Hey all.

I found a mid-80's El Camino that I can't actually LOOK at yet, and I know very little about it, but am hoping you can help me out. The guy selling it is out of town for the next few days.

From the looks of it, it's mid-80s, and I know it has a V-8 in it. Which engine is that most likely to be...a 305, 307, or a 350?

I'm looking for a good car/truck (what DO you call these things, anyways?? :D ) to turn into a drag racing car...dropping in a bigger engine, (possibly) better trans, rear end, loosing all extra weight, etc... What do you guys think about that, are the El Caminos good drag racing cars (or do they have the potential)?

Edited to add: What about body parts for these cars? The back end looks pretty rusty...does anyone make replacement panels, etc? What about fiberglass parts? Thanks!

Any thoughts/suggestions are welcomed.

Thanks!

A mid eighties Elky would most likely have a 305 and a TH350 or TH200R4 and a 7.5" 10 bolt. All of these would have to be replaced or extensively modified for race duty. Any GM engine, trans, rear end is a pretty easy swap. The 5th Gen El Camino is a A/G Body (Chevelle, Cutlass, Monte Carlo etc.) and can be made as sucessful a race car as any G Body. You should be aware that the constuction is full frame/body on which is an advantage in a race car. Even though it looks like weight distribution could be a disadvantage it is not much different from a sedan. Not very many fiberglass parts available except hood and tailgate; replacement sheetmetal (NOS, new reproduction, good used) is fairly easy to find. There are a lot of 5th Gen El Caminos, don't buy a rust bucket, look around and buy the best you can get. GM marketed it as a truck that can be used as a car (or a car that can be used as a truck) but since it is based on a car chassis I think it is much more a car than a truck. You won't find too many racing Elky's so the novelty would be an advantage. Go for it.

If there's a lot of rust, pass on the car. If your planning on building a drag race car and you have very little knowledge about building one, I suggest you start reading or have a WHOLE LOT OF MONEY and let someone build it for you. I'm not trying to discourage you, just trying to help you from your garage turning into an expensive scrap metal storage facility for the next 5 years. G-body GM's do make good vehicles to start with because they were about the last American made full framed car. There are many aftermarket performance parts available to turn one into something mild or wild. If your talking about replacing sheet metal with fiberglass body panels, the car has to be well planned out in order to pass NHRA, IHRA or whatever Associations class rules your going to race in. One piece fiberglass frontends and doors are made for Elkys/Malibus. Stock drivetrains in these cars are totally inadequate for performance. Most performance parts are bolt on, in, or whatever, but from what you posted, it sounds like you want something wild, which will involve extensive fabricating and modifications and will require welding and a great deal of mechanical experience, unless of course you have someone build it for you...and you have a very fat wallet. Why not reconsider and get yourself a decent Elky, and turn it into a mild street performer. You can add to it or modify it as your mechanical knowledge increases and learn what works...or doesn't work. I myself would love to have an all out drag car but realize that I cannot only afford one, but don't have the time to race one, my wife continually reminds me of this, bless her lil heart. :lol:

With as many 5th gens out there I wouldn't settle for a rusty one. I'm not sure if you really are planning a wild full on drag car or more of a street strip car. But save yourself some money and trouble and find a good foundation to build on.

I'm planning something like this for my 4th gen. I'll most likely keep within the power range my tranny and rear end can take with out excessive mods. For my vehicle this should put me around 400-450hp and hopefully that much torque and get me somewhere into the 12s. If you are really wanting to build something fast go with a lightweight car to start with.

Mine will be a weekend playtoy and probably see some passes on the amateur/street nights at my local 1/8 and 1/4 tracks. Since its not a daily driver I can go with a little bigger cam, louder mufflers, big carb, etc.