LS-Powered Chevy S10 is Ready to Stomp Sports Cars

Chevy S10 is a slick sleeper in its current form, but this compact pickup has tons of potential.

While flipping through the Marketplace section of our sibling site, LS1Tech.com, we came across this 1997 Chevy S10 pickup. It was listed for sale by “ACLR8R”, who had planned to add more power and run in the 10s, but when life took an unexpected direction, he decided to sell the truck instead.

As a result, anyone looking for a turnkey, LS-powered S10 might find this compact Chevy to be the perfect project truck. In fact, it could be driven and enjoyed in its current state, but for someone who wants to build a crazy-quick S10, much of the work has already been completed.

The Introduction

When the OP posted his 1997 Chevy S10 on LS1Tech, he included all of the information that a prospective buyer could want, including a detailed modification list that is broken down into areas of the vehicle. The post is long and if you are really interested in all of the details, you should head over to the original thread, but we have pulled out the key details.

Truck runs great and is very quick. Fresh Dyno tune by Aaron from All Out Tuning. Made 359rwhp ad 335 rwtq on a 2nd gear pull. Tuner said it would be about 5% higher in 3rd. Was planning on running a 200 shot, and running in the 10’s but life happens.

Will need some finishing touches to be perfect, but is a great driver as is. Almost ready for paint, but I was happy with the primer.

2005 5.3 (freshened up about 10k miles ago, good rods)
4.8 Flat top pistons (approx 11-1 compression)
Torquer V2 Cam
Rebuilt 706 heads milled .20
Ceramic Coated headers
Single 3in exhaust

4l60e built by Sean at Top Gear Motorsports
3200 FTI billet converter
Big Trans Cooler

8.8 Rearend swap
3.73 limited slip

New Tubular upper control arms, and lower ball joints

17×9.5 with 275 front
17×11 with 315/35/17 rear

The OP only included one picture with his original post, but he later added a Craigslist post with more pictures. More importantly, the OP included the two videos here, allowing us to watch the LS-powered Chevy pickup workout on the dyno.

Drive It or Build It

The seller planned to add a 200-shot of nitrous and shoot for the 10-second range, but in its current form, the power levels would make this S10 surprisingly quick on the street. Provided that it could get off of the line cleanly, this truck could run in the low 13s or high 12s, but tacking on another 200 horsepower should lead to a small Chevy pickup that can run in the 10s.

This S10 is listed for $6,500 and it is ready to drive and enjoy, but if the buyer invested a couple grand on a nitrous setup, a custom tune and a decent paint job, this Chevy truck would be one wicked sleeper.

Join the Chevrolet Forums now!

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

Facebook   Twitter