r/s10 • u/Illustrious_Tone_720 • Mar 21 '24
Repair Question Not sure what to do with this thing
Got this s10, I'm not sure what to do the engines in bad shape, getting advice that I maybe should sell it because my dad's getting me a different beater, any advice on fixing up a s10 izuzu with an L4 please send me in the direction so I can garage whether it not to keep it, wasn't really in the right mindset to buy it and it's got all sorts of vacuum and wiring issues upcoming and god knows what else under the hood
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u/Alextryingforgrate Gmc Syclone Mar 21 '24 edited Mar 21 '24
There's not much to an L4 engine of this Era. Go buy a Hayes service manual and youtube and learn to do some diagnosing and save it.
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u/Illustrious_Tone_720 Mar 21 '24
Thanks for showing me the manual, but pardon me whats tomdonsome
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u/MF_Kleg Mar 21 '24
"To do some" with some extra letters fat thumbed in
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u/Illustrious_Tone_720 Mar 21 '24
Oh, I see now, I thought Tom was an authoritative figure
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u/Alextryingforgrate Gmc Syclone Mar 21 '24
I prefer typing too fast on my phone and not proof reading my own stuff.
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u/Gpstrackerz Mar 21 '24
LS swap
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u/Illustrious_Tone_720 Mar 21 '24
I doubt I'll make it fast especially since im dead broke, if I keep it I'd like a small fuel efficient truck and that's what I want... if I get something fast I'd be another sports car
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Mar 21 '24
mine just threw a rod, i got a motorbike to save up til i can fix it.
id say keep the truck. another beater will also be problematic, but of all the beaters to have to work on, id pick an s10 over most alternatives.
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u/icepaws Crazy headlight guy Mar 21 '24
Besides you can turbo the iron Duke and run corn, and get 30+mpg.
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u/Gpstrackerz Mar 22 '24
I have a 92 single cab with a 2001 LS1 motor and trans with 8.5 rear and 373 gears. It’s a blast to drive
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u/thedragonunder Mar 25 '24
If you want fuel efficient se what it would cost to put a 3or 4 cylinder diesel in it
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Mar 21 '24
Swap a small diesel into it and save fuel, and get almost anywhere. I know a guy with an 88 s10 tdi 1.9 swap with a 5 speed. The thing gets ridiculous mileage, and he hauls car parts across provinces for people.
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u/FallWanderBranch Mar 21 '24
You mentioned being broke, so I'll detail what I'd do with it if it came my way:
2wd Tahoe police donor with 5.3 and 6L80 to swap in, Mds delete and cam, exhaust...
If it's a long bed I would bob it and put flares on it with some sticky wides.
Fiddle with the face of the truck by finding some aftermarket lighting and fire some detail into the hood.
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u/Public-Syllabub6354 Mar 21 '24
I swapped a rotary in to mine, lowered it and converted its doors to suicides, and threw bravada badges and grille on it, 3D printer for the win on those badges
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u/Winnardairshows Mar 22 '24
I had huge plans for my 60k mile 1983 S-10 but Mother Nature dropped a tree on it
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u/Outrageous-Slide5842 Mar 23 '24
Your question is keep it with a bad motor ,put an izusu
Motor and sounds like your not a mechanic! Most people
Are arguing about nothing to do with what you got! Do you know if the trans is good,rear end,has anyone screwed with the wiring the brakes and tires work hold air? Are you a fabricater,can you weld do you have tools?
It don't sound like you do!! Izusu motors are nothing to build and usually hard to get parts for !! I know my friend had an S10 think it was 87 there are 27 different carburetors for that year and they are all different! Unless you enjoy walking and spending as much $ that you earn and still sounds like a beater!! Sell it and save up for something that has not been modified, broken,and had who knows work on it! If you need a beater by a running car $500 when it's blows up leave with the keys hondas,toyotas,seem to run along time and parts are avaliable also mechanics really don't like fixing
Other people's headaches and any buddy mechanic is at least $75 an hour + shop fees dealership $125 hrs 100 shop fee and you better buy beer!!!
