when I fab up some body mounts. All in all I say a couple more weekends and this thing will be rockin. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
i hope you're taking about a bazillion pics!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

oh yeah, one more call for a hybrid forum, that would rock!

j
 
I don't have a digital camera right now but I have used 3 of those disposible cardboard cameras so far and they hold 27 photos each so Yeah I have taken a Sh!p load of photos. I will get some developed and scanned soon but I will have to email them to some else to post since I'm spending all my cash on the truck and don't have a paid membership here. /forums/images/graemlins/hack.gif
 
Sounds cool!

Now for my update!

The body is sitting on the frame..;. again on wood blocks for now. I basically am going the other way, I have positioned the body where it fits. I cut the holes for the shifters, and installed them.
I cut the hole where the steering column goes thru the firewall a bit larger, and shifted the steering column a bit so it cleasr the valve covers. Felt like it moved a lot, but when you grab the wheel, its hardly noticeable. I cut and fabbed the K5 clutch pedal onto the S-10 brake pedal bucket, and installed it. I need to find a return spring of some sort to pull the clutch pedal back... shouldnt be too tough.
Umm, what else.... guess thats it for this morning. This afternoon i am going to look for a van steering shaft, if I cant find one, I am going to cut and join another section into mine to extend the shaft. The angle isnt any worse than it was with the K5 and the 3" body lift so the rags should work fine.
And yes I am taking pics... but Im on dialup so dont be looking for a million online! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Later
Mike
 
post the pics on webshots...its free. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

j
 
I will as soon as I get around to developing them. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
*UPDATE*
Body mounts are done! Front drive shaft is done. Now for the little stuff. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I will post some pics in my webshots later this week.
 
My update:
Front body mounts are done, very rear mounts are done, middle ones are under construction.
Rad support is on, rad is in.
Inner and outer fenders are cut and installed, now have to measure and cut the filler piece- 7.5" gap.
Interior wire harness is half installed, Ive got power to the starter! It turns over
/forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif
Left to do:
Finish the filler panels in the inner and outer 1/4 panels.
Mount the inner fender accessories- washer bottle, overflow bottle etc.
Finish installing the internal wiring.
Mount the hood.
Test run! /forums/images/graemlins/woot.gif

Mike
 
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