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With just under 3000 examples built during its single-year production run, the GMC Syclone was always slated to be a rare vehicle. Add the truck’s performance figures and an immortalized appearance on the cover of Car and Driver to the mix, and it’s no surprise they aren’t all that affordable today. Former Formula Drift driver and YouTuber Tony Angelo didn’t want to pony up the cash for a genuine turbo truck, and has instead started a home-brew build with a much lower budget.
The GMC Syclone was the fastest truck in the world when it arrived back in 1991, with a top speed of 126 mph. Based on the lowly S10, the Syclone combined a BorgWarner-supplied AWD system with a turbocharged variant of the GM’s 4.3-liter V-6 engine. Total output was rated at 280 hp and 350 lb-ft, which outmatched the L98 V-8 found in the contemporary Corvette. Outright pace wasn’t the truck’s strong suit however, as the Syclone really made a name for itself in the quarter-mile arena. A 0-60 mph time of just 5.3 seconds and a quarter-mile pass of 14.1 sec at 93 mph put the Syclone in genuine sports car territory. None of that hardware is unobtanium today though, as GM proliferated much of those parts through its vehicle catalog. That means that someone like Angelo can feasibly construct a Syclone in their own garage.
The project truck is known as Sick Clone, which is an endearing and clever play on the original. The project starts with an S10 pickup from that era, with Angelo suggesting a model from 1989 and up due to their larger engine bays. This particular truck was sourced from Virginia and is a 4WD model. The AWD system that makes the Syclone so quick is not the same as the traditional 4×4 you’ll find on a run-of-the-mill S10. The selectable transfer case on those trucks isn’t going to be retained during one of these swaps, but the chassis from a 4WD unit was utilized during the factory effort. That means it is still vital to start the project with one of these 4x4s, even if a second donor vehicle is going to be required for the necessary drivetrain hardware. Angelo picked up an AWD Astro Van from the early 1990s, but an Oldsmobile Bravada or a Trailblazer SS will also suffice. The van is a particularly helpful choice, as it includes not only the AWD transfer case and axles, but also the 4.3-liter V-6 and a 4L60 automatic gearbox.
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Angelo was able to source the truck itself for only $1200, while the necessary van components added up to another $800. Parts for these V-6 engines are also relatively cheap due to their shared accessories with the Small Block V-8. The turbo kit for the project came straight off of Amazon and will be backed by a carburetor in place of fuel injection. This is a more cost-effective method than sourcing aftermarket fuel and engine computer hardware, though slightly trickier to work with when boost is at play. The swap itself appears relatively straightforward, helped along by the fact that most of the bodywork can be removed with ease. Engine mounts are one of the last things holding the project up at the moment, but that’s not uncommon for these sorts of builds. I’m sure it won’t be too long before we get to watch Angelo put this thing down a drag strip. He’s promised to make it better than the original Syclone, so we’ll have to wait and see what sort of performance is in store.
Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.
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