Da Outlaw
Blood, Sweat & Gears
WHEN THINGS WORK OUT IN YOUR FAVOR, YOU CAN EITHER RUN WITH IT OR DROP THE BALL. Darrell Poe from Bluefield, West Virginia, found out that a very special truck—one that he spent hours working on to perform the perfect body drop— was only a phone call away from finding a new home in his garage. Well, he ran with it, and never once looked back.
“Everybody always says it’s just another S-10 or that they are easy to build,” Darrell says. “Well, I promise they will look at this one day and say, ‘Dang! Look at that S-10!’”
So, he set a goal and immediately got to work. During the original dissection, Darrell made modifications to the stock frame, including a C-notch, recessed front shocks, full plating for structure and custom rear shock mounts. He relocated a new fuel cell in between the rear frame rails and a one-off wishbone and completed the package with
a four-link suspension setup. A one-off crossmember holds the four-link and allows the exhaust to pass through beautifully. Front brakes are stock calipers with cross-drilled rotors, while the rear is a Little Shop MFG caliper kit. A Wilwood master cylinder and proportioning valve with a one-off bracket designed by the owner mounts the hardware neatly in the engine bay, while the black-coated, braided-steel brake lines keep it clean.
The new 350c.i. Chevy V-8 crate engine was upgraded before installation with a bigger alternator, dual electric fans, aluminum drive pulleys, Lokar transmission dipstick and oil dipstick, Billet Specialties wire loom holders, billet aluminum valve covers and air cleaner with a Demon carburetor. An ’85 Chevy 700R4 transfers the power back to a stock S-10 rearend. For wheels and tires, Darrell went with a 22-inch Forte F-56 Koma wheel with custom colors wrapped in 245/30/22 Carbon Series C586 tires.
Stay tuned for the next issue where we unveil this amazing truck to our readers!
“I don’t have any sponsors, but I have an amazing wife and family who have supported me and my passion,” Darrell says. “I also have a handful of friends who I consider brothers who have given me their blood, sweat, ideas, materials, support and cuss words to make this build what it is today.”