El Camino Central Forum banner
1 - 20 of 134 Posts

· Registered
Joined
·
697 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Check it out..
Picked up a low mile all original.. minus the wheels.and hood 😊. 1983 wagon.. all original down to the wingnut on the air cleaner.. the seller also gave me the original wheels and tires and hood.
63xxx miles.. I am the 3rd owner.
305/th350/2:43 gear
The plan is to go thru the brakes.. fuel system.. suspension and a new set of tires.charge the air conditioning.. it blows cool not cold.. yet..😎. get it legal and safe to drive. Unsure if it will be a big inch small block or LS swap ..
Input is welcome..
Oh yeah.. we put a hot battery on it and some gas it fired right up.drive it home 7 miles. tags went out in 2015
Shout out to Minoridertim for helping me out.
 

Attachments

· Registered
87 Caballero Amarillo, original 305/200-4R, QJ
Joined
·
1,936 Posts
Buddy of mine in high school had one. We pulled the 6cyl out and dropped in a Mighty Mouse 305HO with a slightly more aggressive cam. Not only sounded great after swapping out the suitcase for a turbo muffler, but that thing would move! Lol. I love wagons, so versatile for family stuff.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
3,067 Posts
I bought a brand new 1983 Chevy Malibu wagon in 1983 . It had the 229 cu.in. V6 -2 barrel with automatic & it was loaded with options . Had trouble with the lockup converter , it banged real loud when it engaged . Other than that it was good , got 24 mpg on a long coast to coast road trip . I wish I'd got a V8 I would have kept it longer , only kept it 5 years , wish I wooda kept it longer .
 

· Registered
Joined
·
697 Posts
Discussion Starter · #9 ·
I bought a brand new 1983 Chevy Malibu wagon in 1983 . It had the 229 cu.in. V6 -2 barrel with automatic & it was loaded with options . Had trouble with the lockup converter , it banged real loud when it engaged . Other than that it was good , got 24 mpg on a long coast to coast road trip . I wish I'd got a V8 I would hae kept it longer , only kept it 5 years , wish I wooda kept it longer .
I’m looking forward to getting it on the road..legally..
It is optioned strange.. power locks but no power windows or cruise control.. odd..
 

· Premium Member
Joined
·
2,505 Posts
Wagons Rock!! And I second your thoughts for dropping in an LS motor - they are inexpensive, abundant and run well forever. Especially the Gen 3 motors without DOD / AFM. Let me know and I will box a PCM for you that is at least semi-tuned to the point that it'll start and run without throwing strange check engine light codes.

I can tune a Gen 3 PCM (1999-2006 or so) for free and as long as you are not putting in a radical camshaft or new intake manifold, it should run pretty good. These devices are very inexpensive in the yards around here and I . . . simply . . . can't . . . walk . . . away . . . from one at the JY. Especially when somebody else has already done the work to make it easy for me to finish grabbing.

I think, at last count, I had nine Gen 3 PCM's in my stash around here, ready to go. Yes, I have a bit of a hoarding problem.

Rick
 

· Registered
Joined
·
697 Posts
Discussion Starter · #13 ·
Wagons Rock!! And I second your thoughts for dropping in an LS motor - they are inexpensive, abundant and run well forever. Especially the Gen 3 motors without DOD / AFM. Let me know and I will box a PCM for you that is at least semi-tuned to the point that it'll start and run without throwing strange check engine light codes.

I can tune a Gen 3 PCM (1999-2006 or so) for free and as long as you are not putting in a radical camshaft or new intake manifold, it should run pretty good. These devices are very inexpensive in the yards around here and I . . . simply . . . can't . . . walk . . . away . . . from one at the JY. Especially when somebody else has already done the work to make it easy for me to finish grabbing.

I think, at last count, I had nine Gen 3 PCM's in my stash around here, ready to go. Yes, I have a bit of a hoarding problem.

Rick
Thanks. It will be some time but when I get ready I’ll definitely give you a shout. The deal is in our hot rods.. all money comes from side work,, hustling ..ect so no real money comes from household account. So it takes a little longer.. I hope to run the stock 305 for a year or so while saving 💵.
 

· Registered
87 Caballero Amarillo, original 305/200-4R, QJ
Joined
·
1,936 Posts
Heh, good luck with that. That was my original plan too, get an LS in my cab, but then I finally got to find the block number and it's the original numbers matching block.... Decisions, decisions..
 

· Premium Member
Joined
·
6,161 Posts
I HOPE YOU GOT THE WINDSHIELD MOLDINGS! THEY ARE SPECIFIC TO THE WAGON as well as the glass.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
697 Posts
Discussion Starter · #17 ·
Today’s update.. we swapped out the computer controlled distributor for a new msd street fire. New plugs, wires, cap and rotor. Runs 100% better. It starts with just a bump of the key. Shout out to Minoridertim for the extra hand.
#longroof
#scoredaniceride
#youlikeit
 
1 - 20 of 134 Posts
Top