[Project] Budget Lifted "Slonoma"

06camarodude · 08-22-2008, 09:02 PM

Well, I had a thread in the 2nd gen forum going about my project, but I think this is going to be a better place for it. . .

First off, I guess I'll start out at the beginning. Here are some pictures of my Sonoma when I bought it. It was basically a stock 1994 Sonoma 4.3 Auto 4X4 with a 2" body lift. Black in color, with a B&M Shift Kit and a B&M Electronic Shift Controller. The front end was pretty banged up, it was missing a side view mirror and the carpet, and there was mud all over the interior, which led me to believe that this truck had seen some action.

06camarodude · 08-22-2008, 09:13 PM

Most of the work I had done to the truck since purchasing it was mechanical in nature, primarily to improve the performance and reliability of the truck, as well as repairing some issues that the truck had upon purchasing it. Until recently, that is.

Within the past couple of weeks, I decided that I wanted to get the truck fixed up a bit. To accomplish this, I decided to make it more of an "Off-Road Vehicle." The tires on the truck needed replacing, and a friend of mine had a set of 31"x11"x15" Thornbird tires, so I put those on the stock rims, and I was very impressed with the new stance.

Today, I decided to install a bumper that I obtained a year or so ago for this vehicle, I believe it's from a 98+ S10, but I'm not sure exactly what it is from.

I also picked up a full brush guard and installed it on the truck, and began formulating my plans for the vehicle, which I plan to share when I am able to solidify them further.

Here are some pictures of the truck as it sits currently.

radarblue95 · 08-23-2008, 01:32 AM

that brush guard is massive

06camarodude · 08-23-2008, 03:06 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by radarblue95

that brush guard is massive

That's what I said. . . It was made for a Tacoma, but I got it cheap, so I thought I'd make it work. . . lol I think it looks pretty cool, so I'll keep it there until something else comes along.

Next project is to chase down all of the clunks/bangs/squeaks in the suspension, which is probably going to entail replacing all of the bushings, but it needs it anyway.

Suggestions and opinions are welcome!

4x4zr2GA · 08-23-2008, 03:49 PM

you could just cut the side guards off that go arund the headlights, flip them to the opposite sides and flip them upside down and they would follow the s10 headlights perfectly.

06camarodude · 08-23-2008, 11:53 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by 4x4zr2GA

you could just cut the side guards off that go arund the headlights, flip them to the opposite sides and flip them upside down and they would follow the s10 headlights perfectly.

That's my next project. . . In addition to some better brackets. . .

Outlawz24 · 08-24-2008, 04:45 PM

Looks fine as is given the guards follow the lines of the wheel well alright as well..

06camarodude · 08-24-2008, 08:12 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Outlawz24

Looks fine as is given the guards follow the lines of the wheel well alright as well..

Good point, I didn't really notice that. . . Maybe I will leave it as is. . .

New development. . . I took the truck off road today, just driving through a field of high grass and some hills, nothing too bad. I shifted it into 4LO to have a little fun, and the truck blew the Gauges fuse, causing the truck to get stuck in 3rd gear, the gauges to stop working, and basically causing me to freak out. Replaced the fuse, limped it home, having to replace it twice more before getting home, and I've been chasing possible solutions around the truck all afternoon. I'm stumped now, after fixing a bunch of other problems, I have no idea how to solve the original problem. Replacing the fuses seems to solve the problem until it blows again, which is about a mile after I replace it. . .

radarblue95 · 08-24-2008, 08:47 PM

i dunno if i like it the main supports look way to big compared to the truck and they dont follow the profile of the truck at all

06camarodude · 08-26-2008, 03:10 AM

So, I just saw the movie "I Am Legend". . . The Expedition that Will Smith was driving throughout the movie gave me a lot of ideas, and I decided to go a similar route with my truck.

I didn't want to give up too much information, but I think I'll lay out some of my plans for you guys. . .

Paint Color: Flat Black-Because I can get flat black Tractor Enamel (REALLY durable paint, BTW) for like $110/gallon.

Lift: Maybe add 3-4" through cranking the T-Bars and flipping the rear axle. That's the most I want.

Rims: I'd like some black steelies, maybe some Crager Soft 8's in black.

Tires: Stick with what I've got for now, then do some trimming and try to fit some 33" BFG All Terrain's under there.

Lighting: Still undecided on whether I want a roll bar or a Safari Basket. Whichever route I go, I will have several off-road lights, facing all directions.

Engine/Trans: Engine might get a CAI or something, but it's staying mostly stock for now. Transmission is already modified, so I'm not touching it.

Suspension: Working on upgrading to polyurethane suspension bushings. Then I'm going to go over the suspension with a fine-tooth comb and replace problem parts, clean up the rest.

Anything else will be covered later. . . I'll post up some pictures of my ideas after I find some that I like. . . I have yet to see a Sonoma that looks like what I want mine to look like when it's done. . .

