Choosing the first-gen S10's weight advantage over a heavy van is a masterclass in budget efficiency, proving that shedding pounds is often cheaper than adding horses. It’s a pragmatic pivot from novelty to genuine competitive viability in the grassroots drag racing scene.
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Cheap Racecar Challenge Ep.3 - Cleet & Squirrel's New VehicleAdded:
Hell yeah, brother. You're on the Please conf.
>> Hey, I bet that thing won't do a burnout.
>> But I didn't hear anybody hit the concrete over there.
>> You need money to hit the concrete? I'd throw 50 on it that it won't do it.
>> Oh, wait a minute. Now, what do you call a burnout?
>> A burnout?
>> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, like how long you 5 ft?
>> I bet you it will.
>> I don't know. I guess we'll just have to see. We'll just have to see what you think.
>> And see you want to.
>> I mean, yeah.
>> I just don't think it will.
>> Oh, that that would be a call out, wouldn't it?
>> Yeah. Exactly what it is.
You think Sam can do a burnout?
>> Being a new safety adviser, I think you're an idiot.
And so is he now. So I'm I'm going inside.
>> No, no, you're as much a part of this as I am now. If he puts her in the sticks over there, we're in this together.
>> I missed the brake pedal.
>> Now we're talking.
>> Okay. All right. I'll count that. I've seen Mr. Sam do a better burnout than that, for sure. in Chevrolet.
>> What do you think about that?
>> Dang.
>> See this ferocious scratch you have over here?
>> Holy crap.
>> Walmart parking lot. Somebody some jealous body has been about 3 days ago.
>> They got you in the Walmart lot.
>> Oh my gosh. I know exactly what that is.
I've seen that a thousand times. That's a senorita right there.
>> No way.
I don't know exactly what that is. That is bad.
>> Got it.
>> She said, "I'll fix him."
>> She seen some of the pictures online with you and all these other chicks.
>> Yeah. Right on.
>> That's a vicious thing to do to a Mr. Sam.
>> Holy smokes, dude. That's bad.
>> All right, ladies and gentlemen, as you guys know, McNut and I were going to build the dragster van, >> okay?
>> Which is sitting over there. We essentially bought a Chevy Express van for the cheap car challenge because it has an LS and it has a 14bolt rear end.
We were all excited. But after our recent situation with jack stand, we've decided to take a step towards safety.
If you watch the video on the second channel, you know, just looking at the whole van project where I'm going to be in an open cockpit with an engine on the absolute verge of death, you know, the entire run. It just the whole recipe looked kind of bad. So, we talked to the guys. He said, "All right, we're going to start over, McNut and I, and get a car where I'll be in an enclosed cabin and try to focus on safety." And so, McNut and I off of Facebook yesterday.
Bought a new vehicle. We actually had it picked up. So, this is our first time really seeing it. Adam went and got it.
It was in Pala, Florida. Listed for $1,500. We got it for a,000. Check out our Gen 1 S10.
>> Oh, >> nice, >> baby. The perfect race car.
>> It does look really good.
>> Yeah, it does >> for what we're doing.
>> I mean, there's a little dent. Somebody got a little >> sideswipe there, but other than that, >> and it ran and drove onto the trailer.
However, we just tried to move it, couldn't start it. That doesn't matter cuz we're pulling the drivetrain out.
But this is a stick shift >> regular cab short bed >> hot rod.
>> Okay. Hot rod. This is >> custom camo interior. I'm not going to lie. It smells like something crawled up in there, took a leak.
>> Well, the guy told me that he got a new daily, so it's just been sitting.
>> Mhm.
>> And you know, I just >> little family of kittens was born in there or something.
>> Maybe. Yeah. We can't have any expectations for the condition of the interior or the drivetrain cuz we're taking all that stuff out anyway. But if you just take a gander at her, I mean, she is pretty.
>> She's square.
>> She's pretty square. I mean, it's got everything you need really.
>> It's got the fender louvers on it.
>> Yeah. And then check this out in the back.
>> Healthy bumpers.
