Greetings! I'm a new member, just joined today, just bought a 70 ElCo this past weekend. Am no stranger to BowTies but this is my first A Body. I do not have any Chevelle/ElCamino books yet, lots of Vette and Camaro stuff. Question: I have a 13480 El Camino. What is different between this and a 13680 El Camino Custom? My car has a lot of interesting goodies like 12-bolt, PDB,Cowl Ind Hood, SS Grille. Though currently sporting a 350 and TH350 with console, I understand a previous owner pulled a 396/4-spd from the car...3-pedal set is still in the car beneath a regular dash. Would be interesting when I track down a previous owner locally. I've seen posts that ALL 1970 SS ElCo were CUSTOMS, what is the source other than posts on various forums?

I have a 13480 El Camino. What is different between this and a 13680 El Camino Custom?

I've seen posts that ALL 1970 SS ElCo were CUSTOMS, what is the source other than posts on various forums?
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Welcome to ECC/NECOA George!

In the VIN, the 34 refers to a Standard El Camino 8-cyl, the 36 refers to a Custom El Camino 8-cyl. According to the 1970 Chevrolet Light Duty Truck Data Book, only the Custom El Camino (13680) could get the Z15 SS option. Likewise, only El Caminos with the Z15 option could get the cowl induction hood. There was an SS 396 and an SS 454, but again, these engines were only offered with the Custom El Camino. So, if you indeed have a 13480 in your VIN, it sounds like your SS is probably a clone.

8) Hey kettbo! Welcome from Illinois! If you have a question about Elkys you found the right site! There is a wealth of knowledge and years of experience among the members!

PaPa John

Gents,
Thanks for the welcomes and for the tips. I'd figured that someone had put the car together rather than had taken an SS apart. I'd only mentioned my ElCo as an 134800 and I was careful not to call my car an SS. I'd bought the car from a kid and dad around the corner, kind of a father-son project that never took off. I certainlly did not pay an SS price for the car. though it has the blk SS grill, the badges all over the place, some incorrectly positioned. Paint is good, just some minor faults, is a strong driving car, great on the freeway. Was rained all week and the sun sets early. Hope to add a few minor things to the car then I'll hang a few pics up for your viewing pleasure.

George,
Welcome from the far East coast, from a fellow 70 Elco Owner!

I too bought my non-SS Elky recently from Calif. and have found this website and it's supporters to be very helpful, encouraging and knowledgeable.

When you can, if you haven't already, there's a place here under "Member's Cars" to post some member pics of your new "baby" plus some free webspace (that I haven't utilized yet). Here'a link to my member pics. Mike's 70 Elky (http://www.elcaminocentral.com/modules.php?set_albumName=1970-RubyRat-mnunn&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php)

I can see by your postscript that you're no stranger to BBC's so I'll play "Karnac" and suppose that 350's not long for it's current host. Specially since it came with a 396/4-speed at some point :)

Regarding your questions, let 'em roll!!! You've just found the Best Elky site in the world.

Mike, er, Karnac,
Passion for Rat Motors? I built the the motors for the Vette and the Nova in my subscript. Nova basically had a street race motor....the Vette engine uses different technology to be powerful yet drivable. Ref RatPower for the ElCo
I've located a 1970 402 from a pick-up about 30 minutes from here. A short putt away are two 454 from Suburbans.......and at least two TH400s. Will I convert to big block power? Dunno really. The 350 runs even better after some minor fiddling and the TH350 has maybe a few thousand miles on it after an AAMCO Rbld and shift kit. I seldom venture out of great Tacoma due to gas usage in the Vette. Thinking maybe about securing that 1970 402 now, IF down the road I DO swap in the 402, it would be street only, RV cammed and probably be in front of that TH350 initially....and possibly converting to a beefed 200R-4. We'll see.

My 68 RatVette's 427 is non-matching which allows for some fun, fulfills my need for speed. Its a 427/390 car on the tank sticker. Rat features TRW pop-ups, dimple rods, steel crank, 4-bolt block, with open chamber oval port heads featuring 2.19/1.88 valves. Atop is a Performer RPM intake and Edelbrock Thunder AVS 800 Carb. I've some stealthy Pertronix Ign components in the factory tach drive dist. This is backed by the original M-20 Muncie 4-spd with 3.33:1 out back. At 3400#, ya don't need aluminum heads and fancy stuff....it's all brute force and ignorance.

Back to the ElCamino. The car runs sweet now so changing things would not be productive. She's med blue, bkl SS Stripes up the Cowl Ind hood. Blk SS Grille, Blk vinyl top and tonneau. Blk buckets and console. She's not the show-winner your AWESOME RED ElCo is Mike!!!! Simply awesome. My car is a 2.5 on it's way to #2, but she's a looker. Only pic I have is of the car dirty a few months ago . Waiting for the rains to cease so I can dry her off for a pic. Am reconfiguring the garage to make room for the car so pics soon.

George,


I've been through Tacoma a couple of times on business, and have a friend or two in Bremerton (sp?). Love that view of Rainier (sp?). "Speechless Gawking" when I first saw it is an understatement. Wow.


This is my first BBC. As a teenager, I had a 68 Camaro with a 327, but this time around (now that the kids are grown) I opted for a car with "real muscle". Personally, I like the front clip of the 69 better than the 70's, but the 70 is a sturdier ride.

I ended up buying it pretty much as you see it. I chose to buy rather than build when about a year ago I counted up how much time and money I'd have to invest to build a similar ride. This one cost me about 30 of my cents for every dollar the builder invested and had all the parts I wanted. I didn't have to tie up my garage for 2 years plus I got to enjoy it at cruises and shows shortly after it arrived.

I've got a friend at work who has a dark blue 67 427 convertible and another coworker who had a 66 [I think] 427, so judjing by their passion for their cars, I can appreciate your affections for BBC Corvettes. Though different generations I think the 67 and the 68 are the prettiest of them all, and it sounds like you've got one that'll really scat.

My 69 C-10 has a 402. It runs okay, but it fairly tame and a bit of a disappointment at highway speeds. Nothing like my 454. If your ever out here and want to apply your BBC engine building skills, I've got just the place for you to practice.

Can't wait to see your "collection".

Welcome again!