So i was lookin for anew car, mainly a third gen Firebird as I simply love them, but I've always loved El Camino's as well. I found one in used car lot and almost bought it right there but after having my mechanic look at it we found out that the rear frame was rusted out. Thank god I had waited a day to have looked at. But after drivin her I knew I couldn't just go buy some random car, I had to get something I really liked, read as older muscle car.

So I found an El Camino, there aren't any Firebirds for under 2k in my area for once in a long time, and I went out and looked at it. I was a little hasty but I went ahead and bought it even though it was a bit more then I wanted to spend but its the best I'd seen in the few weeks I've been looking.

She's an 85 that has had several different engines in her and the owners were gear heads. Very little surface rust and, after seeing her up on a lift, very little rust under her. They repainted her blue, not sure what the exact color is but it is definitely blue, and they put a big ol' hood scoop on it which I'd like to take off, but the blown 450 they had in it needed the extra room.

Heres a list of what they've done
355 engine, 3/4" grind cam, aluminum intake, with about 5 or 10k miles on the rebuild
800 Edlebrock carb
G-Force Clutch
9" Ford rear end with Strange axles
Rear disc brakes (I haven't gotten the exactness of it but they put adapters back there so that the back wheels are 17's)
3 spd manual tranny it currently, although it did come with a T-10 4 speed which I'd like to get in there soon as she really doesn't like to go under about 35 mph
and Weld Draglite Rims, as I mentioned above 17's in the rear, 15's in the front.

With all that niether of two tachs work, the stock one on the dash or the gigantic one they put under the dash, the speedo is off by around ten mph at any given speed, and the fuel pump is connected to the head light switch so that needs to be pulled out for to turn it on.

Even though its an 85 they have the 86 radio bezel in it and an aftermarket tape deck is in there. I haven't had a chance to take a look at how he rigged that one up to stay put. But as long as the face plate is on it its on.

She needs some brake work as I found out a few days ago when one of the lines blew and the mechanics who fixed that recomended getting a new fuel pump as that one is kinda cheap.

So one thing I'd like to know is what are your recommendations for a clutch, as the mechanics that fixed the brake line recommended getting a new clutch and not leaving the old one in when putting that 4 speed in.

Also how easy/hard is it connect the tach so that it works. While I have no problem shifting by ear, it is nice to have the tach there just to monitor the RPMs.

I'm sure I'll have plenty more questions here and there. I'll get some pictures up as soon as the sun actually comes out.

And anyone in the central Illinois area?

welcome sir it seems you got lucky i didnt pay for mine i got it for free but she is a 85 camino ss came with a 305 4bar carb and turbo 350 trans but im going to put a 350motor 700r4 trans

Welcome to ECC Nick.

If only that El Camino of yours could talk, eh? I bet it would have some stories to tell, given all those mods it has.

I can't offer any advice personally to the specific questions you raised but other members will chime in soon I am sure.

sounds like a fun project ahead of you. good luck.

Welcome to the site, Nick. Enjoy..

To address one of your questions to the best of my ability, wiring the Tach should not be very hard at all. Provided, of course, you have a standard HEI-type distributor, you ought to be able to run one wire to the Tach port, one to ground, and one to a switched 12v (or does it need to be a hot 12v?)

Thanks a lot for the warm welcome. Hey Wite, you wouldn't happen to know where I could get a diagram of that, would ya?

Here ya go, I found this Tach wiring diagram online. Most tach's should wire the same, or will include a diagram when you buy a tach. It's really very simple. I fed the Green (tach) wire through the firewall and added an HEI distributor connector I got from the local parts store. All the other wires I connected under the dash.

http://www.offroaders.com/tech/Autogage-Tachometer.htm

awesome, thanks alot. I noticed today that the tach they installed under the dash is still gettin power cause there is a light on one of the buttons for it so it should be even easier now. Once I get a spare moment or two and it actually warms up I'll get down to it.