1973 El Camino ls swap
#1
1973 El Camino ls swap
This is my 73 El Caimino build. It started out as a small block 350 chevy rebuild. But, after discovering ls1tech, I decided to go with a more modern and flixible powerplant. Ive been reading ls1tech for months now and have learned a lot but, still I know i will need some help along the way.
My first couple of posts will be the car as of when I got it last year. All subsequent photos will be of progress since.
Please feel free to comment, critique, or offer suggestions at any time.
My first couple of posts will be the car as of when I got it last year. All subsequent photos will be of progress since.
Please feel free to comment, critique, or offer suggestions at any time.
#2
Here it as of the day we got it.
good ol' 350 small block
wasn't the best looking interior in the world, front floor boards were nearly rusted out.
A little rust here and there but nothing too major to hurt function of the car, other than the bed..
good ol' 350 small block
wasn't the best looking interior in the world, front floor boards were nearly rusted out.
A little rust here and there but nothing too major to hurt function of the car, other than the bed..
Last edited by el_73_camino; 06-30-2013 at 08:00 PM. Reason: Change image link
#4
So the car ran pretty well for the first few months, then while fixing a timing jump issue, I snapped the head off the crank bolt. being that it was the original bolt, it was bound to happen, but, didn't even think about that.
While taking apart the engine, discovered this disappointing mess..
Gotta love those careless owners. On the upside, found this out before it was too late, and decided to replace it. Originally with a bored 78 corvette engine, now with an LS after finding out just how good that engine is. And how much cheaper it will be of coarse.
Here's some pics of the 78 block, Cylinders bored from 030 to 040 over.
New pistons from Summit
All new parts for it seen here
Will be trying to sell it soon to save up for an LS.
While taking apart the engine, discovered this disappointing mess..
Gotta love those careless owners. On the upside, found this out before it was too late, and decided to replace it. Originally with a bored 78 corvette engine, now with an LS after finding out just how good that engine is. And how much cheaper it will be of coarse.
Here's some pics of the 78 block, Cylinders bored from 030 to 040 over.
New pistons from Summit
All new parts for it seen here
Will be trying to sell it soon to save up for an LS.
#5
My dad and I redid the interior a few weekends later while waiting for new engine parts to show up. Massive improvement from what it was.
List of what we did:
- New black carpet
- Patched the rust spots in floor board with pop riveted sheet metal
- New steering wheel
- Painted panels black and grey, to match the eventual theme of the car
- New dash cover
- Gauge cluster from Summit
- New seats from Summit
- Built console
- Covered top door panels with the highest grade black leather we could get from Handcock Fabrics. Also covered console with it
- Built a speaker box, covered with grey leather, mounted behind seats
- Tac mounted on console
- Converted column shift to a ratchet shifter from summit
List of what we did:
- New black carpet
- Patched the rust spots in floor board with pop riveted sheet metal
- New steering wheel
- Painted panels black and grey, to match the eventual theme of the car
- New dash cover
- Gauge cluster from Summit
- New seats from Summit
- Built console
- Covered top door panels with the highest grade black leather we could get from Handcock Fabrics. Also covered console with it
- Built a speaker box, covered with grey leather, mounted behind seats
- Tac mounted on console
- Converted column shift to a ratchet shifter from summit
#6
I later took the trim off because my dad and I felt it would look better. Found a bunch of rust under all the trim and I began putting in my 1000 man hours to sand it all down. Decided to eventually paint it some kind of quick silver with black SS stripes.
Example of the sanded down rust spots found all over the body
Original color began to show
Took off all the paint on the hood because of how badly applied it was
The driver side front fender sanded down was pretty beat up, spend a few days getting it to look the best I could. Not perfect but, turned out pretty nice
Once most of the body work was ready, we began to spray on the primer
And pretty much this is the car as of right now
Example of the sanded down rust spots found all over the body
Original color began to show
Took off all the paint on the hood because of how badly applied it was
The driver side front fender sanded down was pretty beat up, spend a few days getting it to look the best I could. Not perfect but, turned out pretty nice
Once most of the body work was ready, we began to spray on the primer
And pretty much this is the car as of right now
#7
Teching In
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 30
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Thought I would take a minute and chime in here. This is my son's thread and just wanted to introduce myself and add a comment.
We snatched this car from a used car dealer who was going to take the car to the crusher the day we picked it up. Although not everyone would agree, we felt this was a very good starting point for a car, 'er truck, 'er car, and some performance modifications. The list of future mods and what he plans on doing with the car I will leave for him to explain.
On!!!
We snatched this car from a used car dealer who was going to take the car to the crusher the day we picked it up. Although not everyone would agree, we felt this was a very good starting point for a car, 'er truck, 'er car, and some performance modifications. The list of future mods and what he plans on doing with the car I will leave for him to explain.
On!!!
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