CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

s10 Blazer - Diesel swap, solid axles, expo rig

Stomis

Professional Amateur
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Posts
10,331
Reaction score
752
Location
Roseland VA/PtPleasant NJ
So it begins. I figured I'd get this thread underway. This will encompass all non urgent questions I have regarding my build that puzzles me, all progress, plans, cost tally, and of course everyones favorite PICTURES!

This is my first post, its 8/17/10 and the build has begun today. Well really it began like a couple weeks ago when I started picking up some parts and tearing down some parts but regardless it officially started today because the motor tear down has started.

At this stage in the game I have no truck. I have quite a few parts ready to go but for those just jumping on board with this little plan of mine I'll recap everything.

The main idea is to build a very highway worthy but also very trail worthy camping and expedition truck. It will be built on a first generation 2 door s10 blazer. I'll be removing the rear bench and building a storage/sleeping platform.

Tech Specs:
Motor will be a 5 cylinder Mercedes OM617 turbo diesel - 120hp & 175 ftlbs
Transmission will be the 32 spline sm465 from my fullsize
Transfer Case will be a pass drop 241 with a SYE
Front axle will be an 85 toy front, v6 third member, 4.56s, detroit EZ locker
Rear axle will be an IFS width toy, v6 third member, 4.56s, full detroit


I have the motor, trans (still in my k10), and transfer case. I also have the toy front axle and ironically enough I cant seem to find a toy rear which should be much easier.

The suspension will be 47in toy leafs up front. I have no idea what out back yet just know it'll be a spring over.

I've had a few people say the motor seems underpowered and to that I have 3 responses. The first being that as domestic guys we're spoiled with what with think of as "decent" power. The second being that the torque curve of a motor like this has you seeing 75-100% of the torque for the entire RPM range vs hitting those BS peak numbers you see in alot of high power gas motors. Thirdly I plan on working the motor in 2 stages.

The first stage of mods to the motor will include new seals/gaskets, rings and hone, bearings. Boost will be turned up from 8 to 15psi and fuel will be maxed on the pump (since the stock pump is only good for about 20 more hp). It will have a beastly intercooler, 3in downpipe and straight exhaust.

The power numbers should be in the range of 150hp and 190-200 ftlbs.

Down the road I plan to run 20-25psi with a t3/t4 hybrid with a built injection pump. At that step it should be a pretty burly 200-230 hp and 280-300 ft/lbs.




I'm done rambling for now so heres the first couple pictures of the motor off the stand and hanging from the rafter the girlfriend took with my cellphone. Its in a garage I'm renting for $100a month from a guy I work with. We're still in the process of getting his **** out and into the larger garage he got in the unit so most all the **** is his and extremely cluttered...


0817102000a.jpg

0817102000.jpg


We have deemed this my "engine troll" pose/face
 
Last edited:
O and I'll reserve this page for the cost tally.

Toyota front axle - $250
TG front 4in springs - included w/ toy axle
1.5in wheel spacers - included w/ toy axle
IFS style toy calipers - included w/ toy axle


241 SYE'd - $150
Rear driveshaft to fit a k5 with SYE - included w/ tcase
CV flange and 32 spline input - $80

Mercedes OM617 - $400
4 speed MB auto - included w/ motor
 
Well with the GF by my side pictures are a plenty and I'm even in some lol. Most shots of today are just all vacuum line, oil line, and linkage references for me. Theres a shot of the back of the motor with the flywheel off, and then theres a couple shots of me welding the nut to the one damn stubborn flywheel bolt...

And yes before anyone who knows anything about these motors asks, I did infact mark the old flywheel and the crank so the new flywheel can be balanced and matched to the motor.


SDC12489.jpg

SDC12490.jpg

SDC12491.jpg

SDC12492.jpg

SDC12493.jpg

SDC12494.jpg

SDC12495.jpg

SDC12496.jpg

SDC12497.jpg

SDC12498.jpg


SDC12500.jpg

SDC12501.jpg

SDC12502.jpg


SDC12504.jpg

SDC12505.jpg

SDC12506.jpg

SDC12507.jpg




SDC12511.jpg

SDC12513.jpg

SDC12512.jpg
 
Alright today I set out with the goal of getting the head off, which I didnt accomplish. I got the valve cover off and marveled at how darn clean the head and cam are. Took some hoses, the fan (what a bitch), and a bunch of linkage stuff off.