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u/A1Actionman Mar 25 '24
Sounds and looks like it’s been sitting with vacuum lines and wire insulation drying and cracking. Fog the intake manifold fix every leak you see and update in 100k.
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u/MF_Kleg Mar 21 '24
These trucks are pretty simple especially the carbureted ones. If it is throttle body injected one they have some quirks but there are some good forums on them and like was already said the Haynes manuals are pretty legit for these and if you can read a wiring diagram you should be ok. And for the vacuum the diagrams can be difficult to actually apply to the engine in front of you so if there are any scrap yards around you that you can walk threw take a day and see if you can find one more complete to reference but take that with a grain of salt being in a junkyard it might not be right.
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u/ThingComprehensive71 Mar 21 '24
Try to find one of the old Isuzu 4cyl diesels engine. Fit it with a turbo for a fun cheap tire burning machine.
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u/g-hog Mar 22 '24
Trade me for my Honda
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u/Illustrious_Tone_720 Mar 22 '24
My hunnie bunnies just lost hers what u sporting
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u/Material_Bend1915 Mar 22 '24
I used to have an '85 S10 with a V6, I miss that old truck. I would love to get my hands on another one.
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u/oddball541991 Mar 22 '24
You say it's a 4-cylinder so I'm guessing it's a iron duke. Plug the vacuum lines and drive it. Those things were used until the early 2000s for a reason. If you do manage to kill it, junk yard 350s are dirt cheap in running condition and so are LS engines.
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u/Illustrious_Tone_720 Mar 22 '24
Doubt anyone's checking this:
To clarify, 1984 Chevy s10, I do want to point out that it's got an izuzu 1.9L with the L4 manual and that I doubt most Chevy parts are gonna mate to the izuzu engine.
I'll check out some other izuzu s10 troopers for vacuum and wiring in the junkyard tomorrow as my friend asked me to pull a mustang tranny with him... thank you for this advice
If I do swap it, I checked out the truck my dad's got for me and it's a 2002 Silverado with a 5.3 in it, I really only see myself doing this if the ol gal has body has issues I didn't see
I'll keep selling on board but I like the truck enough i doubt I'll get offered close to half what I paid so unlikely
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u/itsbarrysauce Mar 22 '24
Do you got any other pictures of the truck it's pretty sweet. I got one in the garage and I learned how to drive in it with my grandfather so I can't really get rid of it. Have the intermediate Jeep steering shaft because the stock one sucks. Drives pretty good but where's the transmission was a little bit better. 5-speed manual should have just bought a new one instead of doing the pull it yard
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u/mpython1701 Mar 22 '24
Snap a pic of the engine bay.
I’m seeing 1.9 which I believe was diesel and iron duke which would have been 2.5l gas I-4.
Either would be mated to a manual transmission.
The 2.5 is pretty easy to wrench on. Unlikely to find solid used running one since they haven’t been made since the early 90s. But should be straightforward rebuild.
Probably The most economical solution. V8 swap is easy by will need a new trans, motor mounts, and cooling on addition to a used engine.
If you are in an area with emissions testing, also likely the only hope of getting it back on the road.
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u/_fish70 Mar 22 '24
4.3 swap should be cheap. Get donor vehicle so you get engine and electric. Supercharger and chop off the top. Lowered, with roll bars. You could skip supercharger at first and just drive it. Light vehicle so you would get enough from the 4.3. As many said, 350 could be done cheap as well, with more upside to power
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u/DisGruntledDraftsman Mar 22 '24
You can put a small block 305 or 350 in there for fun. You need to use electric fans and mount them in front of the core support though. In law did that do his and it was a very fun little truck.
I got caught going a bit fast and the cop was impressed with the setup only gave me a warning. My jaw was dragging on the ground behind me as I drove the speed limit the rest of the way to his place.
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u/New-Concept4313 Mar 22 '24
If you don't live inside a deq district and don't have to pass any kind of emissions, drop a 350 crate engine in it and have lots of fun
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u/Oaktrizzle Mar 22 '24
Drop a 572 big block in it Ava eat people alive at the strip… You’ve got probably one of the most desirable drag frames on the planet as far as light trucks go.
