Hey im new here. I dont know much about El Camino's, well to be honest i dont know much about GM's

I am getting a 79 Elkie for free from a older couple that lives down the street. They would not sell it but they wanted it to find a good home. Well i will be proud to be the owner of another fine American automobile.

The lady's husband lost interest in it about a year ago. she comes into were i work all the time and talks to me, since she lives on my street she knew me before, but anyways, She told me if they didnt find a home for it it would be going to theboneyard. well i couldn't let a nice old car like that get sent to an untimly doom. I went over there today to check it out and i took a look at the frame, and the rest of the underrside of the car (or truck, whatever) and its pretty solid. it has a little bit of body rust, and the lime green paint is not too bad.

It has not been started in about a year, and it will be on monday, all the fluid is good, and there is no stains under the car so i will assume its not a leaker.

I want to know a couple of things to start off. It is a V8 but how can i tell what size it is? i was told its probly a 305. but could it be a 350? does anyone know how to decode the VIN? also do you have any suggestions before i start it up? I am going to dissconect the wire that goes from the distributer to the coil part of the HEI so that it does not spark while i crank it to get the oil flowing through the motor. take in mind this car has not been started in about a year.

Thanks
Cory T.

The cylinders are bound to be bone dry. I would suggest pulling all the plugs and squirting some oil in each cyl. Turning the engine through with the plugs out will ensure it is free before compression is introduced. The fuel in the tank is stale and should be drained, including the line all the way to the carb. Better safe than sorry. No need to rush into firing it up without all the prep work. Fresh oil, fuel, and lubricated cyl's should the minimum you consider. Keep us posted.
Brian

Is it realy nessisary to empty the tank? I dont think there is much in it, I will pull the plugs and shoot some liquid wrench down there, im not gonna change the oil when i first start it because when my dad tows it to NH with me (to his place) im thinkin about dropping the oil pan and cleaning out any sludge in the pan. And another thing, my stepdad once had a 84 impala that was sitting for about 5 years before he got it. when he went to pick it up it was under a tree and they just jumped it and started it right up (kinda dumb if you ask me) but they never drained the gas, or even sprayed oil in the cyliders, granted he blew the motor about a year later because he being an idiot only gave it one oil change (right after he got it)
but we'll see im going over there tommorow to get it ready to run, and if its all set ill fire it up.

pull the plugs and squirt some WD40 in it.
I would drain the tank myself, and have it cleaned. (varnish)
before you do anything drain the oil into something that you can use to pour the oil back in.
try to get oil in on both sides. (a little work here will save you alot of time and money later.
I would put in some oil treatment before actually cranking it. even if you are soon to drop the oil pan
Teflon (STP) is cheap insurance against a spun bearing.
(Ask me how I know)

As far as the engine goes, look on you shroud or underhood for a sticker that has your emmisions and belt routing. On this sticker it will have your
engine information. 5.0 is a 305. 5.7 is a 350 6.6 is a 400

Contrary to mainsteam thought the 305 is a good engine!
and it can be built as strong as any other engine can be built.
personally, I would hope for the 305 right now for a touch of better fuel economy (actual or perceived)

If you are familiar with the different ends of a wrench, the first thing you need to do is to get the appropiate Chilton or Haynes service guide.
This will give you all the needed info that you can use without a ASE badge.
Good Luck!

I want to know a couple of things to start off. It is a V8 but how can i tell what size it is? i was told its probly a 305. but could it be a 350? does anyone know how to decode the VIN?

According to my Haynes Manual, "On 1972 through 1980 models, the fifth digit of the VIN is the number that identifies the origin of the engine. On 1981 and newer models, the eighth digit identifies the origin of the engine."

For your '79, if the 5th digit is an H or a U, it's a Chevrolet 305. If the 5th digit is an L, it's a Chevrolet 350.

This is also assuming the engine in it now is the original. If it's not the original engine, all bets are off. You might have to run the engine numbers to find out what you have. This will, however, let you know what it came with from the factory.


Dusty

Were is the plate or tag on the engine so i can see if the numbers match.
im pretty sure they do.

Run the block #'s on the front, passenger side of the engine to see what it really has.
As far as starting the engine, dump a qt. of auto transmission fluid down the carb, put a mark on the balancer and bar the engine over with a ratchet about 4 revolutions and let it sit for a day. Also, put in a qt. of tranny fluid in the tank and fill it up with gas. The trans fluid will dissolve the varnish slowly throughout the system as you drive it. Disconnect the BAT wire off of the dist and crank the engine over for about 15 seconds, reconnect the BAT wire and let 'er eat! It's gonna spit and sputter but it should be alright. It sounds like you have gotten a real gift from the neighbors, take care of it and stay posted to this site for info. Good luck!!