>> Came with a new set of wheels and tires.
Our second set. So, we're already in a good spot cuz we can have our street tires on these and then we can put our drag race tires on these.
>> I mean, let's be honest, S10s are one of the best drag racing chassis out there.
This is actually George and I's original plan before we came up with the van dragster, >> but now here we are. You know, she just threw us right back in. So, playing that. Yeah. Let me pop the hood.
Windshield don't got a chip or a crack in it.
Oh, bang on the hook for me. Yep.
A little harder.
>> Wow. She's >> Hold on. Now, >> you know what? I was pulling the brake release.
>> Try this.
>> There we go.
>> Popped right up.
>> I was like, dang. Pulling hard as hell on. Damn.
>> Yep.
So, this is a lot more beautiful >> lot more work for George and I because, you know, the engine was already mounted on that other deal. Like, >> yeah, >> we were in a good spot, but we'll sort it out. I mean, a lot of people have LS swapped S10s.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> We're just going to have to build our own motor mounts and stuff like that.
But, our goal for today is to get it totally stripped down so we can take it to Cameron Johnson's cuz he does the roll cages for the cheap car challenge.
He's already got jack stands 240 there doing that and that's not part of your budget. Okay. Cuz that's safety.
>> Yeah.
>> So, we got to strip everything out of this, get it as light as possible, take it to Cameron's and he'll start working on it. But, let's get it fired up and at least see if we can, you know, get it a lap out of it. You know, a little drifting maybe.
>> Yeah, >> like something. New battery. 1025.
>> That's nice.
>> Ever start. It's my favorite.
A lot of power wires running back there.
Might >> have a system in it. Well, >> might have a system.
>> Might have. I mean, those are a little small, but >> got some chew marks on some of them.
>> Feel how light all this stuff is.
>> I know. It's the best stuff out there.
>> So, I actually found a second gen S10 and I sent it to Cameron. He goes, "No, dude. Those are 400 lb heavier than the first gen." So, that's how we ended up going back a few years. I think $1,000 for this truck is a great deal.
>> Oh, it's a steal. We saw it for 1,500.
We're like, "All right, surely we can get it around 1,000." Sure enough, the guy said 1,000 bucks. Here she is.
>> Hit the key. See what she does.
>> Here you are. Going to get a little bit of the flavor right here. I'm not going to lie to you.
>> Yeah, I'm I'm smelling it a little bit.
>> Oh, what the heck?
>> Yeah. See, that's what I was saying. How do I get this baby fired off?
Uh, you said something or that connector under the dash.
>> Yep.
>> He like have you have to plug that back in. That's what he pulled. That's what he jammed out to get >> Okay.
>> to shut down.
>> All right. Got it fired up. Old McNut had to get in there.
>> Neutral.
>> Good thing it was in neutral.
>> Yeah.
>> All right. So, the battery is good.
There was just a uh custom ignition setup going on. Yeah. this out of the way.
>> What you're about to see is a small example of the performance this S10 will have the rest of it life.
Okay. Need the dip weld.
>> Good. It's doing good.
>> Looks good though, right?
>> Yes. Runs great. This is all Zach and Ty James are going to see before we fly off into Yeah.
Say the least.
Look at that black car. What?
Heat.
Heat.
Uhoh.
Little wheel hop situation.
Got to get the door open. I think THE THROTTLE COMES OFF. OH, SHOOT.
I was trying to get the door open. I figured throttle was hung or something.
Pop tire. Yeah, it was ripping. Yeah, it was ripping.
>> All right.
>> He's got some performance.
>> Oh, that don't tell you what you want to know right there.
>> That man said runs good. He was not kidding.
>> He should have just put runs damn good.
>> Runs amazing.
>> Well, >> go a dang it.
>> I guess we got our answer. We're just going to turbo it how it is.
>> Stock motor.
I don't want to open the garage door too much.
You know what I mean?
>> Yeah. Let the AC out.
1,000 bucks for a square body S10 in this scooted condition is a steal.
