nubuilder's '98 S10 ZR2

[drperry]

Sounds like you got it just about ready for winter.

HID's, wiring for them, new headlights, and put on mud flaps.....Then I'm all set!!

We'll see if I can get this stuck this winter at all. Only problem is that I don't know anyone else with a truck.

That'll depend on the tires...

All you need is like 100lbs in the box, and I doubt you'll need to even kick in the 4x4.

Tires look about new; General Grabber. We'll see how they do!

I always carry a small scoop shovel, tow strap, and jumper cables in the winter. I try to be prepared.

I'm gonna try running without any weight in the bed to start. I have 5 70lb sand bags I can add as needed (kept them from the previous S10).

Stack 'em behind the wheels and along the tailgate

 

[nubuilder]

Sounds like you got it just about ready for winter.

HID's, wiring for them, new headlights, and put on mud flaps.....Then I'm all set!!

We'll see if I can get this stuck this winter at all. Only problem is that I don't know anyone else with a truck.

That'll depend on the tires...

All you need is like 100lbs in the box, and I doubt you'll need to even kick in the 4x4.

Tires look about new; General Grabber. We'll see how they do!

I always carry a small scoop shovel, tow strap, and jumper cables in the winter. I try to be prepared.

I'm gonna try running without any weight in the bed to start. I have 5 70lb sand bags I can add as needed (kept them from the previous S10).

Stack 'em behind the wheels and along the tailgate

Can't. I put them in the front of the bed (I know, the worst spot) running the length of the bed all side by side (flat). I can't put them over the axle or by the tailgate because I haul my snowblower around.


UPDATE

Tightened the driver's exhaust manifold flange up. No more leaks! I'll try to get an exhaust video this weekend. Also installed two "battery terminal extenders" from BestBuy. I hate trying to hook jumper cables to side-post batteries. This should hopefully help. Cost: $14 for the pair.

Dennis, I don't know what the difference is, but the '98 S-series definitely need a 680ohm resistor for the AHL. The 1.5k-ohm I tried didn't work at all.

 

[drperry]

Sounds like you got it just about ready for winter.

HID's, wiring for them, new headlights, and put on mud flaps.....Then I'm all set!!

We'll see if I can get this stuck this winter at all. Only problem is that I don't know anyone else with a truck.

That'll depend on the tires...

All you need is like 100lbs in the box, and I doubt you'll need to even kick in the 4x4.

Tires look about new; General Grabber. We'll see how they do!

I always carry a small scoop shovel, tow strap, and jumper cables in the winter. I try to be prepared.

I'm gonna try running without any weight in the bed to start. I have 5 70lb sand bags I can add as needed (kept them from the previous S10).

Stack 'em behind the wheels and along the tailgate

Can't. I put them in the front of the bed (I know, the worst spot) running the length of the bed all side by side (flat). I can't put them over the axle or by the tailgate because I haul my snowblower around.


UPDATE

Tightened the driver's exhaust manifold flange up. No more leaks! I'll try to get an exhaust video this weekend. Also installed two "battery terminal extenders" from BestBuy. I hate trying to hook jumper cables to side-post batteries. This should hopefully help. Cost: $14 for the pair.

Dennis, I don't know what the difference is, but the '98 S-series definitely need a 680ohm resistor for the AHL. The 1.5k-ohm I tried didn't work at all.

Stack them behind the wheel wells, then.

The '98s probably used '96/'97 wiring.

 

[nubuilder]

11/4/11

First frost on the truck the same night I brought it home.

11/7/11

Detailed the exterior. LINK.

 

[nubuilder]

Alternator Upgrade

Bought a used AD244 145amp alternator off eBay for $55 with 67k on it.
Bought a longer belt at AutoZone (Duralast 975K6).

So for $75, I now have a bigger alternator.
I'll have to stop by AutoZone and have them test it sometime to see what it can really put out. (when I did this swap on my GMT400 with a new Duralast alternator ($200), it put out 200amps)


A 3/8" ratchet is all that is required to move the tentioner out of the way to get the belt off and on.

2x 13mm bolts hold the alternator in place along with a rear 13mm nut (that does not get re-used with the larger alternator). The original alternator had a 13mm nut holding the power cable onto it whereas the new one has a 10mm. Once everything is unbolted and unplugged, use a small crow-bar to push the alternator up and out.

There are some sleeves on the 2 13mm bolts. Use a vice-grip to clamp them slightly shut and move them so that there is more room for the alternator (towards the front of the vehicle). They will re-adjust themselves once you tighten the bolts back down.

Now repeat the process in reverse. Super easy to do and takes about 30min tops.


This alternator should be able to be found on any GM truck/van with the 6.0L or the RPO code KG3. I always just look up a '03 Silverado 2500 6.0L when going to the parts store.

The belt is the belt for the larger alternator available on the later GMT400's, but you can't use that alternator since it has a different plug.

Basically, by using the newer alternator, it only requires the longer belt and not changing the plug that goes into the alternator.

 

[buRRp]

Done anything lately Matt?

 

[nubuilder]

Done anything lately Matt?

Other than the alternator swap, I'm working on making brackets to mount my HID ballasts behind the bumper. There's just no room in the engine bay. The bracket will just be a C-channel. Nothing fancy and made out of 1 piece of stainless. I just made a cardboard template, but then came up with a second (and slightly better) idea so I need to take the grill off and make another template.

Once the brackets are figured out and done, wiring and relays for the HID's will go in along with new headlights and parking lights. My new driving lights for the bumper might go on (would probably be easier to do them at the same time as the HID's).

I took the old lights off the bumper. They're in the way of taking the grill on/off (which will happen quite a bit for a little while) and they were no longer hooked up anyways.

 

[buRRp]