The 1st Page.

Welcome to my El Camino page!

                                                                        One of the 54286 sold in 1978
 

I have always loved this particular generation of the El Camino for the longest time. I loved the '78-'81 front end as opposed to all the other front ends. I can remember all the time when I was little (like 6-7 years old) I used to bug my mom and grandparents on what those cars were called there were half car, half truck. Many have told me that it's nothing more than a "mullet-mobile" and that I should sell it because it's a "Money-pit". To them I say.....Screw Off! How many of you actually got one of your childhood dream cars? ...And IF you got it, wouldn't you want to hang on to it? 
Thanks for viewing my page, and be sure to leave a comment if you like.

News:

May 22nd 2009,
I ordered and mounted some new wheels. Boss Motorsports style 338 wheels. 18 x 8" with some Goodyear rubber, 245/45R-18. Slight rubbing at full turn, nothing major. Might have to roll my fenders when I decide to put the Hotchkis suspension on.

Oct 2nd 2008,
I made another purchase, but this is regarding the exhaust. I don't like my current setup mainly because it causes too much resonance in the cab. So I bought two new mufflers, two 90 degree bends, clamps, and 'Cuda type chrome rectangular exhaust tips. The exhaust will exit in front of the rear tires through the rectangular tips. Hopefully it cuts down on the resonance I'm experiencing. Also it'll look pretty trick on it. The following stock image shows the 'Cuda tips that will exit in front of the rear tires.

Sept 19th 2008 ,
I just made my first big purchase for the car. I just ordered the Hotchkis TVS (total vehicle system) suspension along with some new Lakewood 70/30 front drag shocks. I'll have to wait for another 6-7 months before even thinking about installing the kit. Mainly because I'm still overseas in Honduras.

Sept 7th 2008 ,
I recently(sp?) spoke with with my grandparents on the issue of bodywork. Since the tailgate and other areas of the car have extreme amounts of bondo, bodywork should be held off until I get ahold of new sheetmetal. They also gave me an estimate on the cost of re-paint and bodywork......about 9,000 dollars. That's with the shop buying the metal (tailgate, lower quarters, fenderwells in bed) I guess I'll hold off on the body until the drivetrain is in tip-top shape. Nothing says FAIL like when your car looks good but can't move under it's own power.

May 27th 2008 ,
I just spoke with my parents and grandparents on Sunday and found out the car goes into the body shop next week for paint and body work. The car will be re-painted the same color. I'm overseas right now serving my country in the wonderful country of Honduras.

Apr 22nd 2008 ,
While I'm home from South Dakota and en-route to my next base of Honduras, I'm shopping for parts at the Summit warehouse here in Tallmadge, Ohio. Oh and by the way, I got the car re-weighed at the scrapyard again. Turns out the weight is NOT 4600 lbs, it is in fact 3800 lbs. Which makes my estimated HP to be around 205-210 HP. Must have been a fluke with the scale or something. Time to find some cheap go-fast parts.

December 7th 2007,
I got featured from Jen in the CarDomain car blog! Mainly because of one of my photoshops of the front end design. Screen capture below.

The Modification list:

The driveline:
Chevrolet 350 5.7L 3970010 engine with four bolt mains
Chevrolet Turbo700R-4 Four speed overdrive transmission
Stock from the factory posi-track 2.73 rear end
Stock from the factory towing package

The current modifications:
-Holley 4150 Street Avenger 670 cfm carburetor
-Weiand Stealth Ram High Rise intake manifold
-MSD Street Fire Full ignition
--MSD cap
--MSD rotor
--MSD ignition module
--MSD super conductor wires
-Accel Shorty Header spark plugs
-Edelbrock 14" air cleaner
-*CHROME* valve covers
-Hedman G-Body Hedders
-GForce 700R4 tubular crossmember
-Lakewood 70/30 Ratio Rear drag shocks
-2.5" Pypes Performance SS Style exhaust kit w/ X-pipe
-18x8" Boss Motorsports/Eagle Alloys Style 338 wheels
-Goodyear Eagle GT 245/45R-18 on all four corners
-B&M Hammer shifter
-B&M RV shift kit
-Pioneer DEH-P4000UB Head unit 
-Pioneer XS-150 3-way speakers
-Infinity Reference 3.5" dash speakers
-Bazooka 10" DVC bass tube
-Rockford Fosgate P2002 amplifier
-Kleinn Twin 152 dB Air Horn set
-Kleinn 125psi 3L tank and compressor

The Previous Modiciations:
-Holley 4175 Quadrajet replacement carb
-Edelbrock 1406 600 cfm carb
-Edelbrock Performer 2101 intake manifold
-Mallory wires
-Bargain tires 205/70-14 front, 205/75-14 rear
-Stock Chevrolet 305, swapped out by previous owner
-A/C removed, lines, compressor, and evaporator. Condenser still remains in firewall
-Turbo350 transmission, swapped out by previous owner
-Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires, 215/70-14 front, 225/70-14 rear
-US Wheel style 330 14" wheels

Page Index
Pg1 - Main (you're here)
Pg2 - Performance
Pg3 - A/V and Cosmetic
Pg4 - Pictures
Pg5 - Non-addressed problems