The Bald Eagle Machine Chronicles

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

Well what was going to be a "simple" fix and flip is quickly turning into a complete basket case project. I tore the head down only to find a really nice Fel Pro headgasket. That was in fact so new and nice that i could read the name on it and remove it in one piece(its a graphite gasket). Inside the motor, half of the valvetrain was rusty from water. When the head came out 3 of the 4 cylinders had rust flashing in them, and only one had good crosshatching. Tried soaking them down for the last few days in marvel mystery oil only to discover that one of the pistons has a really bad wrist pin and the piston is freely moving back and forth in the cylinder. The s10 is back on the facebook marketplace as it sits. I'm not interested in a full motor rebuild or replacement. Man.... I tell you what, I have had a bad run of just buying complete junk for cars lately.

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

Well guys, the day has come... I have officially sold the Camaro this morning. I sold it to a younger version of myself who wants to track the car at Sebring raceway and drag race it at the local Florida tracks. So anyone local might be seeing a white 5th gen with a Torqstorm out there racing. I got 25k cash for the car, which was what i wanted for it. I essentially got my mod money back out of the car. So i didn't lose much. The car was alot of fun, but I really miss my old school stuff. Probably going to LS Turbo swap this new S10 that I picked up. Ill probably post pictures on here in the next day or so... That being said, I am still in the middle of developing a new crash bar that will fit the Zl1 bumper.

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

The last pictures that I will ever take of the Camaro.

[SlowLS1]

A sad day. Here's to the next project!

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

Well guys... I'm still here! Here is the new/current project. 2001 S10 Xtreme ext cab. So far I have just been stripping the truck down. Current status is no interior, even pulled the dash out. Motor and trans are out. I have a ton of suspension parts, Holley swap parts, headers, etc... I also sourced an all aluminum L33 5.3l motor out of an Izuzu Ascender. I also found an 8.5" 10 bolt with posi and 3.42 gears and disc brakes. Right now I am on the hunt for some cathedral port 243 heads, as well as a t56 trans setup. I wouldn't be opposed to a TR6060 because I don't mind cutting up the floor tunnel as this is slowly turning into a full frame off restoration. I REALLY debated running a twin turbo kit but... I think it was a little out of my mechanical know-how. So the current build, is going to be an all motor cam and heads build. I think this little S10 will absolutely get down with a 400+rwhp setup. Anyways, I just wanted to pop in and give you fellas an update!

Side note, I gave my new prototype bumper bar to Leadsled to test on a ZL1 bumper, and he has gone MIA on me. So roadblock after roadblock has stalled my business pretty badly.

[SlowLS1]

Glad to see you are still hanging around. I look forward to seeing what you do with the S10. Keep us updated!

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

Small updates on the s10 build. I picked up a set of PRC CNC ported LY6 heads from Texas Speed. These have upgraded beehive springs, stainless steel valves, all new seals. The works. I also decided to go NA and picked up the TSP Chopacabra cam. Still debating how to build the bottom end. Not sure if I just want to do a basic rebuild with stone cutting and ball honing the cylinders, new rings and bearings and send it or go full bottom end rotating assembly... I'm also debating if I wanna go with a s10 blazer spec NV3500 transmission with a full size silverado clutch setup, or if I just want to continue the search and save up aome more money for a Tremec t56 magnum. I wouldn't be opposed to a tr6060 but it seems they have gone up in value recently.

I also pulled the bed off of my black truck, which I will be turning into a truck bed trailer to tow behind the truck. I picked up a stepside truck to swap the bed over to my truck. So I will be running an extended cab truck with a stepside bed, and pulling a regular bed, truck trailer. My idea was to have a cool trailer, to do a drag and drive type event with the truck to pull some tools, and spare parts down the road when the truck is done.

[SlowLS1]

Great progress so far. If it's in the budget, go ahead and do that bottom end so when you decide to boost it, that's in the bag.

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

I have ground cables for the bellhousing to frame as well as the battery to trunk grounds in stock. If anyone is interested send me a PM.