In my quest for accurate information on the 4th gen SS's. I figured I would let you know of my success with some door panel emblems on my '73 SS.

My front grill is blacked out and has the SS emblem, the side stripe and tailgate have the SS emblem, and the sterring wheel has the SS emblem. The dash only says "El Camino". And my door panels say "El Camino" on them also.

I have seen supposedly true '73 SS's with the "SS" door emblem, and I've seen some with the "El Camino" door emblem. I think this might be accurate and a factory supply issue. It is rare, but I have only seen a few with the "SS" door emblem on it. Mostly on GM photos. Most have the "El Camino" door panel emblem.

I want my door panels to have the "SS" emblem. I found some from a '70-'72 El Camino at National Parts Depot. Part number c-14691-106. These are the same exact size as the "El Camino" emblem on the door right now. They are not repro's and cost $41.00 a piece. But they look real good. I have not installed them yet, but they do have the three little "titties" to push into the door panel. They measure 3 inches wide by 5/8 inch tall.

I have to take apart the door panel soon to fix the door latch and will install them then.

Just passing it on.

Pass any info along you find. I've got myself a 74 SS that I could use any and all info on the SS options.

The "SS" door emblem fit "dead on". I installed it on the passenger door. Still have to do the driver. The only issue I had was with the rear mounting of the metal tabs. I couldn't get them back on. I took a small piece of thin plastic, drilled the three "titty" holes in the thin plastic. I then used a simple hobby hot glue gun to glue the thin plastic to the back of the door panel. It is very solid and looks good.

The only thing I would change is where I bought the "SS" emblem. I would try and find a repro that is a little less expensive.

My dash has nothing and I don't think the 74's have any door emblem. My horn center just says chevrolet but I'd like to find an SS horn pad at some point. Once I get it repainted I'll have to repaint the SS stripes and my front grille is dented slighty and the ss emblem on it is pretty worn.

I still have not found any word on info on the SS package being available on the 400's. The vin verifies the 400 2bbl and everything else seems to match being an SS. I'd love to find more history on mine and hope to someday since it is an original TX elky.

The only thing I would change is where I bought the "SS" emblem. I would try and find a repro that is a little less expensive.

I just say these on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7936640994&category=33705

I'm the second owner of my '76 and it was bought new with the "SS" appearance package (74K original miles). The dash has an "SS" emblem to the left of passenger side a/c vent, the horn pad says Chevrolet, the inner door panels do not have any emblems (I have the '74 & '76 El Camino sales brouchers that do not show the "SS" door panel emblems), it has a split bench w/ armrest, the grill has a small "SS" emblem on the lower drivers side (By the way I have an extra NOS '76 - '77 "SS" grill emblem if you need one, I used the large '74 grill emblem), The grill bowtie is red, it has 15 x 7 rally wheels, sport mirrors (drivers side adjustable), it had the factory SS decal/stripe package (now has painted hood & tailgate stripes w/ metal "SS" fender emblems). In addition to the standard SS package my truck also had a/c, 350 4bbl, rally guages (w/ optional large vacume fuel economy guage, small fuel, voltage & temp guages, & clock), & light duty tow package.

Hope this helps.

In doing research on my 73 SS I found that the 73 used left over 72 door panel emblems. There was no SS dash emblem on a 73 . In 74-77 They changed the upper door panel and removed the door SS/ElCamino Emblem and relocated it to the dash. Another interesting thing I found was that up till 72 the SS package was set in stone , you could only get it with Buckets, floor shift, gauges. They were really sticklers about that no variations. On the 73/77's you could get SS with Bench, Buckets, colum shifters, any combination. Basically any way you wanted it but you only got them with 350/454 engines and later 350/400 in 75. There were factory SS's and Dealer SS's. So in these years it is very hard to find a real Factory SS
You may have the outside grafics but not the insides one or vice versa these years are easily cloned. But also teh hardest to find good parts for.

i have a 73 factory ss and mine def has the ss on the door pannels.. i love the way they look

Yeah My 74 never had any emblems of any type on the doors. All it had was the El Camino emblem inset into the passenger side of the dash near the Right Side A/C Dash vent. Can't say what the steering wheel had as I bought the car with an aftermarket LeCarra wheel already on it.

:D