http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/1821573900.html

I emailed this ad explaining that the Choo Choo pkg was an appearance pkg only and that the 5th gen never came with a 5.0 HO.
This is what he emailed me back:
"You better check your facts I have one I bought it new in 86 and
that's what it has the numbers match on that car that is for sale I
bought it to repair mine it was hit in the nose so if you do not know
what you are talking about it is best to say nothing than to show your
ignorance and by the way It is a real choo choo and so is the hood and
engine 5.0 HO. So if you do not want the car find something better to
do with your pathetic life."

From what I understand the high output 305 was available in the 5th gen el camino and came with a dual snorkel aircleaner and a better cam , the air cleaner decal is available from the el camino store. Truth is there is nothing impressive about the HO 305 that was put into g-bodys

5.0 liter H.O. motor introduced mid-year (March 1, 1983). H.O. motor came with a higher lift and longer duration cam, dual snorkel intake system with `5.0 Liter H.O.' decal on air cleaner, specially calibrated Quadrajet carburetor, light weight flywheel, electric cooling fan, bigger 2.75 inch exhaust and Corvette style wide mouth monolithic catalytic converter, `5.0 Liter H.O.' exterior badging, and came standard with 3.73 rear axle gear.
both use aluminum intake

early LG4 models had a cast iron intake however


both use the same heads

casting: 601
58cc chambers (60cc ?), 178cc runners (158cc ?)


valve size in L69 heads were larger

L69 : 1.84/1.50
LG4 : 1.76/1.46


L69 has 9.5:1 CR (flat tops) [these numbers changed]
LG4 has 8.6:1 CR (dished pistons) [these numbers changed]
L69 has a special cam, from the L-81 Corvette (hydraulic)

This is NOT a roller cam


L69 uses a performance calibrated PROM
L69 takes advantage of special exhaust/catalytic converter
L69 takes advantage of a higher stall torque converter

L69 : approximately 1900 RPM stall
LG4 : approximately 1200-1500 RPM stall


L69 uses a better fuel pump (from the Z/28)
the changes in the L69 setup yielded *roughly* 30 more horse power
the same changes actually yielded slightly less peak torque for the L69, but had the advantage of a flatter torque curve overall

If it is what he claims it is, how come the doors are pre-85? You can tell by the bullet mirrors.

This link lists the engines that Chevrolet records indicate were available, (http://www.chevelles.com/elcamino/ec_engine.htm)

http://www.chevelles.com/elcamino/ec_engine.htm

I hadn't noticed the pre-85 doors/mirrors.

Pre-85 door with 87 sticker? Link is to another one of his ads with a picture of the Choo Choo sticker.
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/cto/1810916612.html

Didn't the Choo Choo have the side pipes as well?

As an option.

L69 = Monte Carlo SS
LG4 = El Camino and Monte

L69 = Z28 also. I had a couple of L69 Z28's in the 80's. An auto and a 5-speed. Had a nicer sound and a better off idle start than the LG4.

L69 = Z28 also. I had a couple of L69 Z28's in the 80's. An auto and a 5-speed.
Fireturd was L69 also. In 84 I swapped an 84 Fireturd L69 w/T5 drivetrain into my 80 El Camino. But L69 was never a 5th gen option.

I'm not trying to start an argument or dispute anyones knowledge on this site God knows there are many of you guy's that have forgotten more than I will ever know about our Elky's but just a point, I got the resto package for my 87 elky from GM and it lists the LG4 motor as having a 9.3 to 1 compression ratio Is this a misprint? jim:texas:

As a ps to my previous post this is not the only reference I have Indicating that the 86 and 87 models with the center bolt heads had a higher comp.ratio I have a GM Jim shop manual that says the same thing. Any truth to this ? Jim :texas::beer:

The LG4 has had several different compression ratios. In 78 it was 8.5:1, 79 was 8.4:1, 80 through 84 is was 8.6:1, 85 through 87 it was 9.5:1.
Ernie I guess from your answer that my 87 LG4 did in fact have a cr. of 9.5 to1 is that right? Thanks for answering a long and disputed Question I have had for some time now Jim :You_Rock::beer:

5.0 liter H.O. motor introduced mid-year (March 1, 1983). H.O. motor came with a higher lift and longer duration cam, dual snorkel intake system with `5.0 Liter H.O.' decal on air cleaner, specially calibrated Quadrajet carburetor, light weight flywheel, electric cooling fan, bigger 2.75 inch exhaust and Corvette style wide mouth monolithic catalytic converter, `5.0 Liter H.O.' exterior badging, and came standard with 3.73 rear axle gear.
both use aluminum intake

early LG4 models had a cast iron intake however

both use the same heads

casting: 601
58cc chambers (60cc ?), 178cc runners (158cc ?)

valve size in L69 heads were larger

L69 : 1.84/1.50
LG4 : 1.76/1.46

L69 has 9.5:1 CR (flat tops) [these numbers changed]
LG4 has 8.6:1 CR (dished pistons) [these numbers changed]
L69 has a special cam, from the L-81 Corvette (hydraulic)

This is NOT a roller cam

L69 uses a performance calibrated PROM
L69 takes advantage of special exhaust/catalytic converter
L69 takes advantage of a higher stall torque converter

L69 : approximately 1900 RPM stall
LG4 : approximately 1200-1500 RPM stall

L69 uses a better fuel pump (from the Z/28)
the changes in the L69 setup yielded *roughly* 30 more horse power
the same changes actually yielded slightly less peak torque for the L69, but had the advantage of a flatter torque curve overall


Thank you for the info ,learned something new. Still not impressed by the HO 305 but its better then the normal slug 305

the changes in the L69 setup yielded *roughly* 30 more horse power

The L69 was rated by GM at only 10 HP more than the LG4.

