When Jackson Carter rolls up in his 2001 Chevy S10 Crew Cab 4×4 pickup, people take notice. After all, it’s not every day you see a Crew Cab S10, especially one sporting a solid front axle and 37-inch tires. But there are more unique bits integrated into Jackson’s S10 than what’s visible on the surface, making this daily driver and trail rig worthy of a deeper look. And it’s been built on a budget.
About The Chevy S10 Crew Cab
Before we dig into Jackson’s S10, it’s worth noting some of the unique engineering features of Chevy’s S10 Crew Cab, which was produced from the 2001 to 2004 model years. For example, to fit the longer Crew Cab body on the extended cab frame, engineers designed a new cargo box specifically for the Crew Cab. The box was 17.6 inches shorter in overall floor length than the short bed used on the extended cab, yet it resulted in the same 17-foot overall vehicle length as the extended cab short-bed model.
V6 Power, For Now
Jackson is a technician at the family-owned Low Range 4×4 in Wilmington, North Carolina, which is where the truck was built. For now, Jackson’s S10 is powered by the OE Vortec 4.3-liter V6, which was the standard engine for the S10 Crew Cab. We say “for now” because Jackson notes the engine has already logged 312,000 miles, so a swap may be in its future. However, he says, “It lacks horsepower, but for getting me from point A to point B, it does the job.” The V6 sends power through the stock 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission, which then routes it to the axles via an OE NP231C two-speed transfer case modified with a standard front output yoke.
Dana 44 Up Front, Nissan H233B Out Back
In place of the S10’s factory IFS is a Dana 44 sourced from a 1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer SJ. It’s built with Warn Premium manual locking hubs, a PowerTrax Lock-Right locker, and Revolution Gear & Axle 4.56:1 gears. Rancho Wagoneer-application 2.5-inch-lift leaf springs handle suspension duties, aided by Sky’s Offroad Design hangers and Rough Country shocks. Steering is handled by the factory box, custom steering arms, and a Sky’s Offroad Design high-steer arm.
Keeping costs low was a priority, and the rear axle reflects that mindset. A $150 salvage yard Nissan Xterra H233B was chosen in part for its added strength and matching bolt pattern to the front Dana 44. Plus, it already carried a limited-slip differential and 4.56 gears, leaving only the front axle to be regeared. A Dynatrac differential cover helps with cooling, while Barnes 4WD shock tabs and spring perches secure the axle to the factory springs in a spring-over setup. Fox 2.0 shocks sourced from a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon round out the budget-minded suspension package.
All of it helps clear 37×12.50R17LT Nitto Trail Grappler M/T tires wrapped around 9-inch-wide Dirty Life Roadkill beadlock wheels.
Creative Solution To A Damaged Cargo Bed
When the S10 Crew Cab was purchased, it had significant body damage. The driver-side bedside had been hit hard enough to require repairs before the truck could be driven. Finding replacement parts proved challenging, as relatively few Crew Cab S10s were produced and many years have passed since production ended. However, the team at Low Range 4×4 found a solution. They sourced enough usable sections from three different beds to repair the damaged one.
Radiused Fenderwells Help Fit The 37s
With the bed repaired, the team moved on to other exterior modifications. To keep the truck’s center of gravity low while maintaining strong off-road performance, the fenders were radiused 2.5 to 3 inches. This allowed clearance for the large tires with minimal suspension lift.
Other exterior modifications include a Warn 8,000-pound-capacity winch mounted on a custom winch plate, Trail-Gear rock sliders, and a custom tube bumper built from 1.750-inch-diameter, 0.120-inch-wall tubing.
Jackson Gives Thumbs-Up To The SAS
The major components of the build totaled around $4,000 and included a mix of new and used parts.
Jackson’s favorite mod? “My favorite modification is the solid axle swap. Doing this swap completely changed this truck. It still drives good on-road and can keep up on the trails.”
It drives so well that Jackson recently completed a 600-mile road trip in the truck. Combined with its off-road prowess, it’s clear that the rig is a successful, functional build. And it’s a head turner too.
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