s10 drivetrain suggestions

[rusmannx]

i'm currently in the shopping stage for a drivetrain (looking at the s10).
i am looking for a 4.3/4l60e(700r4 whatever) combo, but having trouble finding information on what tcases come on the s10's, and what other gm tcases can be adapted to work behind that trans.
is there something i should avoid? years? auto shifter?
the local classifieds are ripe with donor vehicles so i'm confident
i can find whatever it is that would serve me the best (easiest combo / adaptability), once i discover what that actually is.

any advice?

[CrashKnott]

Hmmm, I'm torn on my advice to you.

I really like my '96 S-10 Blazer, but it has been a love/hate relationship for a while.

It's my experience that S-10's require a lot of maintenance and if you're getting a 4WD and plan on wheelin it, you will go through front end parts (ball joints, tie-rod ends and idler arm) like candy. Worse, they have a terrible record with smoking transmissions. I went through 2 4L60E's in 40k miles, and semi-aggressive wheeling only the last 10 or so.

Adding insult to injury I can think of more than a handful of other guys who have also had bad results with the 4L60E

That being said, I've heard a few mods to the auto (shift kit, the beast sunshell, corvette servo, etc) will make that thing unstoppable and I've heard of guys running 450+ hp on these at the track with good results.

I opted to not take another chance and am pulling the smoked 4L60E out in favor of an SM465 and 3/4 driveline.

Good luck to you, and I hope this was of some help.

[rusmannx]

thanks for the advice.
i've got a sm465/np205 sitting in the driveway, but i've always wheeled manuals, and thought i would try an auto in the hills. i'm also stuck on having overdrive...
i'll look into 4l60e buildups.
i'm still left with which tcase to run.

[Redder]

Stay clear of the NP233 there essentially an np231 however there electrically shifted:barf: the less shit to go wrong with electronics the better...
rip it out and throw one of these in :smokin:

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j200/redder22/2007_0307S10goods0184-1.jpg

[b454rat]

I think they are 231s, but don't hold me to it. The 4l60 is the pretty much the same as a 700, so any case that bolts to that, will bolt to the 4l60. You can get a 203 to bolt up with the proper shaft and adaptor.

[Donahue]

Stay clear of the NP233 there essentially an np231 however there electrically shifted:barf: the less shit to go wrong with electronics the better...
rip it out and throw one of these in :smokin:

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j200/redder22/2007_0307S10goods0184-1.jpg

those are over rated and under geared.

my 89 has a 231. basically a smaller case for the 241. they also come with 207's, and you should probably stay away from them. D&D and others make doublers for 231's, putting several cases behind it. it gives you much better gearing options than the overdone "doubler".

also, s10's have a drivers drop setup.

[Jamus2]

The D&D setup with a 231 and flipped D300(or just use a pass. drop axle up front) would be a really nice setup. All the t-cases were interchangable till somewhere between 96-98 I think. I'm fuzzy on the exact year. Anyway, older was 5-bolt and newer was 6-bolt. You can swap the adapter to fit the t-case though. If it has a 4.3, it will either be a 231, 233, or whatever that case is with 2/4 hi/lo and auto. The 207s were mainly used before the 4.3 was introduced in 88, and they phased them out with 2.8s and 4 cyl. Any more s-series info you need, check out www.s10extremist.org

[1TFROT]

he's correct (above). the 4.3 will come with the 231 (mostly 1st gens) and the 233 (mostly 2nd gens). I took the internals from a 231 and swapped them into my 233 so it has a fixed yoke and stronger chain. it's held up great to 3 years of wheelin with 37s, 4.88s and dual locked.

correct on the d-side drop.

the last 3 years I've been running a D44/9" combo and am now finally switching to a D60/14 bolt combo

[CrashKnott]

As everyone above said, the 231's are a strong enough t-case, and are pretty common.

They're more common in the 1st gens (and have a stock front fixed yoke in 1st gens), but my 2nd gen '96 had an NP231.

Also, couldn't tell you the year breakdown, but some years have the widerchains. My '96 Blazer also had the wider (1.25") chain.

Good Luck!

[Mud Slayer 2.0]

383 th350 Atlas II there ya go..

[Hanr3]

The beauty of the S10 rig with the 4.3L engine is that it uses the same auto tranny as the fullsize rigs do, just not built as strong. Any tranny shop can rebuild it stronger then the fullsize version. It can be built to handle 450foot pounds of torque just like the fulsize version of the 700R4/4L60/4L60E. Plus they can put in the matching t-case output shaft you need if your swapping t-cases. Although NP231 in the S10 is a pretty strong unit as is.

To answer your question. Which year, version of the S10?
I am partial to the Blazers. They come with stronger engines that push more power both in HP and Torque compared to the pick up version. The TBI is really simple to field fix, however the CPI version has considerable more power. Old body styles would be '88-'93 for the 4.3 engines. '93 CPI being the most powerful 160hp 230 torque. I think it was '91 when the 4.3 came standard, prior to that the 2putt8 was the standard engine from the factory. Get the 4.3L version.

Newer body styles got even more power, 190hp and 250 torque. However the fuel injection systems got more involved, and more costly to repair. 6 injectors verse 2.

2 doors are 100.5" wheelbase while the 4 doors are 107" wheelbase regardless of year. The pick ups are longer.

If I were shopping for an S10 to convert into a trail machine. Any 4.3L V6 S10-Blazer would work for me.

[mudslinger65]

yeah the s10 is great i love mine but the engine and all had to go after bout 3 or 4 agreesive trips i tore the tranny out my 2000 blazer uu can bolt a turbo 350 up to it or do like i did 350 swap with a 400 behind it and a 205 trans case but its a hellva lot of work we did 1 of my buddies with just a t350 behind it an a 203 and it worked great.

[7thgear]

My 93 Sonoma came with the 4.3, nv3550, and a 231 t-case from the factory. I currently have a d44/9 inch combo, dual locked with 38.5 inch tsl sx tires. The drivetrain is holding up very well. I've literally had 0 problems so far with the transmission. Look around and try to find one with the nv3550. They are basically the nv4500's little brother, but they are still plenty strong.

Also, my t-case also came with a 32 spline output shaft. Most came with 27 spline shafts. Some S-10's came from the factory pretty well built, so you just gotta find the right one.

[s10 truggy]

my 92 blazer is all stock with electric shift and i love it it never fails
even with 280,000 miles rockwells and 47 ltb's it never stops

[Jamus2]

'93 CPI being the most powerful 160hp 230 torque.
Those numbers sound like TBI numbers. the CPI in my 94 4door was rated at 195hp and 260tq.

Also, my t-case also came with a 32 spline output shaft. Most came with 27 spline shafts.
Not sure on the method to their madness, but the 233 in my 94 was 32 spline on the slip yoke as well. I don't think that the 27 spline output was a weak point, like mentioned, the chain is a bigger weak link.