liberta's newest s-series project

[liberta]

As a couple of people on here know, i picked up a 1997 Victory Red S10 ZQ8 not too long ago.

The ZQ8 suspension is a factory option used on the S10 SS, all the Xtremes, and the Trailblazer SS. It lowers the stance a full 2", adds thicker swaybars, adds a quicker ratio steering box used in the z28/trans am, and adds a 3rd bilstein axle-hop shock which is attached to the axle and the frame.

I picked this up for almost dirt from my buddy who owns Mantua Auto Body. Its a V6 with a 5 Speed(rarest factory s10 motor combo) but the engine has a rod knock in cylinder. It runs, but other than the knock, its a solid truck. shifts great, handles great, and for the year and mileage its in pretty good shape. All it needs is a new motor which i now have, i just need to pull it, and it'll be an awesome truck.

Here are some pics i took of it at my buddy's body shop. It's gonna sit here until we finish renovating our garage, then this is gonna be a winter project.















I dont have any pics of the parts truck yet, but its a white 2002 S10 Xtreme Extended cab. V6/Auto with 51,xxx miles on it. Got T-Boned right where the 3rd door met the bed. Decent Frame Damage, Totaled, $800. Im slowly selling off all the parts i know i dont need off it. and so far ive almost broke even with this project just in selling parts.

I hope to have this truck done by the time the weather gets good enough to restart the meets. And ill be sure to take plenty of pictures as me and my stepdad rebuild this semi-rare factory truck.

PS These trucks supposedly pull a .84g on the skidpad

[liberta]

Current Plans for this include:
Painting the chrome grill victory red
Swapping the L35W 4.3 in there with a L35X 4.3 from a 2002 S10 Xtreme
Putting a radio in it(has speakers, but no head unit)
Possibly Debadging the whole truck
Minor bolt ons(Intake, TBS, catback thats on the xtreme)
and detailing the truck inside and out as its been stiting for a little while.

[240sxDann]

Nice, I like it. A guy I used to know had a sick dumped s10 v6 but it was auto. I really like these trucks. If they are done good, that is. Too many half assed "custom low riders" that just look like trash runnin around.

[liberta]

these trucks are basically the Hondas of the minitruck world. There not too expensive, there easy to work on, parts are everywhere, there are unlimited amounts of aftermarket parts, they can look amazing if built right, but can look like **** if its not, theres 10000s of people on the s10 forums, and there easy to fall in love with.

[FazdaGt]

you dont happen to have a stock xtreme front valence around do you?

[JDober87]

i like however i like the boxy generation before this one

[liberta]

Originally Posted by FazdaGt

you dont happen to have a stock xtreme front valence around do you?

actually, i believe i still do. theres a crack in the middle of the valance like all xtremes, but its really not that bad and can be fiberglassed over. its like the same condition as the crack on mine(which i can post if u want to get an idea) i dont have any decent pics of the 02 yet... but ill try to upload some asap.

[OutToWinPAHC]

LS1/t56 swap it

[liberta]

if i get an LS-ANYTHING with a T56, its goin in the blazer lol

Unfortunately my budget isnt allowing anything more than a stock engine to go back into this truck.

[liberta]

My stepdad just pulled into my driveway with the ZQ8 on the trailer. Ill get a few pics of it in my yard when the suns actually up

[97slocav]

98+ front please. also the hop shock was an option on the 4.3 5 speed trucks. looks like asolid find. also have fun ripping that motor out. helped a friend take his out biggest pain in the ass putting it back in.

[liberta]

Originally Posted by 97slocav

98+ front please. also the hop shock was an option on the 4.3 5 speed trucks. looks like asolid find. also have fun ripping that motor out. helped a friend take his out biggest pain in the ass putting it back in.

Pulling these motors truely is a pain in the ass, ive had to do it twice to these trucks(swapped another 4.3 into my old s10 extended cab from a same model year s10). Between me and my stepdad, we can pull both motors and swap them in a weekend. unfortunately neither of us have enough time to do it at the moment, and the xtreme hasnt made it to my yard yet.

As for swapping the front clip, i was debating doing that myself, but then there comes the hassle of having to relocate all the airbag sensors in the front bumper, making a new radiator support,, and the headlights have to be completely rewired. I have most of the parts to do it, but i also dont have my xtreme valance anymore. so i'd have to buy a new front bumper as well. I agree it looks better, but its almost not worth the hassle. it already has the ZQ8/SS front valance, which IMO is cleaner than the Xtreme valance. it just needs to get rid of the chrome.

[liberta]

New Pics woohoo

























Has a pretty nice stance for a stock suspension IMO

[liberta]

ive been talking with my stepdad about the swap. a buddy of his is selling the motor and trans from an 87 buick regal t-type for a pretty down to earth price. 280 turbocharged horses of american v6 muscle. BUT the only problem is that it would have to be an auto and we dont want to ditch the stick. So now him and a few of his buddies are searching for a 4.3 sy/ty motor. that way we keep the idea of a turbo v6 zq8, but make the physical swap easier, near identical motor. it bolts directly to the trans, lines up with the engine bay itself, the only part harder than usual in this pain in the ass swap(besides getting the engine) is making the wiring harness.

[97slocav]

contact current preformance wiring. they should be able to make you one. please say you are going to ditch those taillights and mirrors

[liberta]

i like the mirrors better than the elephant ears on my blazer, so they might stay, but yea the tail lights have got to go. i already know someone who wants to buy them

[97slocav]

get the street scene cal vu's.98+ front would look good on there with the ss valance

[liberta]

i was having a similar discussion on s10forum. i like the cal-vues, but 90% of s10s with aftermarket mirrors have the cal-vues. these mirrors are just a less common part. as for the front clip, it alreadt has the legit chevy S10 SS valence equipped. they look pretty badass with the whole front clip color matched.

Reference pic: 1997 Chevy S10 SS Stepside

[97slocav]

deff looks alot better color matched.

[liberta]

the valance is a lighter shade red than the bumper, the bumper itself isnt mint, and the grill is crappy chrome. all 3 of them are getting painted victory red. and im not talking about a maaco paint job either