S10 into a competitive Autocrosser?

So last weekend I competed in my first autocross and it was a blast! The problem is now that I need to go again and I don't think that my sister is wild about me borrowing her car each month to wear out the tires. The Stag is about 80% done but not on the road, and once it is I don't think that it will competitive on an autocross course. I don't have any where to put another cheap car so I am stuck with what I got. What I got is a 1987 S10 that I've been driving since I got my license that I could modify. So what can I do to it to make it a competitive autocross um truck. It has a tired 2.5L Iron duke 4 mated to a 4 speed, so it isn't exactly a speed demon. Does anyone know if there are any classes (SCCA) that it would be a good fit for? Should I yank the old 4 and drop in an LSX? The only real requirement is that it has to retain a usable bed and not be too radical that it can't make the odd trip as a spare vehicle. So what says the hive mind?

Any chance you can co-drive?

VonSmallhausen wrote: Does anyone know if there are any classes (SCCA) that it would be a good fit for? Should I yank the old 4 and drop in an LSX? The only real requirement is that it has to retain a usable bed and not be too radical that it can't make the odd trip as a spare vehicle. So what says the hive mind?

They just changed the rules to allow trucks in street mod. You could throw a V8 in, slap some slicks on, and have plenty of allowances in the suspension department. You're never going to win a national title with the thing, but I'm sure you could make it damn fun with some power and stick.

Also, welcome to the addiction :)

needs moar ZQ8 suspension bits

I know someone who used to run a ZQ8 option S10 in HS, but I don't think you can do that with an 87 (The class).

According to Wikipedia "The suspension package can be retrofit to any 1982-2003 2wd S-Series truck, although some parts require modification, such as drilling for sway bar mounts or boring the hub on the wheels for a 1982-1993 truck. Also of note, since the package came on I4 and V6 trucks, spring rates in the coils do vary." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZQ8

So that gives you an easy start on the suspension department.

A truck will never likely be competitive. I just don't see where you could find a class it would work well in. You can make it work and be a hoot of fun though.

I would say run the Stag. You will never be nationally competitive with either with our massive amount of work and I think the Stag would be a lot more fun then an S10.

Didn't William Prince used to post here with an S10 with a mid-mounted V8? Probably more work than you're planning on, though.

In reply to MadScientistMatt:

And AWD too, wasn't it? It's a shame we lost him, he was one of the crazies. :(

There is a guy in San Francisco region SCCA that autocrosses an 4 cylinder S10 in FSP. It's pretty quick for something that can haul large furnature.

Do a quick internet search on road racing S10s. There's a few of them out there. I remember one girl who built a tube frame chassis for hers, complete with the appropriate racing suspension set up, but that may be overkill for you. I've driven some S10s, and with not too much work, they can haul azz.

IIRC, there was a team at GM who built an S10 for SCCA Autocross about 10 years ago. I think it did pretty well.

Just make sure the S10 is safe and go have fun. You will get better quickly when driving a stock or near stock machine. It forces you to be smooth. Spend time and money on seat time and finish the Stag.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzO7OfyqSTY

I'd do a simple V8 swap... I went to Highscool with a guy that built one under 2500 including truck purchase. It was a basically stock 350 with 700r4 and a rowdy shift kit. He didn't upgrade from the 4cyl rear diff though and killed about 4 axles doing burnouts in the parking lot at school, so you should upgrade that.

Or just save your money and drive it in turd form till stag is done.

Chebby wheel pattern can't be hard to find on Craigslist.

I'd do a cheap set of 7-8" wheels, one of the new street tires like the Rival or the ZII, a big front bar and maybe lower it a tiny bit.

Then I'd give a e36m3 about classing and get some seat time. If you can learn to get on the gas early in the truck, you'll be fast in anything.

Simple answer: yes.

More complex and arcane answer: a S10 is a GM metric chassis with leaf springs in back. They have been raced for years elsewhere in different forms.

It is as easy as using the XYZ "class killer"? No, but to be better then the best is never easy. This is why you see Miata, E30, E36, etc mentioned all the time around here. Reinventing the wheel with those choices.

ill leave this here: http://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?43374-project-drivabeater&highlight=drivabeater

front:

drop spindles 1/2 coil cut stock car tubular uppers zq8 sway bar

rear:

3" drop leafs 2" blocks zq8 sway bar

17x8 wheels 245/45/17 rubber

handles like it's glued to the ground, and the 4.3 is plenty for the light truck.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Patgrizz gave me a bit of what I was looking for, a recipe for a good handling S10 haha. The more I have thought about it I think that yes seat time is really just what I need, so I plan on just cleaning up the truck and getting it ready to work as a good basic autocrosser.

http://protourings10.com/index.php?action=forum

Like you said, get some seat time. Doubt the S10 will set FTD, but you should have fun with it.

Our LeMons car "The Boat" is a '94 S10. Ran it last year with a relatively stock suspension. We had a monster sway bar in it, forget what it came out of. It handled decently on a road course, but wallows a lot and had to be "b!tch slapped" around the course. In quick, fast corners of an autox, it may be a challenge. So any mods to help control body flop will be a huge help. One thing you may want to look at is the steering. If you can swap in a quicker box, that should make a huge difference. Ours was like piloting...well, a boat. Among other things, we're putting in a quicker ratio box for this year.

http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f178/budget-handling-manifesto-425588/

its a how to.

He he he the boat. I was not in attendance but the team I usually go to lemons with rammed it last year

Just when I think I am over my old 83 s10 you guys always bring them up again. Then I have to go to craigslist and spend an hour making a list of possibles.

dean1484 wrote: Just when I think I am over my old 83 s10 you guys always bring them up again. Then I have to go to craigslist and spend an hour making a list of possibles.

You're welcome!!!

Make sure it's safe and go have fun. You already have a project in the Stag and autocross season is upon us. Would you rather be out driving or stuck in the garage wrenching?