08-22-2008, 09:02 PM	#1
06camarodude Registered User Age: 20 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 82 Location: User is: OffLine	[Project] Budget Lifted "Slonoma" Well, I had a thread in the 2nd gen forum going about my project, but I think this is going to be a better place for it. . . First off, I guess I'll start out at the beginning. Here are some pictures of my Sonoma when I bought it. It was basically a stock 1994 Sonoma 4.3 Auto 4X4 with a 2" body lift. Black in color, with a B&M Shift Kit and a B&M Electronic Shift Controller. The front end was pretty banged up, it was missing a side view mirror and the carpet, and there was mud all over the interior, which led me to believe that this truck had seen some action.
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-22-2008, 09:13 PM	#2
06camarodude Registered User Age: 20 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 82 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: [Project] Budget Lifted "Slonoma" Most of the work I had done to the truck since purchasing it was mechanical in nature, primarily to improve the performance and reliability of the truck, as well as repairing some issues that the truck had upon purchasing it. Until recently, that is. Within the past couple of weeks, I decided that I wanted to get the truck fixed up a bit. To accomplish this, I decided to make it more of an "Off-Road Vehicle." The tires on the truck needed replacing, and a friend of mine had a set of 31"x11"x15" Thornbird tires, so I put those on the stock rims, and I was very impressed with the new stance. Today, I decided to install a bumper that I obtained a year or so ago for this vehicle, I believe it's from a 98+ S10, but I'm not sure exactly what it is from. I also picked up a full brush guard and installed it on the truck, and began formulating my plans for the vehicle, which I plan to share when I am able to solidify them further. Here are some pictures of the truck as it sits currently.
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-23-2008, 01:32 AM	#3
radarblue95 Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2,553 Location: Jaffrey NH User is: OffLine	Re: [Project] Budget Lifted "Slonoma" that brush guard is massive
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-23-2008, 03:06 AM	#4
06camarodude Registered User Age: 20 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 82 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: [Project] Budget Lifted "Slonoma" Quote: Originally Posted by radarblue95 that brush guard is massive That's what I said. . . It was made for a Tacoma, but I got it cheap, so I thought I'd make it work. . . lol I think it looks pretty cool, so I'll keep it there until something else comes along. Next project is to chase down all of the clunks/bangs/squeaks in the suspension, which is probably going to entail replacing all of the bushings, but it needs it anyway. Suggestions and opinions are welcome!
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-23-2008, 03:49 PM	#5
4x4zr2GA boar huntin' fool Age: 22 Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 917 Location: warner robins, GA User is: Online	Re: [Project] Budget Lifted "Slonoma" you could just cut the side guards off that go arund the headlights, flip them to the opposite sides and flip them upside down and they would follow the s10 headlights perfectly.
	[Reply w/Quote]


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08-23-2008, 11:53 PM	#6
06camarodude Registered User Age: 20 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 82 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: [Project] Budget Lifted "Slonoma" Quote: Originally Posted by 4x4zr2GA you could just cut the side guards off that go arund the headlights, flip them to the opposite sides and flip them upside down and they would follow the s10 headlights perfectly. That's my next project. . . In addition to some better brackets. . .
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-24-2008, 04:45 PM	#7
Outlawz24 Drifting Nomad Age: 25 Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 495 Location: Lloydminster Sask Canada User is: OffLine	Re: [Project] Budget Lifted "Slonoma" Looks fine as is given the guards follow the lines of the wheel well alright as well..
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-24-2008, 08:12 PM	#8
06camarodude Registered User Age: 20 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 82 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: [Project] Budget Lifted "Slonoma" Quote: Originally Posted by Outlawz24 Looks fine as is given the guards follow the lines of the wheel well alright as well.. Good point, I didn't really notice that. . . Maybe I will leave it as is. . . New development. . . I took the truck off road today, just driving through a field of high grass and some hills, nothing too bad. I shifted it into 4LO to have a little fun, and the truck blew the Gauges fuse, causing the truck to get stuck in 3rd gear, the gauges to stop working, and basically causing me to freak out. Replaced the fuse, limped it home, having to replace it twice more before getting home, and I've been chasing possible solutions around the truck all afternoon. I'm stumped now, after fixing a bunch of other problems, I have no idea how to solve the original problem. Replacing the fuses seems to solve the problem until it blows again, which is about a mile after I replace it. . .
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-24-2008, 08:47 PM	#9
radarblue95 Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2,553 Location: Jaffrey NH User is: OffLine	Re: [Project] Budget Lifted "Slonoma" i dunno if i like it the main supports look way to big compared to the truck and they dont follow the profile of the truck at all
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-26-2008, 03:10 AM	#10
06camarodude Registered User Age: 20 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 82 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: [Project] Budget Lifted "Slonoma" So, I just saw the movie "I Am Legend". . . The Expedition that Will Smith was driving throughout the movie gave me a lot of ideas, and I decided to go a similar route with my truck. I didn't want to give up too much information, but I think I'll lay out some of my plans for you guys. . . Paint Color: Flat Black-Because I can get flat black Tractor Enamel (REALLY durable paint, BTW) for like $110/gallon. Lift: Maybe add 3-4" through cranking the T-Bars and flipping the rear axle. That's the most I want. Rims: I'd like some black steelies, maybe some Crager Soft 8's in black. Tires: Stick with what I've got for now, then do some trimming and try to fit some 33" BFG All Terrain's under there. Lighting: Still undecided on whether I want a roll bar or a Safari Basket. Whichever route I go, I will have several off-road lights, facing all directions. Engine/Trans: Engine might get a CAI or something, but it's staying mostly stock for now. Transmission is already modified, so I'm not touching it. Suspension: Working on upgrading to polyurethane suspension bushings. Then I'm going to go over the suspension with a fine-tooth comb and replace problem parts, clean up the rest. Anything else will be covered later. . . I'll post up some pictures of my ideas after I find some that I like. . . I have yet to see a Sonoma that looks like what I want mine to look like when it's done. . .
	[Reply w/Quote]

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