Ernie I guess from your answer that my 87 LG4 did in fact have a cr. of 9.5 to1 is that right?
That's correct.

The L69 was rated by GM at only 10 HP more than the LG4.


That's correct.
Thanks Ernie for the feedback, Jim:You_Rock::beer:

http:http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-camaro-VIN-decode-third-gen.asp// (http://http//www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-camaro-VIN-decode-third-gen.asp//)

Does not cut & paste well. From the sites I have found the L69 has an average of 30 more horsepower.

1987-92 CAMARO VIN (http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-camaro-VIN-decode-third-gen.asp)
Vehicle Identification Number Example: 1G1FP2184NL100000
First Digit Nation of Origin: 1=USA, 2=Canada
Second Digit Division: G=General Motors
Third Digit: 1=Chevrolet, 7=GM of Canada('83-'88)
Fourth & Fifth Digit Body Style: FP=Camaro Sport Coupe, FS=Firebird, FW=Trans Am
Six Digit: 2=Hatchback, 3=Convertible
Seventh Restraint Codes: 1=Manual Belts, 2 or 3=Manual w/ Driver Air Bag, 4=Auto Belts
Eigth Digit Engine: See Engine Codes Below
Ninth Digit is Check digit
Tenth Digit Year: H=87, J=88, K=89, L=90, M=91, N=92
Eleventh Digit Production Plant: N=Norwood,Ohio, L=Van Nuys
Last Six Digits increase by one with each car built at each plant
Engine codes: (VIN Code | CID-hp | RPO Code)

1982 1983 1984
2 151-90 (LQ9) 2 151-92 (LQ9) 2 151-92 (LQ9)
F 151-90 (LQ8) F 151-92 (LQ8) 1 173-107 (LC1)
1 173-102 (LC1) 1 173-107 (LC1) G 305-190 (L69)
7 305-165 (LU5) 7 305-190 (L69) H 305-150 (LG4)
H 305-145 (LG4) H 305-150 (LG4)
S 305-175 (LU5)

1985 1986 1987
2 151-88 (LQ9) F 305-190 (LB9) 8 350-220 (B2L)
S 173-135 (LB8) G 305-190 (L69) F 305-190 (LB9)
F 305-215 (LB9) H 305-155 (LG4) H 305-160 (LG4)
G 305-190 (L69) S 173-135 (LB8) S 173-135 (LB8)
H 305-155 (LG4)

1988 1989 1990
8 350-230 (B2L) 8 350-230 (B2L) 8 350-245 (B2L)
E 305-170 (L03) E 305-170 (L03) E 305-170 (L03)
F 305-195 (LB9) F 305-195 (LB9) F 305-210 (LB9)
S 173-135 (LB8) S 173-135 (LB8) T 191-140 (LH0)

1991 1992
8 350-245 (B2L) 8 350-245 (B2L)
E 305-170 (L03) E 305-170 (L03)
F 305-205 (LB9) F 305-205 (LB9)
T 191-140 (LH0) T 191-140 (LH0)

1987-92 CAMARO VIN (http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-camaro-VIN-decode-third-gen.asp)
Vehicle Identification Number Example: 1G1FP2184NL100000
First Digit Nation of Origin: 1=USA, 2=Canada
Second Digit Division: G=General Motors
Third Digit: 1=Chevrolet, 7=GM of Canada('83-'88)
Fourth & Fifth Digit Body Style: FP=Camaro Sport Coupe, FS=Firebird, FW=Trans Am
Six Digit: 2=Hatchback, 3=Convertible
Seventh Restraint Codes: 1=Manual Belts, 2 or 3=Manual w/ Driver Air Bag, 4=Auto Belts
Eigth Digit Engine: See Engine Codes Below
Ninth Digit is Check digit
Tenth Digit Year: H=87, J=88, K=89, L=90, M=91, N=92
Eleventh Digit Production Plant: N=Norwood,Ohio, L=Van Nuys
Last Six Digits increase by one with each car built at each plant
Engine codes: (VIN Code | CID-hp | RPO Code)


1982 1983 1984
2 151-90 (LQ9) 2 151-92 (LQ9) 2 151-92 (LQ9)
F 151-90 (LQ8) F 151-92 (LQ8) 1 173-107 (LC1)
1 173-102 (LC1) 1 173-107 (LC1) G 305-190 (L69)
7 305-165 (LU5) 7 305-190 (L69) H 305-150 (LG4)
H 305-145 (LG4) H 305-150 (LG4)
S 305-175 (LU5)

1985 1986 1987
2 151-88 (LQ9) F 305-190 (LB9) 8 350-220 (B2L)
S 173-135 (LB8) G 305-190 (L69) F 305-190 (LB9)
F 305-215 (LB9) H 305-155 (LG4) H 305-160 (LG4)
G 305-190 (L69) S 173-135 (LB8) S 173-135 (LB8)
H 305-155 (LG4)

1988 1989 1990
8 350-230 (B2L) 8 350-230 (B2L) 8 350-245 (B2L)
E 305-170 (L03) E 305-170 (L03) E 305-170 (L03)
F 305-195 (LB9) F 305-195 (LB9) F 305-210 (LB9)
S 173-135 (LB8) S 173-135 (LB8) T 191-140 (LH0)

1991 1992
8 350-245 (B2L) 8 350-245 (B2L)
E 305-170 (L03) E 305-170 (L03)
F 305-205 (LB9) F 305-205 (LB9)
T 191-140 (LH0) T 191-140 (LH0)

From the differences between the two motors , raised compression, larger valves , different cam , larger better flow cats , and higher stall torque convertor , I would find it hard to believe that there was only a 10 hp difference between the two motors. I would believe 30 hp difference and that might even be a low estimate.