Faux Rat Rod: 1995 Chevrolet S10 LS Swap – Sold?

October 4, 2022, Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found, we’re assuming this ride is “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

Your basic used Chevrolet S10 pickup has reached the absolute bottom of the depreciation scale. They are not particularly desirable, even in the tough-looking ZR2 package with four-wheel drive trim. If you were bold, you could get a late 90s model in both SS and “Extreme” trim, but neither of those is particularly valuable today. How do you make an unloved model into one worth owning? Like many things in life, you stick an LS under the hood. The seller of this 1995 Chevrolet S10 pickup has upgraded the drivetrain with various enhancements and given his truck a healthy dose of fabricated patina. This S10 Hot Rod was originally listed in August 2022 on Craigslist in Canton, Ohio, for $14,500. Comparing that price against the Classic.com model guide shows us that the seller is asking above the average selling price of $10,450, but that’s the biggest challenge when selling a modified vehicle.

The LS-swap phenomenon seemingly knows no bounds. You can put this engine in a 911 if your IMS bearing lets go. You can drop an LS into a Suzuki Samurai if it takes too long to reach the trailhead. And there are plenty of far more mundane examples that just need an extra horsepower boost using a junkyard engine. Any GM estate wagons can be transformed with a weekend’s worth of work and a few able-bodied buddies. The tricky thing is you can find yourself on the wrong end of a transaction if the conversion work wasn’t performed to a high level because everyone thinks they can build the ultimate drift/track/drag/etc. car with an LS engine with 125,000 miles on the clock. But, if you want a high-performance pickup truck and can’t stomach the thought of spending $50,000 (or more) on a Ford Lightning or other warranted super truck, buying the seller’s Frankenstein’d S10 may be the way to go.

The MotorWeek RetroReview YouTube Channel features this vintage test drive of the Chevrolet S10 of this generation:

The seller has clearly poured a lot of effort into this S10, finding ways to add custom touches that make it much more than a simple engine swap. The details are evident in the photos, too, where we see a spotless undercarriage that reveals a Ford rear end with 3.73 gears. Under the hood is a 4.8 liter LS V8 with an LS6 cam paired to a 460LE automatic transmission routed through a TCL Fastgate shifter. The truck also features air shocks and a custom exhaust. However, lest you forget, this is still a project truck the seller confirms the S10 lacks heat and air conditioning, which we’re guessing has something to do with the conversion; perhaps a loose end deemed not worthy of buttoning up. There are just 3,500 miles on the build, and the seller assures that while it may look old and tired, the paint job is far pricier to replicate than it looks.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“1995 S10 single cab
Custom Ls swap 4.8l / 460le auto tranny with tcl fastgate shifter
ls6 cam
ls1 intake/ throttle body
custom exhaust with spinach mufflers and patriot shorties
Ford rear end 8.8 373 gears / rear disc
rear Diff cover
31 spline axles
air shocks
drilled /slotted rotors
no heat/ac

about 3500 miles on build
relocated tailgate handle
scorpion Berliner
Ppg paints in a custom patina / satin clear
and more

$14,500 OBO!
Or maybe trade to equal value ( 70/80s chevy van + cash looking)
Do not need to sell. paint job alone is worth more than most think.

Hot rod truck: Will the seller ever see his asking price and recoup some of the time he’s invested in this conversion?