My 'day off' daily driven project.

[copenhagen311]

cool i love the rear bumper i must go pick up one from the junkyard and start on one of my own i love it..sweet truck btw

[01cherryreds10]

Seeing how clean your work is, I'm sure that'll be one of the nicest conversions ever done to an S10.

[OneLowSdime]

definatly watching this build pan out looks very very nice

[TA^Guy]

Thanks. I've had some problems with the truck and have to work on getting it to pass inspection first but I hope to start the frontend sometime this month. I'd like to get the front done and a few other things done before August for Carisle.

[01cherryreds10]

Didn't you just drop in a fresh 4.3? What was wrong with it?

[TA^Guy]

Yeah I did. It actually had 13,xxx miles on it

However I just had to replace my lowering blocks, one split on me.

I have been fighting with the O2 sensor for weeks now. I keep breaking 3/8" extensions so I stepped up to 1/2" I'll try it tomorrow. I even warm the engine up to warm up the exhaust and put a MAP gas torch to it and it still wont budge.

Other codes it's throwing are knock sensor and MAF sensor... I'll check those again after I fix the O2.

[TA^Guy]

Ok, replaced the O2 sensor, reset the computer and drove it for two weeks wth no light so I got it inspected. WOOT!

Now maybe next week if the weather is nice I can get started on the front!

I'm so excited.

[TA^Guy]

Started cutting today....
Getting started... removed stock stuff.

Made my cuts. Cut fender, inner fender and radiator support.


Test fit. I have about 1/4" on the side to cut out and then have to trim the underside of the hood for clearance.



I have to drive my son to day care tomorrow and it's suppose to rain so I tack welded the radiator support panel back in and put the stock grill and lights in for the time being. I don't know how noticable it is but I cut out a great deal of the radiator support. I'll end up using boxing in the support and braces from the support to the fenders when I'm finished.

I also think I might have cut the side 1/2" too much. I'll see when I take out the little notch I need to remove at the bottom. If so I'll weld in a little filler when I make the flange.

[01cherryreds10]

Will you be still using the stock bumper or are you gonna be modding it a little to make the headlights appear more homey?

[TA^Guy]

Yes I plan on making the lights fit the bumper a little better but I'm not positive how just yet. I was thinking of welding in a strip of metal at a 45 degree angle that follows the same lines as the light.

We'll see that is one of my last obsticals to overcome.

[TA^Guy]

More photos. I trimmed some of the hood back tonight to clear the new light. Once everything is cut and the light is test fitted where I want it all these openings will have panels welded in to close them up and finish them off.

[TA^Guy]

Another random photo to show how much was needed to be removed.

[blazerxkid]

nice bro

[DJDAudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by TA^Guy

Started cutting today....



I have to drive my son to day care tomorrow and it's suppose to rain so I tack welded the radiator support panel back in and put the stock grill and lights in for the time being. I don't know how noticable it is but I cut out a great deal of the radiator support. I'll end up using boxing in the support and braces from the support to the fenders when I'm finished.

I also think I might have cut the side 1/2" too much. I'll see when I take out the little notch I need to remove at the bottom. If so I'll weld in a little filler when I make the flange.

\
my bumper is rusting in that exact same spot lol

[TA^Guy]

I was waiting for someone to comment on that. lol

[thingsthatfly2]

hey take off the front body kit and use a diferent valance.. and slide the bumper up.... or just get a full bumper cover it should close up that gap.... lookin nice!

[98layinframe]

those look pretty fockin badass! Cant wait to see them installed... hope they look just as clean when its all said and done! What you doing grill wise?

[TA^Guy]

Quote: Originally Posted by thingsthatfly2

hey take off the front body kit and use a diferent valance.. and slide the bumper up.... or just get a full bumper cover it should close up that gap.... lookin nice!

Already thought of a different valance for it but havent found one I like with the Xtrme rockers except the one by wings west, but I'm not positive if I like how far it sticks out. Might buy one and just have two different ones to swap between.

As for the bumper I plan on welding metal to the bumper below the lights at the same angle and curve of the lights.

Quote: Originally Posted by 98layinframe

those look pretty fockin badass! Cant wait to see them installed... hope they look just as clean when its all said and done! What you doing grill wise?

I think I posted a photo of the grill. It's a '06+ TrailBlazer grill.

[TA^Guy]

I havent been able to work on it much lately but today I got a few more hours in. A lot of little trimming here and there to make it fit just right.

Now it's about where I want it so time to get started on the other side and then on to making the mounts.




This one shows how much I will have to modify the hood, fender and also the front bumper.

[AmericanMuscle]

looks like a hell of alot of work, but you do good work so i'd love to see the finished product.

[TA^Guy]

Well I never expected it to be easy that is for sure. lol

Thanks, I'd say my work is average at best, lol. Just wish I could get my beater going and take this off the road the build. I think Id get so much more done that way.

[gowiththeflow]

oh man thats so nice, ur driving it as a daily while doing all those mods?

[thingsthatfly2]

.....woa.. if thats ur daily i give props... lol

i give props anyway.. front end looks cool

[TA^Guy]

Yup its my daily. Got a little bit of work done today but had to leave. I left it torn apart, going to do a little more tomorrow before work and take the motorcycle to work since it's supposed to be nice out for once. For the past few weeks all my days off ended up raining.

Today I made the bracket to support the battery tray. For now I'm going to cut the factory tray but on a rainy day I'll work inside and make a custom battery tray that is smaller and fits the RedTop like a glove.


Also got most of the passengers side radiator support cut. Just have to make a notch in the front near the radiator and cut and box the top of the support.

[fox23]

work looks really good, i like the bumper idea, not so much with the spider web tho.

[xtucking22s]

i looooooooove those headlights. goodluck! looks good so far

[kronicking1]

looks good

[TA^Guy]

Test fitting both lights so I can mark the location to drill for the brackets.


A shot of the top mounted bracket and the lower before it was drilled out.

[blazedime]

Any updates on this build???????????

[vortec97]

yea...what he said...

[TA^Guy]

Lights are in but I need to lower the insides.

The wiring was a real PITA!

Using stock harness the parking and turn signals worked ok, but as soon as the headlights came on the others would go out. High beams on they worked fine. I tired all sorts of stuff I ended up cutting each light free from the harness and wiring it myself. I went through so many connectors I just twisted them together for now because I finished at midnight the other night.




The photo was taken the other day, I just lowered the inside of the lights 1/4". The fenders still hang over the lights, but the hood isn't long enough to cover the lights so it gives it that illusion from a low angle that the hood is up higher than it really is. Ijus thave to trim the bottom of the hood stops so they don't hit the lights when the hood is closed.

Headed to the parts store right now for some more connectors to clean up the ghetto wiring job.

[AmericanMuscle]

looks good!