I have seen a lot of elkeys built as a pure muscle cars but I was wondering what you guys would think of one built just as a pure truck. I'm not talking about raising abd putting 38 tall tires on it. But may be putting in a modern diesel, 5th wheel, and a 4x4 setup with out raising it from stock ride height.

well it's your elky and you can do with it as you please. but me personally, i am against the whole idea. but hey different stroke for different folks.

If you convert an Elky into a 5th wheel, you had better do something about shoring up the suspension. Also, I don't know what would happen with a lot of weight behind an Elky during braking situations. My small boat already pushes my rear end around very easily.

Unless you were going to stick an Elky body onto something like a shortened wheelbase K5 Blazer frame (4WD), I don't think it could be done. I definately wouldn't stick a 5th wheel on an Elky with a stock frame and suspension, I think they are only capable of carrying about 600lbs in the rear if that much so what would be the point?

I have carried around 1500 lbs. on my Ekly before but I sure would not recemmend doing it alot.

You'd have to put the 5th wheel right behind the cab or between the cab and then rear tires. That is probably going to get into the smuggler's box/cargo area. You'd need a better frame that is for sure. Depending on the trailer you could end up with a situation where the trailer weighs more than the truck. Brakes would have to be beefed up and you'd really need to install a Diesel engine, not a 350 convert to diesel like they came with.

It seems to me that you'd also have to do something about the rear suspension. Again, carrying the weight of the trailer (depending), you'd need some way to let the rear suspension down when your not towing. Sway bars would be a must and big ones. It would be even more trick if you could hide that well enough to make the truck look normal or Factory type look.

I guess you could do it if you had the bucks and equipment. Its not me but then, I've seen some Elky's all 4X4'd up and lots of other stuff put on them like grill guards and that sort of stuff and I assume the owners like them or they'd be different.

What ever melts your butter.

Go for it! I would love to see an Elky towing a 50 foot trailer.

It's all about physics!!!

A fifth wheel trailer even with a good braking system of it's own is heavy enough to push an elky around real easy. Other than having the power and frame to handle the weight, staying in a straight line could be the biggest issue.

I've seen a couple of elkies done up as 4X4's, most are just the body on a blazer frame. Never saw a fifth wheel setup. Mr. Toads Wild Ride comes to mind, personally, no way. I'd keep it the way it was made. :-D

I was thinking of doing this not for my current elky but for my next project. I was definitly thinking of using a modern duramax. I might use a diffrent frame as long as I can keep it stock hight. I am planing on building my current elky as showcar/performer and would use this elky as a daily driver.

The original owners manual specifically states that its not meant for carrying big loads... Putting the el camino body on a bunch of other stuff is not really an el camino at all. In my opinion, it would be a waste of a car/truck that is in limited numbers... why decrease these numbers by playing monster garage at your house? (bringing to my attention the time that they killed a ss el camino)

My dads Diablo had a fifth wheel before we bought it. I tell you it took its toll on the rear end and motor. The rear doesn't track perfectly straight and the 2.73 gears lugged the motor a little too much so now it has less than 35 pounds of oil everywhere we go in it.

My dads Diablo had a fifth wheel before we bought it. I tell you it took its toll on the rear end and motor. The rear doesn't track perfectly straight and the 2.73 gears lugged the motor a little too much so now it has less than 35 pounds of oil everywhere we go in it.

That is not bad oil pressure. Ity really only takes about 12 lbs to do a good job anyway.As long as there is a film between the crank / rods and bearings while its running your good. Looks weak but its still sufficient.

I could see someone with a towing rear and tranny doing it possibly but with a 350 and 2.73:1 gears :cry: I am totally suprised it has a rear end in it or a transmission that actually works now.

It needs new gears and a new transmission now please. :D I really never though that anyone would actually do it. Talk about doing it is another story but actually pulling a trailer that requires a fifth wheel, no I would never expect to see that happening with an El Camino.

I've know people with 1/2 ton pickups that have demolished them by pulling cattle trailers with them. Two prize Bulls can weigh several tons more than a 1/2 ton pickup is designed for. So an El Camino is even lighter towing vehicle than those.

You're right Pete about the usefulness of a stock El Camino as a serious tow vehicle but with enough time, effort and money it could be done. How about a really trick and fast El Camino tow truck. It could be used to hurry rice rockets to the dump wher they belong.

You're right Pete about the usefulness of a stock El Camino as a serious tow vehicle but with enough time, effort and money it could be done. How about a really trick and fast El Camino tow truck. It could be used to hurry rice rockets to the dump wher they belong.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


"Git a rope!"

http://store4.yimg.com/I/laughingpants_1760_534019

(Since the picture is not on a site I own, in case it disappears it's a photo of a Hot Wheels 'Tow Jam' truck, 2002 series.)

Dang Gozer, that hot wheels is deffinently different. :?

That's exactly what I was thinking about--except bigger, much bigger with a Chevy big block.

I am going to use this elky that I am getting that has a broken frame. This way I will not be terring up a good elky. I'm going to put the motor from it in my 80. If I didn't take this car It would be off to the junkyard. As I see it I will be saving one.