My freind decided he wanted a mini this year, and so the search was on for an S10 or GMC mini. He finally found one, a '95 GMC 4cyl, 5-sp for only $2400. The ideal setup for a mini.
Two days after taking delivery of the truck, it was in the shop almost completely stripped.
Here is the frame notched in the back. The leaf springs were also getting removed and new suspension linkage being made:
A pic of the new linkage replacing the leaf springs. The bars sticking up from the frame were used to hold the axle in place while the linkage was being designed. They were tack welded now removed:
Here you can see the welds after the cab body was cut 3". It was simply overlapped and then welded back in:
A weld by the firewall:
Here you will see the hood bracing was notched to allow clearance for the engine. (Remember, 3 inches were removed from bay as well.)
Here is the frame nothced in the front to allow for the bumper to sit in the right place:
A pic of the shifter to show how close it is after "pushing the floor up" 3 inches! The shifter actually hits the dash in some gears, but enough room to work:
Here is the torch cut on the frame to allow for more bag clearance:
The fenders have been cut out and the coolant bottle and battery were removed. They will later be relocated:
Here is one of the dubs on the rear. The wheel setup is 20/18 combo:
After mounting one of the tanks and making room for other accesorries:
Some more progression on the truck today, it is almost ready to roll, of course certain tweaks will been done after the initial "break-in" roll.
After completing nearly all the wiring and cutting the bed it was time for a test fit. With the bed on truck it didn't quite sit as low as it should, to put simply, the dubs weren't going to fit under those wheel wells without more room. So the bed came back off to get cut a little more. He was going to tub it eventually and weld a new bottom in so he started at it after I left.
This is a great thread! very impressive, keep the pics coming too!
the only thing i am thinking about though, is won't breaking be a problem with those huge rims on there?
I am thinking this cause onf of my buddys has 24" chrome mags on his Yukon GT and he blows brake lines all the time and has to do his brakes all the time.
Just a thought though
looks great though good job, should look great when its done
-Phil
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86 SE V6....under construction! "Just remember, it's Race, not Rice."
Cool! I've never actually seen work-in-progress pics of that kind of modification... what kind of timeframe is all this done in- and how much is the owner dishing out in Ca$h?
sweet but he needs to ditch that 4-cyl in favor of something with some balls
------------------ --Adam-- 1987 Blue GT 5-speed IM AOL: FieroGT5speed 16 years old and already selling my stuff to pay for repairs to my Fiero...which i sold my stuff to buy in the first place
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03:34 PM
KRMFiero Member
Posts: 2711 From: Providence, RI Registered: Sep 2000
Pretty sweet buildup. It's been a while since I read any mini truckin' magazines, I didn't know they were dropping the body to get that look! All in all, it doesn't seem complex, just tedious...no worse than stuff I've done with my VW projects. My brother has the first gen S-10, I prefer that body style. I'm willing to bet his will end up getting the same treatment within a couple of years, he's only 18 and his truck is already as cool as my car...just not as fast (good stereo, 17x8s, dropped 4/5", tint). Actually, he just threw a rod last night...god bless the good ol' 2.8!
Keep us updated with pics!
Bryce 88 GT
[This message has been edited by Nashco (edited 05-06-2003).]
The truck got it's first frame drag today as my buddy got the bed modified and back on the truck. He found out a little bit later after he rolled that the front tires were rubbing against the side of the fenders, chewing the tire and bending the fender. He later put the truck back in the shop and chop the fenders a little more. The front is still going to be customized a little more to get the front layed out, but it is pretty good now. Now for the pic's my peeps!
(good stereo, 17x8s, dropped 4/5", tint). Actually, he just threw a rod last night...god bless the good ol' 2.8!
He later put the truck back in the shop and chop the fenders a little more. The front is still going to be customized a little more to get the front layed out, but it is pretty good now. Now for the pic's my peeps! 
