stepside or fleetside?

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by canadian_yeti

Well metro, i figured 3.73 or maybe 3.42 at the lowest. I do a fairly equal amount of city and highway, and my clutch already isnt in the greatest shape lol. Unfortunately to my knowledge, there are no other factory or easily usable transmission options for the 4cyl s10. If it were the V6, i could use fat more because it has the same bellhousing pattern as all SBC engines made up to the early 00's. I have thought before of usong a T56 6spd from a 98-02 camaro/trans am/corvette

That's not entirely correct.
The only V6 that could use a "SBC transmission" is a 4.3L.
The Chevy V8 pattern has stayed the same with all SBC, BBC, 4.3LV6, 6.2L and 6.5 diesel, dramamax diesel, LT, and LS serries. The only change has been the LS serries was there was 1 less bolt other wise the pattern has not changed.

The 3800 V6 has its own transmission pattern.
The 60° V6 and 4 cylinder engines I believe use the same pattern.

Your best bet is to figure out what all the gear ratios are then figure out what your lowest cruse RPM for highway driving might be. For a 4 cylinder s-10 maybe shoot for 1,800rpm at 65mph.

For example my 8L high compression big block Chevy should have a highway cruise speed of 1,400rpm at 75mph. If I remember correctly I would need a 0.5 top gear and 27 inch tire and 3:1 rear gear.

[canadian_yeti]

when I said "if it had the V6", I was referring to the only v6 that came in a second gen s10, which was the 4.3L. The 3.8 was never in an s10.

how would I go about calculating what my cruising rpm should be?

[MetroMPG]

There are a number of online gearing/speed/RPM calculators around...

eg:

Transmission Ratio RPM Calculator | Spicer Parts

If that one isn't right, do a search. There are a lot out there.

[aardvarcus]

I always wanted a Frankenstein bed, take a stepside rear and tailgate and put it on the fleetside bed, then taper in the fleetside body sides as you go back to meet up with the narrower tailgate.

[freebeard]

The bed and tailgate width would mis-match. Start with a stepside bed, cut the fenders down to an inner liner and bend the fleetside sheet metal to fit.

[canadian_yeti]

Originally Posted by freebeard

The bed and tailgate width would mis-match. Start with a stepside bed, cut the fenders down to an inner liner and bend the fleetside sheet metal to fit.

basically dove tailing a fleetside bed the way offroad guys would. getting the boat tail effect of aerodynamics, but without adding weight and length to the back of the vehicle.

well, thanks for everyones input. I think I'm gunna stick with my fleetside, put new outer bedsides on it, a roll pan, and build an aero cap

[oil pan 4]

What RPM do you run at highway speed now?

[kach22i]

Here is a S10 Fleetside bed, using your imagination you may be able to figure out that the Sportside/Sidestep is a step down, no pun intended.

http://s184.photobucket.com/user/kac...?sort=3&page=1

[freebeard]

I think I'm gunna stick with my fleetside, put new outer bedsides on it, a roll pan, and build an aero cap

It's hard to go wrong with frenched 59 Caddy taillights



Instead of a 50s-style sheet metal pan with a frenched license plate, consider a rear valance from a late-model junker. Compare:


http://www.bodykits.com/c-1265984-shop-by-vehicle-scion-frs-rear-bumper.html

These both fit the Subaru BRZ. The first one could be done as a sheet metal pan with sharkfin fences; I prefer the second one for the cut-line and the skegs.

[canadian_yeti]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

What RPM do you run at highway speed now?

I cruise at 100km/h on the highway(65mph I think) and it hovers around 2800-3000rpm. just a rough guess but I would think 3.73's would put me closer to 2000 and 3.42's would put me around 1500. not sure how bad it would effect acceleration and take off though. I shift at 2000rpm as much as possible. shift light comes on around 2600 depending on throttle position. if I shift any lower than 2000, it doesnt seem to like it and falls on its face