I just bought a 1980 El Camino. I have never worked on a car but I want to cherry this thing out. What are some of the first things that I should do to the engine to start improving the engine?

not trying to sound like a smart aleck but 1 of the first things you should do is take a basic automotive repair course at your local j.c

Unfortionatly I don't have time.

Hmmmmm, and how many miles are on this engine that is in your 80 Elky? I bet that it's quite a few. If so, a rebuild, transplant or crate motor will more than likely be in order.

First things first, go to your local auto parts place and pick-up a repair/maintence manual.

Make sure everything is mechanically sound to start with. Do a tune-up (plugs, wires, dist cap and rotor) & check the timing.

Change all the fuilds and filters, don't forget that pesky little one in the carb body. Remember this is a twenty-something year old vechicle!

Jack the front end up (use jack stands, safety first), pull the tires and check the brakes, repair as necessary, bleed the brakes. Replacing calipers, rotors and pads is easy and fairly inexpensive if you do it yourself. While your in there check the suspension for worn bushings. Make sure "ALL" the cotter pins are installed in the castle nuts.

Check all your hard lines (brake & fuel) for rust and wear front to rear.

So, what was your question again? :cool:

Smoked1,

Welcome and congratulation on your recent aquisition. Your in for a good time! Well to some it is to others its a job. Nice truck to start with, the 5th generation Elkys. I am not found of the manuals you find in a Autosupply so I"d suggest that you look for a shop manual on the truck from the general (GM).

Absoultly check it aout really well and replace the parts that are needing it. Unless someone has already changed the engine out yours has a 305. It can be built to put out at least 300 HP but most on this board will tell you for the same amout you can fix up a 350 (5.7 L) to produce more, better.

If it doesn't already have an overdrive I'd suggest that should be an upgrade consideration. Check for rust "under the truck" on the frame and body. Check really well around where the rear body mounts behind the wheels for rust that is an issue depending on where your at in the US.

FUel Injection is another good upgrade but it will take some experience with working on cars befor you should try it. A good easy place to start is adding a "Dress Up Kit" to the engine. These are pretty simple to do and improve the looks under the hood. You can clean and re-paint or add detail to the engine compartment pretty easy using Paint Bombs (Spray Paint).

Good Luck and let us know when you have unanswered question along the way. Someone on this board has probably already done it, learned the lessons and know how to do it better, faster or easier.

Thanks guys! The car is at the machanic right now. He is going to work on the tranny and for some reason the check engine light is stuck. He says that he should have it ready for me pretty soon. The owner told me that the engine has already been recently rebuilt and the machanic told me that the engine is in great condition. So, I think that the engine is ok. I have some learning to do but I have a friend that used to work on race cars so he should be able to help and teach along the way. So I have a V6 305? Sweet! That will work for me. I'll post a picture of it as soon as I get it back from the machanic and continue to do so as I go. I plan on really making this thing sweet. I prefer the look of the 67 El Camino but a 1980 will do for now. Thanks again. :)

Well no, if you have a V8 you have a 305 5.0 litre engine.

Well no, if you have a V8 you have a 305 5.0 litre engine.

This is a V6. Is it even worth improving on?

Far fewer people will try to "chrome out" a Chevy V6 as compared to a Chevy V8.
But there are a milion other ways to "cherry out" your car besides messing with the motor. If you aren't dissatisfied with this engine's performance, fix up the body and interior first.

Yeah, thats what i plan on doing. I want to get a system in it and the wiring is all messed up. That's my first task. Next is some nice rims and a paint job. The power steering needs some work as well. The car does seem to have some performance issues though. It just doesnt have the power that other V6s that I have driven have. I will probably just do the little things like the carberator and stuff. I'll be posting pics of it real soon.