Bodydropping my ex cab

[xmb63]

I might as well start a thread here everybody likes pictures of trucks getting cut up.
Here is the truck after I got it bagged I drove it around like this for the summer until the motor started giving me problems. Then I figured its time to body drop it and throw a 350 in there.



The cabs dropped I slid it back 3/4" to center the wheels and angled the fillers. The seat pans are also dropped to get back some head room. I will be using integra buckets the mounting for the seat rails are flat so this will make mounting them much easier.






I had to swap out the upper control arms to a set of SD arms I got in a trade. The stock pie cut upper were hitting the exhaust manifold and steering shaft layed out.



The motor is about ready to come out.



Here is how it sits.

[xmb63]

I plan on keeping the heat and ac the heater box fits back in with the firewall welded up.

[98layinframe]

lookin good man, where'd ya get the motor from? is that ryans one out of his old car.. vega i think?


OHh and I hate how fast you did this thing..but you already know that. :haha

[xmb63]

Yea the motor is out of the ventura. I still have to get it off of him.

[xmb63]

Frame horns dropped and plated.

Firewall seam sealed and painted.

jm5 booster looks like it will clear the tire

[2.2X-10]

keep it up

[98layinframe]

lookin good joe, did ya have to drop the frame horns a little more then the cab due to the frame?



also.. im interested to see if and how well the heater box fits back in my first gen too.. did you have the stock one in your old orange first gen truck?

[xmb63]

I dropped the frame horns an 1/8" more than the cab so if I need to shim it to get everything to line up I can. I didn't have heat in the first gen, I hated that. The windows would fog up I carried a towel with me to wipe the fog off. Everything I build from now on I'm gonna keep the climate control stuff.

[BlackCrossFab]

Looks good dude keep up the hard work!

[xmb63]

Test fitting the motor.

[98layinframe]

lookin good! what pulley setup is that, where they from? Liken them since they will clear the stock hood!

[xmb63]

They are march pulleys their ryans, he wants them back. Im gonna run the stock setup from the s10. The power steering pulley is close to the steering box but I still need to get the motor lined up.

[xmb63]

Heres the link to them on summit.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MCH-22021-09/

[xmb63]

Motor mounts are made and I got the motor mounted. It looks like the stock hood will clear.

[xmb63]

I started working on my truck again I have the motor in for the last time and bolted down. I started on my exhaust manifolds. My welder was acting up so the welds aren't the best but I think they will be fine.

[xmb63]

I got the other manifold made I still need to weld on the down tubes and flanges.

[xmb63]

I had my dad laser cut my flanges and drilled and tapped them for the studs.

[xmb63]

I have gotten a decent amount of work done on this the past week. All the accessories are on the motor ,I have gotten a belt for them but took the picture before I put it on. I got the drivers side exhaust done I still need to finish up the passenger side. I'm hoping by next weekend to at least hear the motor run.

[98layinframe]

lookin good joe, did you modify the frame or modify the oil pan to get the motor to sit so low? What tranny are you running?

[xmb63]

I sectioned the cross member. I'm running a nv3500 tranny I think I might need to trim like .5" off the bottom of the bell housing its gonna be close ill have to see when I get it back on the ground.

[xmb63]

I used 1/4" plate to box it back in.

[xmb63]

The exhaust is finished I used the stock y pipe for now I'm going to redo it with duals later on.



I built the new blower box.



Test fitting the blower box in the firewall it still needs a little trimming

[deadman]

any updates?

[xmb63]

Not really I've been busy with other projects. I bagged the front of my 54 and lowered the back, and fixed the clutch in my Nissan. Hopefully I can get back to work on this soon.

[xmb63]

I worked on it for a few hours last night. I got the dash back in and wired up, and got the blower box finished.

[LowerdXpectations]

looks good, I like how you did the floor of the cab.

[dualthrush2s]

that cad is tits

[98layinframe]

Love the blower box setup. I still need to figure something out for the first gen. Doh.

[ridinlow]

Quote: Originally Posted by xmb63

I plan on keeping the heat and ac the heater box fits back in with the firewall welded up.

Any more pics of how you did this? I like this idea.

[xmb63]

No, the pictures in the thread are the only ones I took. The trucks mostly back together now I'm hoping to have it running by the weekend.

[laid91dime]

love that blower box good idea

[xmb63]

The water pump pulley is damn close to the fans. There was an 1/8" until I trimmed the fan housing. Dodge stratus fans fit perfect in the s10 radiator.



Im keeping the stock wiring for now Id like to swap a fuel injected motor in down the line but couldnt pass up the deal on this motor.

[xmb63]

I finally pulled the truck out of the garage. It feels good to see it outside after being in the garage for a year. It runs pretty good, absolutely no traction. I snapped a few pics they are dark ill have to take some when its light out.

[RQCustoms]

now all you have to do is get rid of those wheels and you're set.

[xmb63]

I like them they are staying for now. Next on the list is the body and paint.

[98layinframe]

looks good Joe, like how the bed is completely factory looking at first glance. So is the truck all done, or many things you still wanna / need to do?

[xmb63]

There are a few interior pieces that need put back in. I hate the 2 link I'm going to make it a 3 link. Then just bodywork and paint. Hopefully by then its spring and I can daily drive it.

[xmb63]

I also want to put a York edc on and get the ac working by summer.

[mafiacustomz]

them headers are not going to flow good at all

[xmb63]

I figure they should flow about the same as stock manifolds. I didn't have a lot of room to work with.

[xmb63]

This is the thread that gave me the idea for the headers.
http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f143/b...eaders-290705/

[98layinframe]

Yeah body drops and lowered motors equate to next to zero exhaust room on these trucks.

[gunther19820]

I am confused with you lowering the motor. How far down did you lower it?

I have a SBC/Auto in my truck...I think I may only have a couple inches between the trans pan and the ground when I am laid out. And my aircleaner is touching my hood now (im not bodied yet)..

[xmb63]

I'm not sure how far its lowered but the oil pan is about an inch from the ground. I had to trim the bracing on the hood to clear the air filter. I'm not a fan of cowl hoods is rather do the extra work to keep the stock one.

[xmb63]

A little update to this thread, I finished up the body work and painted the truck for carlisle this past weekend here are a few pics my buddy took of it at the show.