So my friend/Forman always wanted a el camino and have been hearing about for about 6 years- well it has finally happened found him this gem that was tucked away in a barn since 1994 because the crazy 95 hp motor that was in it, killed the transmission, however don't think that was the issue though maybe the bombing through my wife's family corn fields as a beater!!! So that's a little info on the cars past- when we pushed it out of the barn we saw potential in it, we knew the trans was shot that's it. Well motor was locked up and so much dust and mud on it you couldn't even really tell the true color. If it had rust issues and so on.

We started talking on what he wants- a drag car? Track car? Budget car? It came out to "D" all the above..... I laughed and knew some is possible but time will tell.

He started with the typical 350 carb setup- I kept throwing that idea out the window and said LS everytime.

Well we went lq4 with a 4l80e setup. Lq4 with complete PCM and harness- and mid-length headers for a 66 nova to start us out.



So for the goodies- he wants tame but respectful

Need still:
I'm looking between two cams tsp 224 or 228
Ls7 lifters
Hardened push rods
Possible trunnion updated (not sure yet)
Milled .030" 317 heads
Mls .051" head gaskets


3200 circle d (80e)

That's as far as we have thought and got on this project

Any comments are welcome
I think this setup will make it run pretty well

 

I'd go with the bigger cam. This is kind of a funny car to start with but it sure will be fun to drive when you get the swap done. Post some pics along the way

 

Ya that's the one I was also leaning towards- hopefully we can get some time to start getting things together. I will post up pics as we go

 

Okay help us get this going down the right track - he doesn't plan boost in future. ( that he knows off ) we are going with the tsp. 228 on a 112lsa milling the heads .030" and running stock thickness head gasket. Question trunion upgrade needed?

The ls7 lifters in search area show different length push rods depending on setup. I think we just need to measure. so far the closest I can find similar is 7.375 length.

Goal is a co worker with his ecsb 98 s10 is getting his 350 worked with forged slugs and I'm guessing around 500 hp he's going for. From all the conversations we've had. He won't tell me the specs. He needs to beat him!!!!!!!!!

So will this lq4 tsp 228 with a 3200 loose stall w/80e give him a run for his money? If we can get it to hook

Problem we found with the car is it has 2.73 gear ratio so those will need to be changed later on - budget is to get it moving first

 

 

My dad had a el camino back in the day, this will be a cool build!