>> I'm going to have to stall it and shut it off because the key don't work.
>> Yeah.
Go.
>> What do you think about that, Ty?
>> Yep.
>> What do you think about the new hot rod, Ty?
>> It's a lot better idea, I think.
>> Yeah. Little safer.
>> A lot of bit safer.
>> When I was uh wheel hopping bad when the tire was blowing.
>> Mhm.
>> I noticed the door was shaking.
>> That ain't nothing. Just You probably didn't slam. They're out of alignment. I think >> this is a hot rod, >> dude. Some clear coat. Leave this thing looking just like it is.
>> We should get some of the What's the stuff that Poppies that uh Vice Grip sells? Wipe on clear coat.
>> Yes, >> it would look sick. I'm actually feeling way better about this.
>> You know, you think about the fact that I was going to be in this dragster van, McNut and I tuning it, turbo and an LS right in front of me. No doors.
>> Yeah, but we would have been cruising down the road, hair blowing in the wind.
>> We would have been good. But on the track, when we're literally turned up all the way to whoop these guys, >> that thing blows. Oil and fire.
>> Yeah.
>> Could have came and got me. So >> true.
>> This is sick. Oh, crank windows, right?
>> Oh, yeah.
>> Good. How's the window condition?
>> I mean, we're getting the windows out of there.
>> Yeah. This hinge is just loose.
>> You know where there's a lot of weight in this thing? I'm already noticing >> the toolbox, bumpers, >> and the roof.
>> See, we're going to end up right back where we were if we go cutting the roof off it.
>> I don't know, dude.
>> What in the heck?
>> Why don't you just >> be the squirrel you are? Get in here and start nibbling on wires. All right. And let's get this stuff out of here.
>> We ain't saving nothing out of this one.
So, >> we're not saving anything but the brakes. We are saving the brakes.
>> Yep.
>> And that's it.
>> Okay.
>> Oh, our power glidees out in the trailer. Jump to the footage of us buying a Power Glide. All right, guys.
We got a secret mission going on. We got Jared Bradshaw.
>> He just won the all drivers drive shootout. Anyway, we bought a used Power Glide from him for our cheap car challenge car.
>> Powerglide delivery service. So, we got >> Was this thing in Willie Dynamite?
>> Was in Willie Dynamite. was >> at one point. I ran this transmission and gear set up until about a year and a half, two years ago.
>> Really?
>> So, we know it's proven.
>> Yeah.
>> Three grand. We got a Power Glide.
>> Oh, gorilla tuned.
>> Dang, dude.
>> We got a used flywheel and converter to go with it.
>> Yep.
>> We going to be simple as that.
>> Ripping with this glide. If it was in Willie dynamite, it's bound to be fast.
All right.
Thanks, dog.
>> Careful that ain't bolted. You see that?
>> I see that. Okay. I don't want to damage our fresh >> No.
>> new to us converter.
>> That's right.
>> Damn. He >> Wait. Solo.
>> Damn, brother.
>> God dang. Gorilla.
>> Just a glide. It ain't like a 400 or nothing.
>> Yeah, that's a good point. You know, >> one less gear.
>> Yeah. Yeah. They're not even >> Yeah, I didn't think about it.
>> Probably just curl that one hand.
>> Probably. Maybe not after you.
>> What kind of fluid should we put in this thing? Just so we know.
>> Type A.
>> Not bad. Type >> B. All right. Thanks for the hookup, brother.
>> No problem.
>> We're gonna be flying now.
>> Literally, >> guys, we have a Power Glide.
>> And engine wise, we don't know exactly what we're going to do yet. The boys said we can buy Lumberjack's spare motor for 3,800, but that absolutely kills our budget. So, we just don't know if we're going to do that >> or if we're going to >> What budget? What'd you spend on it?
$1,000.
>> Thousand bucks.
>> Not bad at all. And it runs this good.
>> Sold.
>> That's what I'm saying. This is a steal.
>> $1,000.
>> Look, it was listed for 1,500.
>> There's the listing.
>> Oh my gosh.