I started cracking the injection lines when one of them popped loose and I slipped and basically cut the tip of my thumb half off. So that was fun and I called it a night there.

Photos


First 3 are how damn bad the EGR was clogged
SDC12529.jpg

SDC12528.jpg

SDC12527.jpg

SDC12526.jpg

How damn clean the top of the motor is with 195k
SDC12525.jpg
Where I started today and finished last night, off the chains with the flywheel and adapter off and back on the stand bolted up properly.
 
Well my thumb told me to go **** myself and stopped taking the chunk back lol.

There was no progress today motor or project wise but I did get an almost full day in building a work bench, organizing things, and moving my friends stuff out of "my space".

I built a nice 32" deep, 8ft long bench. I broke my harbor freight drill press putting the press fit chuck on (lol) and picked up a nice composite 10" skil chop box from lowes for $115 and a bench grinder for $46 which I thought was dirt cheap.

Tomorrow we're gonna work on getting his MG midget out of my bay so I can position my bench where its gonna get nailed down.

Maybe some progress on getting the head off tomorrow but doubtful.... :dunno:
 
Just an FYI, do you have a "macro" setting on your camera?
It will help with clarity on close-ups. It took me a while to figure that out on mine.
 
Just an FYI, do you have a "macro" setting on your camera?
It will help with clarity on close-ups. It took me a while to figure that out on mine.


Yeah the camera is just a POS.

I did all work on moving **** in the shop yesterday. Made alot of progress. Gonna be building storage shelves tomorrow and building a stand for my drill press and bench grinder.
 
having sh!t organized is a huge bonus man....I try to do that once in a while by putting things back where they belong.
When my shop got broke into, I didn't notice my portable tool kit was gone til about a month later when I was looking for it in the piles of tools everywhere and couldn't find it. Once I got the shop organized again, I realized it was stolen in the breakin.
 
This is on the back burner. Building the 86 cutty I bought first simply for a few reasons:

Give my girlfriend my current car

Some motivation to break down the full size since the motors going in the cutlass

Have something done for next summer to drive and have fun.
 
Another little tid bit of an update:

I've decided to go a little more road/ repair friendly with this build. I wont be using the 36 TSLs from my 87. I plan on selling them and picking up a set of 33x10.5 KM2s. This will also allow me to use a 4.10 gear ratio for ideal cruising which in turn will allow me to use any third member straight from the junkyard if I break something.

Like I said all this is down the road but the project definitely isnt forgotten.
 
Tore the motor down to a long block this weekend with a buddy. The inside of the motor is spotless. In all seriousness I'm gonna put new bearings in it, a new timing chain, have the cylinders honed and put new rings in the thing. O yeah and a valve job and seals all around.

Very happy with it. O and yeah the motor is a ****in bitch compared to a SBC lol.


Also I guess it would be a huge update to this game plan to fill you guys in on the fact that I'm seriously considering switching my build platform to either a gen 1 or gen 2 isuzu trooper.
 
Just out of pure curiousity, why the platform switch?
 
Just out of pure curiousity, why the platform switch?

Interior room for storing gear, sleeping etc. Plus the higher head room. More updated interior too in both the gen 1 and gen 2.

Obviously the platform is going to give me nothing but sheet metal and a frame lol. I had originally dreamed up this plan for a trooper but passed seeing as how they were all selling for $2500-$4000 here. Now 6 months later I'm seeing them all over for $1000-$1500.
 
There ya go.

Didn't some Troopers come with a D44 rear...and I think a selectable rear locker?
 
There ya go.

Didn't some Troopers come with a D44 rear...and I think a selectable rear locker?

The later models came with the selectable locker 3rd gens I want to say. The rears are an odd mash up of GM parts with isuzu style housings.

Depending on locker availability I may very well keep the isuzu rear but more likely I'll put a toy rear in it to have the drivetrain match. The isuzu rears commonly came with 4.30 gears which will be too steep for 33s and the diesel.
 
Top Bottom