95 S-10 Truggy Build

[underpowered]

1 1/4 is overkill for the lowers. granted, overkill is good, but 7/8" are fine. Most guys i know only run 7/8" without issue and is all i am running. Unless you beat it like a bouncer, you don't "need" 1 1/4 heims. especially on the uppers, they see far less stress than the lower do.

as for the tube, once again, overkill is not a bad thing and strength greatly depends on your over all length of the links themselves. a longer link will need a stronger material to better resist bending.

[underpowered]

Originally Posted by Waffle

Thing is, you're running 36" tires and a 10 bolt front axle where as Kevin currently runs 40" tires on 1 tons so that's not an equal comparison, you won't be wheeling where he does (no offense). Kevin might be seen at Haspin now and then, but this rig will live at the toughest obstacles at Harlan and Windrock where the stresses involved are much higher. We're talking about the need to not just survive class 5 obstacles, but the need to survive them over and over and over. Ever been in Rattlerock at Windrock from beginning to end? How about Grape Vine at Harlan in the rain? Ever see a heim break or pull out of it's threads? It's not pretty and has a tendacy to have a domino effect by breaking other parts, especially on a front 3 link. (a broken front 3 link heim can be so catastrophic that just getting it back to camp and on a trailer could be the biggest challenge). Btw, SRRS bouncers don't run $48 1-1/4" heims, they run the $100 ones at min on up to $150 a piece builder ball joints. Big difference. For example. You can buy a cheap 7/8" heim for $20 from one place or a higher quality Aurora 7/8" x 7/8" heims for $70 ea at another place. A cheap 1-1/4" for $48 ea or an Aurora 1-1/4" for $90. Lot's to consider here. It's all about compromises between strength/wear/cost/service life. FK is another good brand btw. Watch out for anything made in China. And remember, heim size is directly related to bolt and thread shank diameter.

I would never trust cheap 7/8 heims in 2" x 1/4" lower links on a 5k lb rig where this pic was taken.

Actually I am on one tons and 38.5's currently, it will be placed everywhere Kevin plans on taking his in Harlan, the badlands etc.. I understand the compromise, but as i said, it is not just me. A few guys i know (not on here) run nothing more than good 7/8" heims on their full size rigs. If you think you need 1 1/4, then by all means get them but i am just saying they are most likely overkill.

It is a lot of personal preference i guess. I'd have no concern with 2" 1/4 wall and 7/8" heims in that spot of your pic. Only time i have ever seen a 7/8" break is in a hard roll with lots of side load on them, but i've seen plenty of 1 1/4" break in that same situation as well.

[93 Krawler]

I was under my rig yesterday looking at everything I would have to transfer/redo on the s10 and decided it would better and quicker to just use the full size frame and put the s10 cab on it. My down time on the rig will probably be a little longer, but I think the overall time will be much quicker. Not having to take the drive train out will be a big help. I just have to decide when I want to stop wheelin the truck and tear it down. I still have the RZR to take on the trips.

I did some measuring and I like the numbers.

Full Size:                                    S-10:

Frame width - 45"                             Frame width - 34.5" (10.5" smaller)

Body width at rocker - 72"                    Body width at rocker - 61" (11" smaller)

Frame height - 9.5"                           Frame height - 5.5" - (4" smaller)

Cab length - 57"                              Cab length - 70" - (13" bigger)

Cab mount to top of cab - 52.5"               Cab mount to top of cab - 47.5" (5" shorter)

Overall height minus exo - 82"                Overall height after swap no exo - 77"

[underpowered]

Downtime will be longer, but overall build time should be shorter i would guess. seems like a pretty viable option.

[93 Krawler]

Been doing what I can till I rip the other one apart. Hit u pull for some parts. Replaced the ignition switch, and no more starter issues. Found a non a/c blower box to get rid of the huge a/c one. What a difference. Thanks Mark!! Had to replace most of the interior. Pulled the suspension seats out of rig to get them fitted in this one. I really like the space in the cab. I was expecting to feel cramped compared to the full size, but I wasn't at all. It is nice to be able to recline my seat without hitting the back window. Still looking for an auto console so the shifter will be between the seats. The stock 1500 4x4 shifter should work out in the s10 cab.
I decided to tear the rig apart after the Windrock trip in September. Hoping to have it done by the Harlan southern shine in May. That's about 9 months...

[93 Krawler]

The cab comes off tonight. I will work on wiring and other interior stuff until its time to chop up the rig.