El Camino Status Page

March 2002

This is it I've had it. The El Camino is no longer going to sit in the back yard and rust away. After looking at my finances and crunching numbers I'm getting it back on the road. At first I wanted to install an LS1 engine which is the engine in my Camaro. But after finding a site about a guy that installed one in a '88 Monte Carlo that will not happen. The modifications to the car would be extensive and he already had $10K invested in it!

I Talked with Mark at Andy's Auto in Monrovia about it and he suggested the LT1 engine instead. The install will be much more straight forward then an LS1. Mark also recommended that I try and find a '95 LT1. The '95 has an upgraded ignition system, uses a Mass Air Flow sensor (MAF) and uses an OBDI computer which can be reprogrammed easier to get it work in a body that was not designed for it. So now the search begins for a drive train.

April 7th 2002

I installed a new Optima battery in the El Camino today. I had to pour some gas into the carburetor to get it started, but after 2 1/2 years of sitting it fired right up. I had to do this 2 more times until gas from the gas tank made it to the carb. I let it idle for a while and added 1 1/2 quarts of Transmission fluid to it and moved it under it's own power. It should be ready now for the tow truck to take it to Andy's Auto for it's transplant once Mark is ready for it.

I just can't believe that it's happening.

April 25th 2002

This is strange for me but things are actually starting to look good for the engine install. Recently Car Craft and Chevy High Performance magazines have featured articles about LT1 engines being install in a 78 Malibu and a 82 El Camino respectively. They provided some good information and even more importantly places to buy some of the parts they used. I have been tracking down parts and ordering things left and right it seems like. I still need to get to a California BAR station. These places provide the required paper work needed for a car that has had an engine changed out from the original. I need to talk to them about what I can and can't do as far as the exhaust system to keep the car legal. The El Camino originally had 1 Catalytic converter on it. The Impala that the LT1 came from had 2. So what do I need to do? This is a pain in the butt. But it will be worth it when it's back on the road. I need to try and work on a links and info page for what I've done so far. It may help someone else some day.

One thing that both magazines talked about was that an LT1 from a Camaro/Firebird or an Impala would require 1of 2 things to be installed. Cut a notch in the passenger side frame to clear the air conditioner pump or install a Corvette accessory bracket that would move the accessories to the drivers side and higher up. I found 2 places that sell aftermarket bracket setups. One place wanted $1936.00 for their setup!! This is $40 less then I paid for the engine and transmission. I was under the impression that the Corvette bracket was no longer available. I called a few salvage yards but was told that they did not have any. One place said that they were still available new from dealers. I was able to order one from the dealer and it should be here in a few days. One other thing I'm pretty sure I'll need to buy because of the new bracket is a Corvette crank shaft pulley. This is due to the bracket moving the accessories more towards the front of the motor. I can wait to order this as there are both new ones and aftermarket ones easily available. I also need to investigate a new gas tank soon. The one on the Elky does not have baffles in it to stop gas from sloshing around to stop the electric fuel pump from pumping air to the engine. And it does not have a fuel return intake. Both of these are needed for a Fuel Injected engine. I think I found a place that I can get one for a 85-88 Elky for about $135. Then I just need a fuel pump, fuel lines, and a gas level sender and the tank will be ready.

I also have been looking at new gauges. The original ones are mechanical but need to be electrical to work with the LT1's computer setup.

I'm off to buy more parts.

May 5th 2002

I talked to the BAR the other day. If I was given good information I have to follow what the engine originally had on it for exhaust, not the body. So duel exhaust it will be. This increases the cost of the exhaust though. Duel: catalytic converters, cutouts, and mufflers, plus a little more exhaust pipe.

Let's see I have the Corvette bracket and bolts now. I also got the water pump from Mark so I cold clean it up and paint it. I have also ordered a conversion kit to turn it into an electric water pump. The main reason for this is that I want to put a double roller timing chain into the engine. It can't be done with a mechanical water pump so electric it is. I need to get the alternator from Mark so I can clean it up and maybe rebuild it so that I'm not having to do it later. Also on order is a new gas tank, straps and some connectors for making connection to the fuel rails on the LT1 easier. I will be ordering the braided line and connectors for the fuel lines in the next few days.

I took the radiator out of the car to have it overhauled last weekend. I figured since it had sat for 2 1/2 yrs that the junk that had built up in it I would not want going into a newly overhauled engine. Bad news there, the radiator is shot. After it was overhauled the shop put it in a tank to test it and there were pinhole leaks everywhere. The water sitting in it just ate it out. So now a new one is on order. And not being able to leave well enough alone I removed the radiator support bracket from the car also. I sand blasted it and covered it with rust inhibitor. Then painted it with Eastwood Chassis Gloss Black paint. Looks good if I do say so myself. Today I also order some new radiator support bushing. Since I had it out it only made since to put new ones in. And since the support bracket is out I'm going to sand blast, apply rust inhibitor and chassis paint to the portion of the frame that it sits on. I need to stop adding to what it's taking to get the car back on the road!

Demolition Pictures