>> 7 days ago.
>> I mean, we did just have to hotwire. As far as S10s go, this is like the truck right here.
>> Creme Del right here.
>> Short bed.
>> This is the truck to build a drag truck out.
>> So cool.
>> I know. I kind of want to keep the bumpers, but damn, they look heavy. Oh yeah, those got to go.
>> Maybe we can find some fiberglass ones for cheap. Just with the blown tire, how much it's flexing. Like look how the bed is kicked over.
>> Yeah, they move around a lot. Factory gauge will help a lot with that.
>> This is normal stuff.
>> Yeah, this is normal trucks though.
>> Wonder what the rust is like.
>> They're not bad at all.
>> Frame. You know, these aren't welded.
The >> frame is totally good.
>> Frame looks.
>> We'll see when we lift it up. There's a little bit of rust in this quarter panel.
>> Nothing picked up. You guys are going to fall in love with this like I normally do.
>> Oh, dude.
>> What should we name it?
>> We'll figure that out when the time comes. You know, you know how we do. You can't go prematurely naming it.
>> That's true. Okay. S10. You know, I'm thinking something with an S. Maybe senorita.
>> Might be a boy.
>> Yeah. Could be.
>> You know, who knows?
>> Uh, >> you know what he strikes me as? When I look at them, first thing that comes to my mind, >> big red.
>> Big red. Yeah. Second thing, marble red.
So, I don't know.
>> That we can't promote.
>> Maybe.
>> But does he?
>> All right. Well, let's get her let's get her to come back on that.
All right, guys. Oh my gosh. Wait a second. They had this thing stripped of everything.
>> They've been working on their cars for 2 weeks.
>> Holy smokes. They got it down to nothing.
All right. Well, we thought we were making good progress, but now I'm feeling a little different. All right.
Well, we do have everything off that we don't need. And now we're going to pull the motor. We got the gas tank out. All that extra jazz, cleaning her out, you know, making her as light as possible.
>> All right, guys. We got this thing torn down.
>> Hey, look. It's got a newer set of shocks on it. An upper control arm.
>> All four control arms.
>> All four.
>> Yeah. So that means ball joint. Look at that grease.
>> And the steering, you know, all those components looks pretty good. Yeah, they were greased too. So this might have had a front end rebuild within the last year.
>> At least in the last 10.
>> We get some double adjustable shocks up here.
>> It's all we need.
>> All we need. Well, well, well.
>> New hot rod, buddy. You're right on time to check it out.
>> You like that? Man. Yeah.
>> What do you think about that?
>> Who doesn't like it? Who doesn't like a Gen One S10?
>> Lightweight, buddy.
>> Lightweight.
>> Already gutted her.
>> Yeah, we're doing some weight reduction.
It matches your 240, >> dude. Right color.
>> Yeah. So, we're going to put some patina clear coat on it.
>> Dang.
>> Flame logo on the side. I mean, >> that's that's 100 horsepower, too. Was >> You know, we're feeling pretty damn confident after switching from the van project to this. I mean, >> now we just got to figure out what engine combo we're going to run. I'm thinking we're going to go ahead and take your deal on that lumberjack special.
>> I mean, I would >> for 3,800.
>> Can't beat it.
>> Problem is, we don't have all the uh, you know, intake and sensors and all that. So, >> yeah, but that nothing.
>> That ain't nothing. We'll sort that out.
>> Are we doing that then? Do we want to lock in the deal on lumberjacks motor?
>> Pick this up,000.
>> Not bad.
>> 1,000.
>> Not bad.
>> So, a,000 for that. 3,800 for the engine. We're sitting at 4,800.
>> Three grand for our trans.
>> Three.
>> It was 3,000.
>> What did you buy?
>> We bought a used glide >> with a converter.
>> No, it was >> No, it was two.
>> It was three, >> brother. It has an aftermarket case.
>> Okay.
>> Which is nice, you know, cuz then we don't have to run super high power through a non aftermarket case. Yeah.
You know, I mean, >> we got a stock case power glider for three grand.
