BUDGET LS S10 - DIY Exhaust Manifolds & Transmission Crossmember

The budget LS S10 continues... This time I show how I make a custom transmission crossmember, and a home built set of exhaust manifolds. I like trying to learn new skills and techniques, I figured this was a good opportunity. There is probabaly a thousand ways, someone could tackle this, this is the way I did. I finish up by piecing together the last bits of the fuel system. I hope you enjoy the video.

[@scottvanessendelft408]

Nice work. I'll be doing this swap in a year or so. You should produce the crossmember you built!

[@TheBackyardTech]

Your the second person to tell me to produce the parts I make, so i guess i must be doing something right lol. Glad you like it, thanks for watching.

[@Mowtivated1]

Dude...been watching exhaust videos for a week....then I found yours....doing 95 dakota ls swap Well done man and thanks...I'm using exhaust manifolds myself....drivers side fine .modified passenger side but it dumps right into frame....love the trans crossmember man!.....Damn you did exactly what I'm in the midst of doing

[@TheBackyardTech]

Thanks for watching. Glad you liked it. Kinda give you an idea for what you're in for. It worked out pretty well. It was my first time attempting this, so I'm happy with the results.

[@user-qd4ou5vy7c]

Nice job. Love the manifolds.

[@TheBackyardTech]

Thank you, and Thank you for watching the video.

[@conrailfan6277]

Awesome swap, I have a 02 S10 I thought about doing that to, I have a 383 SBC with a turbo 350, they make the oil pans that will fit, but the worry is the headers and the room for the rear distributor!! Hey if push comes to shove I have a source for a Buick 350, the ditributor sets up front!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@TheBackyardTech]

Thanks, that's cool man. I will be doing a SBC swap on my buddies s10 so I'm sure I will run into those issues as well.

[@darylzblazergarage8773]

the 94 jeep steering shaft will help you greatly

[@TheBackyardTech]

Yeah, I had read that too. But I wanted to see if I could make it work with what I had. I have a steering shaft from like a 95 TJ, but it's too different to make it work. So I just made my manifold work with the stock shaft.

[@KarKamp]

I don’t know if since the building of the manifold & the release of the video if you’ve learned anything different about the manifolds themselves?? Just curious because it’s a widely misunderstood thing about them in that they’re not cast IRON their cast STEEL, it is better quality that you tig welded it but wasn’t a must, nor was the heating parts but im sure it helped with some distortion & what-not.. keep up the good work man I really appreciate & respect when another guy takes the actual meaning of the word budget for what it is rather then equating it to lazy, cheap crappie work & parts..

[@TheBackyardTech]

Thanks for watching. I agree, just because were doing it on a budget, doesn't mean it has to be done poorly. I read that too, the cast steel thing. But the information is a bit wishy washy. A guy on the LS1 forums sent one in and had it tested, and the result was it was made of cast iron. He showed the analysis sheet. But does that change between years? Or Is it just really clean castings compared to old 70's cast. I cant say. I figured I would do everything in my power to be successful.

[@barachoisboy]

How many more payments on your tattoo? 😂 jk …... Great video.

[@TheBackyardTech]

Just a few lol. Thanks for watching.

[@BenJacobs]

Do you happen to have the measurements for the cross member you made. I really like that version. I know I could mock one up but yours is damn near perfect.

[@TheBackyardTech]

I can take some measures from my template that I saved. You may have to fiddle with it to make it fit up, because I did deviate slightly when I made the real thing. But it's late right now, So I'll do it another time. To be fair, you're not the only one that likes it. I even had a guy tell me to start producing them. Maybe I'll make a short video devoted to the crossmember measurements so people can copy it.

[@TheBackyardTech]

Just a heads up, I made a video with all the crossmember measurements, materials used and how I built it. Hope this helps you make a copy for yourself.

[@leestadnyk5573]

where in Canada are you? I am from manitoba and just picked up 2 4 cylinder mid 90s s10s will be engine swaping them

[@TheBackyardTech]

I'm in British Columbia. Cool, I'm a big fan of the S/T truck platform. I'm going to helping friends with there s10 v8 swaps as well.

[@luiscarrasquillo9743]

Just ran into your channel, great job with that crossmember and manifolds. What heater box are you using? I like how clean it looks.

[@TheBackyardTech]

Thank you. That is the factory heater box, it's the non A/C box.

[@luiscarrasquillo9743]

What year?

[@TheBackyardTech]

It's a 1995.

[@yippieitsryan]

Great work! Do you know if the driveshaft from a 2.2 5 speed will work with the 4l60e? Thanks in advance.

[@TheBackyardTech]

Thank you. The size and spline of the slip yolk is the same from the 4L60E to the Borg Warner T5. Cant say 100% on the length. I would imagine they would be the same or very close. But in theory as long as you could get the 4L60E tail shaft to sit in the same spot as where the T5 was, should work just fine.

[@yippieitsryan]

@@TheBackyardTech thanks for the reply. Trying to get my parts list put together. The less stuff I have to buy the less shit my wife will give me.

[@TheBackyardTech]

Glad I could be of assistance. I'm finishing up the truck and the filming for part 3. So keep you eyes open for how it wraps up.

[@darylzblazergarage8773]

if you ever have frame issues let me know i got a mint one

[@TheBackyardTech]

Thanks, this one is ok. Not the cleanest frame you've ever seen, but not rotten. Just some surface scale. Once it's done, I'll probably give it the fluid film treatment.

[@solmora6495]

If you install a 5.3 on a s10 the transmission stays at original place or you have to move the transmission backwards a little bit or not i want to 5.3 swap on my 98 s10??????

[@TheBackyardTech]

Before I removed the original engine and transmission, I put a mark on the bottom of the cab. That mark, marks the end of the transmission. I put the Silverado transmission at that exact spot. Stock driveshaft fits.

[@darylzblazergarage8773]

when we gettin more content

[@TheBackyardTech]

I'm working on it. I think I'm just going to do the rest of the build in one more video. I'm a normal guy, work all week, then I have to do this stuff on the evenings and weekends like anyone else would. But it's coming, believe me I want to get this thing going, I'm kinda excited to rip it around.

[@curlynigero6417]

They are cast steel not cast iron the reason they weld good

[@TheBackyardTech]

People keep saying that. A guy on an ls forum sent one away and had it tested. Came back as cast iron, even showed the test sheet. But regardless of what they are made of people weld them all the time, I just did everything in my power to come out the other side with a good result.

[@tjtrantham8192]

99 to 2002 camero cut the flang off and turn it and reweld it

[@TheBackyardTech]

If that's something I could have found for reasonable money or had laying around, absolutely. But I'm just working with what I got.

[@ronnelson7828]

I think these manifolds are cast steel not iron.

[@TheBackyardTech]

I did a bunch of research and that comes up a lot. One guy on the LS1 forums sent his in for testing, and the analysis sheet said cast iron. It seemed to act like cast iron when I cut it with the grinder(spark test). But I cant say for sure. Is it that these castings are pretty good and weld better than the old 70's cast iron. I dont have a concrete answer, just what other people have said. So I figured I would do everything I could to have a successful result.

[@darylzblazergarage8773]

give you 100 bucks to make me a set and ill supply the manifolds

[@TheBackyardTech]

Thanks for the offer but I'll have to pass lol. Those manifolds probably took me 20-25 hours to make.