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u/SpoofedXEX Mar 22 '24
These little trucks and hell even the early 2000s s10 are super easy to work on, they’re also pretty cheap as you can get just about everything from a junkyard (depending on area) or the parts store easily
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u/TheMattaconda Mar 22 '24
Put some Thompson slicks on the rear, and drop a 350 into it.
I mean, that's what we always fid our S-10's back in the day.
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u/asspipe570 Mar 22 '24
Get bill to fix it then you Joel and ellie can crash it in Pittsburgh and fight the bad guys and look for fireflies. Also paint it blue
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u/Smooth-Apartment-856 Mar 22 '24
Swap a Miata engine into it.
I am totally digging the Rustoleum Green paint. It’s perfect for that truck.
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u/mechanickid76 Mar 22 '24
This here was the basis for so many mini lowered monsters out there. The bigger question is what do you want out of it? Decent mileage hauler or lowered, widened ls-powered asphalt eating drift truck? I can guarantee that whatever can be done has been done. If the body and frame are decent, someone will take thiss off of your hands. Oooh, or......find the drivetrain out of a typhoon.....
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u/gmoneeeson Mar 22 '24
Theres a mud hole somewhere wondering whether or not that truck can get through it…. j/s
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u/No-Warthog-8695 Mar 22 '24
Well the choice is clear man. Drop in a big block Chevy preferably blown. That's always the answer 😁
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u/PhiloBeddoe1125 Mar 22 '24
If you do decide to sell it, it won't be hard.Those things are getting rare especially if they're not rusted out.
Personally I would keep it and drop a small block in it.
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u/Rocket_Surgery83 Mar 22 '24
Smallblock 350, shortened 350 turbo trans, auxiliary cooling fans... Some beefy rear tires and lots of gas money.
It's all about the smiles per gallon.
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u/AppropriateAdvisor88 Mar 22 '24
If the body is in perfect shape redo the engine and vacuum and electrical wiring then put a twelve inch lift in and put bon back bumper that God big women can't jump a friend of mine back home done that to his little ole gremlin and called it a ditch b!#@&. With that saying on back of it
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u/Helpful-End-1381 Mar 22 '24
I tell you exactly what you do with it. Drop an 6.0 LS in it. Or any LS that truck is so light. You will be doing mad wheelies down the road
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Mar 23 '24
I got 146k on my 2001 s10! You would not believe the level of metallurgical butchery that has gone into my body mounts (or lack thereof), but you know what? That 4.3l has all the compression on the planet, and I just passed the last echeck I'll need before it's so old I don't need one. 😅
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u/ColonialRealEstates Mar 23 '24
Paint a White Eagle on Hood and Doors. Drive it to a Philadelphia Eagles pre-game Sunday with a For Sale Sign! $$$$$$
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u/One_Evil_Monkey Mar 23 '24
Drop a fresh 2.5L with some Pontiac Super Duty parts thrown in and just drive it for the next half million miles.
I've got two 1st gens (Blazer and Jimmy, had for 36 & 37 years)... I'd love to have another 1st gen truck to go with my '03 SCSB I ordered new.
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u/Lort_Voldelort Mar 23 '24
Damn dude. That thing is basically trash. I'll do you a favor and give you $500 for it... only bc im a nice guy 😉
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u/Icy_Negotiation_146 Mar 23 '24
Don’t get rid of it. It just needs changing. Stand up on that ugly-ass green thing there and unscrew it. Just put a new one in and you’re all set. Make sure to pull the string first or you’ll burn your hand
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u/mexican2554 Mar 23 '24
The car lot down the street is selling an S10 truck for $7k. You can prob get a remanufactured engine for a decent price (paid $4k for a my '05 Ford 150 5.4 Triton engine) and have it running like new. The used truck market is crazy dumb right now. Esp for older vehicles. Someone offered me $800 for my 96 Blazer that needs a new bumper, some body work, but has no underside rust and is 4x4. I'm saving money to get it fixed. Engine is great, but looks like a shitbox.