>> No, no. You want to tell us?
>> But we got a converter, too.
>> You want to tell us where it came from?
>> Yeah, we got it out. It's the uh transmission that was in Willie Dynamite two years ago.
>> Oh, nice.
>> Right off the shelf. So, >> tried and true.
>> We going to be chilling. All right, let's get back to work. McNut, get a few more things off of this. Jackson, are you shaking in your boots yet?
>> No.
>> No. Y'all are going to be $6,800 and you're still going to need every sensor, intake, and a power.
>> Well, we're 4,800.
>> Well, I'm saying $6,800 bucks for the motor, >> $3,000 for the transmission. That's 6,800 >> plus the truck. 7,800.
>> Yeah. Minus what you already spent on your van.
>> No, we don't count the van.
>> You got it. You bought it.
>> We were We were taking the van off since we got a new truck.
Well, if you keep it, there's all your sensors.
>> Yeah, but we plan for that. We just buy a junkyard.
>> You're going to spend more than $600 on sensors.
>> That's what I was thinking.
>> I'm saying we buy the junkyard motor.
>> It's got coils, everything.
>> Yeah. It's got everything you're missing. You should really keep it for $600.
>> Can we buy the motor off it for just 300, >> bro? Yeah.
>> Well, I mean, we got a reason with our competitors, dude. We can't just make numbers up. It's fair market value.
>> Junkyard. Fair market value.
>> What can we buy the motor off the van for? If you go to the junkyard and the motor's not stripped, you're paying for everything on the motor.
>> Yeah. What can we buy the motor off the van for?
>> Is it all you can carry day?
>> I mean, they're like 580, 600 bucks out of >> That's crazy.
>> Go to the Go to the junkyard and you can't buy a single rack LS coils right now for under%.
>> A single rack. Just four. They get you for like 86 bucks for just four.
>> You ain't squirrel nut. You know, you got to know how to >> go do it.
>> Sweet talk them.
>> Go do it. Not easy.
>> Listen, we're already getting a break here by getting to change vehicles, which was for safety, but it >> wasn't our idea.
>> Well, it kind of >> I mean, it was, but >> had we had to do it, though. You know, >> we kind of had to do it.
>> We had to do it.
>> So, we got to you know, we might just have to pay full price for the van and figure it out.
>> We'll figure that out, though. If we can find a dress motor.
>> Literally less than $1,000 on the van.
>> It was $675.
>> Yeah. Which if you think about it, you're not going to get I mean there's people that have been really fast.
>> I know our whole game plan with him, but yes.
>> Yeah.
>> Well, the thing is is >> fair set of heads to bring with us >> that intake. People have gone fast on that intake. That's one. So, >> you run out of >> looking like we're going to end up buying the van, too. So, just just we don't have to make a decision right now.
Jack the hell back out of this shop and we'll make a plan.
>> That's the smartest thing you've said in the past.
>> All right.
for the last time. Let's get back to work. Get the rest of this junk off here and load it on the trailer.
>> You ready for this?
>> Yep.
>> I don't need any help.
>> I know.
>> This is what being a professional looks like.
>> So far so good.
Wow. She's on race weight for sure.
Damn it.
>> Yeah.
>> Go to the front, McDoug.
>> For what?
>> Counterweight.
>> Oh, >> I'm trying to get her to lay down.
>> Oh, I thought it was a oneman show.
>> Yeah, my bad.
>> How long were we in the shop just now?
>> 10 minutes.
>> It's 11:20.
It probably took us an hour to do that.
Oh, I got it this time, bud.
>> Yeah, you got more speed. Don't jump in till the last second.
>> Oh, baby.
>> You can go back a little now.
That baby was up there. All right.
>> All right. All right. This thing's light, dude.
>> Yeah. Race car.
Holy moly.
Need a wheel chalk.
>> All right, she's locked in. Can you click her in gear?
The old shoe. All right, got her loaded back up. Throwing away a little bit of trash >> cuz she's getting picked up.
>> Cameron, >> that's a perfect car right here.
