Building a clone

[Ground Rat]

Hey guys, I'm a n00b so I hope this hasn't been a common question: Is it cheaper to build a Syclone clone or buy one if you are going to completely modify it? To run 10's I imagine you'd need all new engine internals and top end, new turbo, new or rebuilt 700R4, new or rebuilt t-case, new driveshafts, u-joints, and ring and pinion and who know what else I'm missing? So if I just start with an S15, will I be saving money? Also, what kind of power loss do you guys see from the crank to the wheels? Is is more than 22%?

 

[--SyTy Jim--]

opcorn:

 

[nick041881]

if i was going to do it all over agian and didnt care about keeping a v6 or even owning a real sy i would put a twin turbo smallblock in a newer body s-10 (would be cheaper). i hope you have some experience.... a 10 second anything isnt built overnight.

 

[Sy769]

If you want to build a 10 sec truck and don't care about originality build one.
Many owners in their quest for speed end up cutting up syty's anyway. IMO why buy and then convert a original collector AWD turbo V6 vehicle over to RWD V8 etc.

Start with a clean rust free s series add the cladding ,good rear suspension
some comfortable seats, and a turbo V8.
If you want AWD just find a 4X4 lower it and add a AWD transfer case and propshaft. leave the front diff in place and manually control it. Then you can do smoky burnouts but still rule traction on the street.

S-series trucks are so cheap and you change so many parts for some I think building one would be a better choice.

All depends on budget and goals.

 

[bigtime]

It depends on what you want. There is more to a SY than a engine and trans.
There is a Dash, interior, cladding. and being able to say you own one. If you want
all that you better buy the real thing and modify it. If not Buy a s-10 and have at it.
If you were building a 10 sec. drag truck from scratch why on earth would you want all
wheel drive? Buy a 2 wheel s-10 put decent v-8 in it , turbo 400, and watch the weight.

But, there is nothing like owning the real thing.

 

[BigBadSmoosh]

please don't tear into another truck, leave the turbo v6s and cladding for the owners of the originals.

 

[Will]

please don't tear into another truck, leave the turbo v6s and cladding for the owners of the originals.

I agree, these trucks are getting hard to come by and the S-10/Blazers are a dime a dozen. If you have no intention on keeping it a "real" syty, then why use a real syty.

I'd go with an LT1 and a twin turbo in a newer S-10. Those engines aren't hard to find and make a good platform for some good HP. John Lingenfelter has made a real bad a** Sonoma using an LS1 and twin turbo. He kept the stock look and made a real sleeper out of it. There is a link to that truck on here somewhere.
Will

 

[Ground Rat]

Thanks for the advise guys. After thinking about it, I would probably enjoy owning a real Syclone more, and just tuning it and adding a few mild mods. I'm guessing they'll be a very sought after muscle truck in years to come. I love fast trucks, so I bought a 454SS. But it isn't fast (yet). I don't think I will go wrong with a Syclone though.