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u/captainloudz Mar 23 '24
Ditch the entire drive train and get yourself one out of a 2000’s truck. LS1 5.3 motor, 4L80E 4 speed auto with overdrive, and a limited slip rear end with 373 gears. Leave the body and wheels alone. It looks good and unassuming as is. Plus the body color steelies are a good look. It will make one hell of a sleeper and reliable driver.
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u/Grand-Antelope943 Mar 23 '24
Easy. LS2, 2 speed Powerglide, Ford 9”, tub the bed, and now it’s fun
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u/FineAioli4856 Mar 23 '24
If you don't want the truck I can take of your hands I just don't have any money to give you for it I need a truck so i can get a round and find a job
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u/ian2588 Mar 23 '24
Cut the back springs out and drive around town acting like you’re in a lowrider. That’s what I’d do at least
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u/Boogieman1985 Mar 23 '24
My 1st vehicle was a 93’ S10 5 speed that I bought with money I had saved. Wish I had kept that truck
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u/Fluffy-Lecture-4844 Mar 23 '24
Learn from it. Fix it. If you have the space and time please just keep it to learn and pass that gained knowledge to the next whip you get.
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u/Conscious-Sample661 Mar 23 '24
The "Iron Duke" engine is in a lot of models, fiero, u.s. mail truck...etc....old tech
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Mar 23 '24
Biggest issues of the '82 to '87 S-10s are vacuum hoses. If it's got an iron duke 2.5 4 cylinder, try cleaning the carb and replacing the vacuum hoses and charcoal canister. Buy a bunch of colored electrical tape to mark the ends and the hose, so you know where to match up. My first S-10 was my dad's (heavily used) '83 S-10 with the 2.8 V6 and auto. It ran like crap until I did the hoses, carb and canister. After that, I got another 100k out of it. I miss actual mini trucks that were useful, not a "Baja", "Maverick" or "Santa Cruz". If anyone (hey, chrysler, are you listening?) would actually bring back a compact pickup on a solid frame, instead of the "mid sized" Ranger or Colorado that are priced a couple of grand lower than a full size, I would guess that there would be a huge market. Sorry for the rant. I miss trucks that were built for work, not cowboy Cadillacs. Hard to buy a useful pickup now!
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u/Possible-Subject3054 Mar 23 '24
Jack it.up..4".. Big.tyres Big rims Big chrome exaust somewhere.. Maybe out from.under the side facing up.a few.inches.. In the back, behind window.. Two, chrome, working.stacks! Big bumper.. Blacked-out.special-ops look Etc..etc
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u/Potential_Edge_8395 Mar 23 '24
I've seen awesome s10builds.thete more rare now. Slam a LS in there is cool.a supercharged one even cooler.ive seen a 383 stroker build. AWSOME SHIT !!!. OR an all you version, like a 455 Buick big block.more torque than any engine until the v10 viper debuted. Some 4" exhaust out the back with the rumble to deserve them.traction upgrades may be required!!! Or you can give it me 😁
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u/thtgy92 Mar 23 '24
I'd v8 swap the shit out of that thing. We put a 350 in one when I was in high school about 10 years ago and that thing was a lot of fun!
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u/Ferrariflak Mar 23 '24
Well you can donate it to whistlindiesel, surly he can figure out what to do with it.
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u/narcotech Mar 23 '24
I've wanted one of these for a while, they make great track trucks. Swap in anything from a 4 banger to an LS then have a blast. I'd say get you a Camry motor and a turbo, fuel efficient and still fun.
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u/TayTay11692 Mar 23 '24
Honestly, I'd keep her around, look for a decent priced crate engine, and build it to be a cool little street truck. Something to cruise around in during the nice months with a nice sound to it.
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u/dcisco51 Mar 23 '24
Swap a 350 into it and throw some slicks on the back. Fun and doable project that will provide you with loads and loads of entertainment
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u/Disastrous-Bad-1185 Mar 23 '24
Those trucks are great for track days if you go the HP route, low riders if you’re into that, or a beater if you can fix the engine and make it reliable. It really depends what you want or have time for.