>> I know you guys did good.
>> Yeah. $1,000.
Look at it. Little dent. That's it.
>> I don't know the rules, but if you were to say sell this today now for double your money, could you take the money and spend it on something else?
>> We could easily do that. But >> is that legal or no?
>> Not legal.
>> You trying to buy it?
>> I would. Yeah, I would. It's a nice truck.
>> It's a perfect truck.
>> You being an S10 guy, when you were excited about my deal, I said, "All right, we got to go."
>> All that rubber didn't used to do that.
But I mean, she's got a little tiny bit of rust, but nothing crazy at all.
>> These things all have rust.
>> Yeah. And this one's not bad. I mean, there's that little stuff up there, >> but that's it.
>> Frame solid.
>> This is perfect.
>> What do you think this thing weighs or will weigh when it's all said and done with an LS?
>> LS turbo.
>> Yeah.
>> Single turbo.
>> Aluminum block. Steel block.
>> The cast block.
>> Steel cast.
>> Cast steel block. Uh, no interior, no driver.
>> I mean, whatever.
>> Yeah, without driver.
>> 26 and change.
>> Oh, >> 27 maybe.
>> I like that.
>> Yeah. Yeah. They're a lot lighter than the the second gen by a lot.
>> Now, obviously, when you put this cage in, >> you're going to have to cut a lot of junk.
>> Anything that's in your way, you just cut it out.
>> Just cut it out. Yeah. No, you have to have you have to clearance and stuff for sure. You have to. So, if you really want to >> I heard half the time they have to skin the bed, skin the door.
>> Yeah. And just remount it with some real little tubing >> sometimes. I don't know what how you guys operate, but I heard it was pretty >> topium to make sure it's doesn't >> Oh, yeah. It's also good.
>> Maybe just to make sure it's really safe >> just because the rust and stuff.
>> This is a This is a good job.
>> What do you think about this versus our van project?
>> This is a better idea. This is a better idea, man. by a lot.
>> This would have been cool to see, but this was >> Yeah. When we announced that Jassian had gotten injured, the first comment was, "Got to ditch the van."
>> Well, I started thinking about it and you really would need a lot of cage.
Like, I don't even know what cage would be legal on that.
>> Yeah.
>> Right. Like, you'd need like a funny car cage.
>> It had to be something pretty serious.
>> Yeah. So, no. This is Well, and this weighed how much that weighed just like that?
>> 35 34.
>> It was uh,000 just like how it is.
>> Yeah. Dude, imagine that powertrain 6L80 and this truck, >> man.
>> Now, this is the move here. These streets working it, too. Leaf spring stuff is great.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> This is going to be hooking and a booking. Wow. That is some of that.
>> Some of that good juicy water right there.
>> It already feels so light like pushing it on the trailer.
>> Oh, they're they're light.
>> Light.
>> It's surprising how light they are.
Really? I'm glad you texted me cuz I was literally going to get that second gen.
>> I didn't even think about it cuz that would be a good truck, but they're they're like 4 or 500 lb heavier.
>> I was about to leave and pick it up that day.
>> Yeah. No, this is the move. And this you can't beat the look of these, too.
>> Oh, it looks way cooler than not necessarily, but this is a cool truck.
>> Are we going to put a paint job on it?
Clean squirrel paint job.
>> No, I think we just put the uh clear coat on it.
>> Little ATF.
No, I'll get some Poppy's patina from Vice Grip.
>> Oh, >> wipe it on.
>> Okay. Okay.
>> All right. Well, >> 10 is awesome. Cameron Johnson Race Cars. I'm sure he'll be posting an update. They got to do some safety equipment to it, put a seat in it, roll cage, and then we get it back. We'll start rebuilding from there. Apologies to everyone. Excited about the van project. We really just had to make a change. It just wasn't.
>> And uh we were committed.
>> Yes.
>> But like with this, you know, switch to try being safer, we just had to change.
So keep you updated on that. Remember to be like Biff, do it for Dale. We'll freaking see you later.
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