Local Legend Don't Call It An S10

[the bodj]

This is a bit more work than I anticipated.

As it sits, there is plenty of room to fit either the engine and trans oil coolers in front of the radiator, OR just the AC condenser. I have to trim up the grill heavily to fit all at once, which I’m probably gonna end up doing. Then I’ll replace the grill with mesh or something. Anyways, I need to get all the coolers mounted, make the upper rad hold down out, find hoses that work, add fluids, and drive!

 

[Dirtfiend602]

Looks good Kevin… what ac condenser are you running? Just a thought but the mid 2000’s srt8 jeep and 300c condenser is super thing and works well. We ran them on the rally fighters and the fittings were the same as GM

 

[the bodj]

Looks good Kevin… what ac condenser are you running? Just a thought but the mid 2000’s srt8 jeep and 300c condenser is super thing and works well. We ran them on the rally fighters and the fittings were the same as GM

Thanks Ryan. I was going to reuse the stock Sonoma condenser. It is very thin and fits perfectly agains the radiator. It doesn’t look like the jeep one is any thinner. I’ll just have tk take the truck to a local AC shop and have lines made.

 

[FasterNU]

I forgot you were having engine cooling issues. My vote is to try to keep those trans coolers in front! LOL

 

[the bodj]

I forgot you were having engine cooling issues. My vote is to try to keep those trans coolers in front! LOL

Yup! Looks like it should all fit with a bit more trimming of the grill

 

[the bodj]

Got the radiator hold down done and all of the coolers mounted and hooked up. Was a pain in the butt getting the hold down to be rigid enough since I don't have any tubework nearby. I wanted to add some sort of heimed turnbuckle deal, but no room/nowhere to hook it up. I ended up using the long flat piece to cinch down the upper mounts. But then each side was letting it flex independently, so I connected those hoes and it's nice and solid. I was able to use part of the stock upper radiator hose and found part of a lower radiator hose at NAPA last night. I still need to make lower tabs for the coolers, but I wanted to see it all together. I need to address my trans pan leak. Not sure what's going on, but it's a brand new gasket with two short trips on it. I freaking hate draining trans fluid.







The top cooler is engine oil and bottom two are trans. Decided not to mount my AC condenser right now. I have to chop up the grill a fair amount and would have to make yet another mounting dealio for it/weld tabs onto it, and I'm tired of working on the truck right now. I still have to make mounts for the hood pins and the front corners of the fenders

 

[FasterNU]

so much room for activities, not.

 

[the bodj]

so much room for activities, not.

Big motor, little truck.

 

[the bodj]

Got the cooling system all wrapped up and drove it for the first time in a couple months yesterday. I ordered new headlights so didn’t bother connecting the bulbs or any of the grounds that were bundled in that wiring bunch-just zip tied them out of the way. Turns out engine ground was in there so it was popping and sputtering under load. Easy fix. Leaking trans fluid a ton, so I have a new pan gasket and weld in bung on the way to make draining the trans oil easier. Hopefully those two things are all that’s left and then I can hit dirt.

 

[the_fablab_]

where is your trans temperature sensor?

 

[the bodj]

where is your trans temperature sensor?

No tengo. What do you recommend I do, drill and tap the pan while I have it off? Weld in a bung?

Edit: Research is showing that it might come with a stock sensor. I may just need to add a gauge

 

[Klever]

Yup! If it's a stock steel pan; just get a 1/8" NPT bung for the temp sender weld it in (be mindful of the filter and valvebody where you place the bung). And put a drain plug.

 

[the bodj]

Yup! If it's a stock steel pan; just get a 1/8" NPT bung for the temp sender weld it in (be mindful of the filter and valvebody where you place the bung). And put a drain plug.

Perfect! I'll order one now.

 

[SByota]

No tengo. What do you recommend I do, drill and tap the pan while I have it off? Weld in a bung?

Edit: Research is showing that it might come with a stock sensor. I may just need to add a gauge

This is why you need a lathe! I’m a shitty machinist and made this in like 5 min on my tiny lathe.

 

[the_fablab_]

Yes, I like to mount it on the driver side corner of the pan.

I also have npt weld bungs here at the shop in an assortment of different sizesand materials.

 

[the bodj]

Yes, I like to mount it on the driver side corner of the pan.

I also have npt weld bungs here at the shop in an assortment of different sizesand materials.

Right on. Thanks for the offer, I just ordered one and should be here tomorrow morning. Probably won't get around to it till next week, unfortunately.

 

[FasterNU]

so, are you gonna put temp sender in? Or, are you getting trans temps through factory wire harness?

 

[the bodj]

so, are you gonna put temp sender in? Or, are you getting trans temps through factory wire harness?

I ordered the stuff to put a sender in the pan and have a gauge on the dash.

 

[the bodj]

Pulled the pan last night and added another drain and the temp sender bung. The stock drain plug is raised up a bit and doesn't actually drain all the fluid, making for a mess every time. I'm using an OEM pan gasket this time. Just holding it in my hand I can tell it's way better quality than the Michigan motorsports gasket I used last time. I still need to pull the transfer case to change the trans output seal, and that should be all that's needed to stop the leaking.

 

[the bodj]

Got the transfer case off on Friday after work just before the rain started. Out of the 6 bolts holding it onto the transmission, the bottom four were backed out a bit. Since the transfer case is the mount for it and the transmission, it was allowing the trans output shaft to flex, causing the leak. I’ll replace the seal, top off with fluids, and I should be good to go!