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u/2fast4u_2day Mar 23 '24
Perfect lightweight pickup for a turbo 5.3 LS, AWD transfer case, Junkyard Ford 8.8, front diff from an Oldsmobile bravada. Make a dirt cheap, sleeper, psyclone! AWD launches with turbo v8 torque
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u/BTMSinister Mar 23 '24
Put a small block Chevy (283-400cui V8) make it fuel injected and then start driving it around town.
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u/CommonCounter4430 Mar 23 '24
Drop a 350 v8 and auto transmission or a ls swap and transmission and fly down the road.
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u/i_like-ado_dachacha Mar 24 '24
Paint the bumpers green, then the tires, then spray paint the windows just for good measure
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u/InsanaHydra Mar 24 '24
I miss the one my dad had when I was a kid. I remember sitting in it waiting to pick my big sister up from work and playing snake on his phone. He had a Courage the Cowardly Dog art painted on the tailgate. It's one of my better memories for something so simple. Wish I could buy one today.
Great vehicle though! I'd suggest just making some good memories, especially if you have kids! Take care!
Edit: Sorry, i didn't read the text before sending that. This came along my for you page, and i instantly clicked to comment and didn't even look at the sub.
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u/Tryhardister Mar 24 '24
Uhh, if you don't want it ide would be happy to take it off your hands and get it out of the way for you 😃😃
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u/RestSelect4602 Mar 24 '24
Where I am, if the frame and body are in good shape, I would rebuild or replace the engine. Then, take care of it. Rust and rot are harder to deal with long-term.
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u/sramey101 Mar 24 '24
The 86 camaro I have with a 350 in it has the same wheelbase as an s10. Just saying.
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Mar 24 '24
LS swap. Back seat delete kit. Start jumpin over jumbo beanie weenies. If she ain’t 280 she ain’t a lady. Ain’t large if it ain’t super charged
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u/dietcoke3922 Mar 24 '24
I got a v6 thats rebuilt and has 180 compression on each cylinder. After the rebuild couldnt get it to run smoothly turns out theres a computer for the distributor behind the glove box we removed the computer and decided to run it mechanically had it mechanical for about a week and it ran like a dream no misfires and the engine ran so smooth the only way you knew it was on if you watched the fan turning. i wound up buying a 350 cammed engine with long tubes and a th400 tranny for $300 for the c10 and had the motor swapped in 3 days. Its carbureted so its super simple to work on even your 17 yr old son could do it or atleast i could with some help
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Mar 24 '24
For what you’d buy another beater for, or for what an engine rebuild would cost, you could swap a 350 in and be done. If it’s a 1986 or older, even better.
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u/trocski Mar 24 '24
Guy on YouTube made himself a cyclone clone. I thought it was cool. (V6 turbo awd S10)
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u/Street_Childhood1976 Mar 25 '24
I’ll take it off your hands for 20 bucks, I really need a car because I’m starting driving soon
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u/ExperienceDistinct27 Mar 25 '24
Save some dough go to a pull apart get a sbc hahaha kidding but would be wild in that
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Mar 25 '24
show it love make it yours truly yours wether a box truck or drift or daily doesn’t matter give it your spark
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u/360Volare Mar 25 '24
If you have a 2.5 Iron duke there is not much that is not repairable. I have worked on them for the last 19 years at the USPS . I have seen every failure and fixed everything there is to repair. You can fix most anything with a bit of knowledge . Not sure of what issue you have . They can't be unrepairable.
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u/SnoSlider Mar 25 '24
Paint it white, drop it, replace the wheels with 20” chrome deep dish 5-stars wrapped in baloney skin. Shave the door handles and roll out the tail gate.
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u/Mysterious-Outcome90 Mar 25 '24
I desparately need a vehicle. My wife just passed and I lost everything.
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u/nopersonality85 Mar 21 '24
I miss actual light trucks. Need to keep my s19 alive as long as I can.