Build Your Own Slammed S10 Just Like Music City Trucks Lo-Fi 1995 Chevy S10

Music City Trucks got a visit from a couple of guys with 1990s mini-truck style Chevy S10s. Apparently what’s old is new again, and the MCT team decided to get on the mini-truck bandwagon. They acquired a clean 1995 Chevy S10 and airbagged it to get it as close to the pavement as possible. Music City Trucks also updated the wheels, tires, and brakes, got a nifty audio system installed, and named the S10 Lo-Fi.

You can see the entire build at PowerNation TV's YouTube channel. 

If you decide you want to build your own S10, just follow the recipe in our Music City Trucks Lo-Fi Chevy S10 parts list.

Suspension
Music City Trucks started the suspension conversion by replacing the S10’s leaf springs with a custom five-link setup that came with notched frame rail inserts, airbags, and shocks. Our combo includes a Ridetech bolt-in three-link suspension kit and HQ Series coilover shocks; Slam Specialties airbags; and a Slam Specialties frame notch kit.

The suspension is a wishbone-style setup with two lower links and an upper track locator to restrict side-to-side movement and keep the rear end housing centered in the truck. Designed specifically for the suspension kit, the Ridetech HQ Series coilovers are height-adjustable and also fully adjustable for rebound.

The Slam Specialties airbags are a non-ballooning, double-bellow design with internal bump stops for maximum strength and durability. They're rated to handle 250 PSI of air and have an eight- to 13-inch height adjustment range.

The Slam Specialties frame notch kit comes with the necessary steel plates to create an eight-inch deep boxed notch in the truck’s existing frame rails, providing extra space for the rear axle to tuck evenly with the frame. Music City Trucks had to cut the bed floor to make room for the frame notches. They masterfully covered the big hole with 23.25-inch wide Summit Racing™ Rear Fenderwells.

Music City Trucks modified the S10’s front suspension with two-inch drop spindles, airbags and shocks, and lower control arms cut and plated to mount the airbags. Our combo includes RideTech drop spindles; a RideTech CoolRide airbag kit with shocks; and Moog R-Series upper and lower control arms. The CoolRide kit comes with HQ Series shocks that mount outboard of the lower control arm using the included hardware.

The suspension is controlled with an AccuAir Ultimate Suspension onboard compressor system. It comes with a five-gallon tank with built-in valves for each airbag, two VIAIR 485C air compressors rated at 200 PSI each, and wireless height control using the included touchpad or with your Bluetooth-enabled phone using the e-level+ app.

Cooling and Exhaust System 
The S10 came with GM’s venerable 4.3L V6. The engine ran fine but the cooling system needed some attention. Our combo includes top-quality OEM replacement parts–an OSC radiator; an ACDelco water pump and fan clutch; a MotoRad 180-degree thermostat; and Continental molded radiator hose.

The S10’s exhaust system was less than pristine as well, so Music City Trucks replaced it with a Summit Racing™ Cat-Back Exhaust System. It comes with three-inch diameter, mandrel-bent aluminized steel tubing, a turbo-style aluminized muffler, and all required hangers and clamps.

Brakes, Wheels, and Tires
Music City Trucks upgraded the S10’s brakes with EBC BSD Sport rotors and Ultimax 2 pads. The iron rotors have high carbon and silicon content to handle high braking loads and temperatures. They also have silver finish that looks great and prevents corrosion.

The Ultimax 2 pads are made from a high-friction, non-metallic aramid fiber material that provides excellent stopping power with reduced rotor wear. The pads have a centerline slot to prevent heat expansion and cracks, and also reduce brake noise.

Music City Trucks went a bit retro with the wheel selection. The Billet Specialties GS53 Series wheels are a modern interpretation of a wheel the company made way back in the 1990s. The two-piece forged aluminum wheels have five curved spokes with milled slashes that are anchored in the wheel lip.

Our parts list also includes Toyo Proxes Sport tires in 205/45ZR-17 and 295/35ZR-18 sizes. Their high-grip silica tread compound delivers excellent handling and improved grip in wet and dry conditions. An improved rib design creates more even contact pressure with the road for improved braking and handling.

Parts to Finish
Audio systems are one of the few things Music City Trucks doesn’t tackle, so it turned to a local audio shop for a full-boogie 1990s-style system. The shop also bolted in a pair of TMI Cruiser Series bucket seats. The lowback seats have all-metal frames wrapped with heavy bolstered, high-density foam and covered with durable black vinyl. They come with slider seat brackets.

Music City Trucks replaced the S10’s steering wheel with a Billet Specialties Sniper steering wheel and a black leather half-wrap. The polished aluminum wheel has milled and polished finger notches on the backside plus countersunk screws to hold the half-wrap securely in place.

After removing some questionable exterior add-ons including stick-on port holes and a fake hood scoop, Music City Trucks fixed the S10’s minor dents and dings, then did a serious cut and buff to restore some gloss to the truck’s factory white paint. They also replaced the sideview mirrors and taillights with OEM direct replacement parts. Our parts list includes TYC sideview mirrors and Dorman taillight assemblies.

CHECK OUT THE MUSIC CITY TRUCKS LO-FI 1995 CHEVY S10 PARTS LIST