WWWWwwwHHHHaaaaTTTtt!!!!
Did you say what i think you said? Put trans fluid in the Carb. Ok i dont know chevy's but i do know it is never a good idea to pour any fluid in the car, unless you wanna gum it up, or do some serious damage. thats like saying put some cokeacola in you oil fill, youve gotta be asking for trouble. But anyways im going tommorow after my final exams (pray for me) and im gonna dissconnect the wire off the distibuter, like i was told by alot of people, and im gonna keep the plugs off, im not too worried about it being stuck so im not gonna get too involed with this precedure, just gonna make sure it don't start untill i want it to. I was thinking about shooting some trans fluid in the cyl's but i dont have a oil squiter gun. like i said its been sitting at the most a year. but thanks for your suggestions and hopfully it will fire right up.

Wish me luck on my finals too hehe

I'd say its safe to bet that its still a 5.0L V8. I think the only 5.7L installed in an Elky of the fifth generation was a diesel and I'd bet that is not one of those.

At the very least add some fuel stabilizer and some octane booster before starting it up. Berryman spray in the carb and through the air horn in the carb before starting. If the oil looks clean enough then use it for now. I'd smell the transmission fluid to make sure it doesn't smell burnt. It has a THM 350C transmission which is a lockup type converter. Stock anyway.

When you get it home I'd disassemble it and clean it up maybe re-ring it or just rebuild it just for good luck. You can't "Just drop the Pan" in a Chevrolet El Camino. You will have to pull the engine almost out to "Just Drop The Pan" it has to clear the front Crossmember/brace. I'd expect the seals in the engine and transmission to be bad, but that is just me. I'd replace them and if your so inclined then not only re-build the engine I'd re-build the transmission its not that difficult not really. I'd be aware of the timing chain, look at it and check for excessive slop of it looks worn and has slop in it I'd replace that too.

You have a 7.5" rear end in it too, just so you know its probably not a real high gear ratio and more than likely an Open differential not positrack. If it is positrack there will be a tag on the cover of the differential clearly visible. It also more than likely that yuou have 10" disk brakes on the front wheels.

Sounds like you scored pretty well on this deal. I think, being an Chevy Lover and an Elky Driver, you'll love the truck once its going.

Good Luck! :D

goin over there now, maybee i can get her started up.

hi, mine is a 79 also. my fifth digit is a J ,and it is a 267 ci.

pretty sure its a 305, umm i didnt get it started, ill have to replace the battery before i can start it, probly new plugs and wires too. my jumpack couldnt spin it fast enough the cars batt is complely dead. and my jumpack only puts out 300 CA's (so probly about 200 CCA's)

About the talk of pouring tranny fluid through the carb:

Tranny fluid burns very slow and hot, pouring it through the carb allows it to coat the intake manifold and combustion chamber, soaking the built up carbon and other garbage in the engine. When you fire it up, all the loosened up carbon will safely burn in the cylinder and out the exhaust. It is the old school of the modern Sea-Foam, and at only around $5 bucks a can is well worth the investment and you can see the results as soon as you turn the key and see all that crap blow out the exhaust.

OK when i pulled one of the spark plugs the porcelan cranked and i ended up putting the porcelan peice in my pocket. dont worry the plug comes out. but since i was asking about the engine. i checked on acdelco.com and i looked under the 305 in the 79 el camino , doesnt have the plug i have. the plug out of the engine is a AC R45TS, ac delco says that plug is for a 5.7 l (or 350)

uh o, maybee its the 267, because.... ac delco has that plug for that engine, and it is a 2bbl noone mentioned that in 79 the bigger 2 didnt have 2bbl carbs

I wouldn't go by the plugs to determine the engine displacement. Look at the passenger side of the block on the front by the head. There will be a number stamped there get that and post it. Someone here can decipher that and let you know exactly what it is. My bet is that its a 305, if it has never been replaced.

According to the books i looked in 1978 was the last year you could get the 350 from the factory.

But that does not mean it is the original engine.

ok when i go over there again i will look. but as of now i will assume its a 267. because it has a 2bbl and those spark plugs but hey you never know