I'm thinking about buying one. I was really waiting on the G8ST, but now that that has been canceled an old model may have to do. A local dealership just got a '78 w/ v8 in seemingly good condition, but I don't really know if there are problem areas I should look out for. I'm going to take a closer look at it this afternoon. They have $4995 on the windshield, but it looks like a fair price would be more like $2-3k. This will be my 2nd Chevy, 1st vintage Chevy.
Anyone experienced an El Camino?
Look for the same things you would with any older car. Rust, frame damage, death rattles from the engine, burning oil, etc.
They have a strong following, so they bring more $$ than you would think. The earlier (larger) El Caminos from 73-76 may be less expensive. They also came with sweet swivel bucket seats!
The late 70's early 80's Malibu/ El Camino are very popular with the drag racing/ hot rod crowd because of their light weight, rwd and V8 acceptability.
For extra zoot, find a "special edition". My favorite is the El Conquistador! All you would need is an airbrushed scene of a virgin being sacrificed on the tailgate!
I prefer the later G body Elkys over the earlier ones, I would love one with 2 8" and 2 10" subs in the lower storage area and a good set of mids and highs up front, an Edelbrock headed 5.7L TPI engine with a Vortech supercharger and a T56 spinning a set of 3.45:1 gears.
I had a '70 a couple years ago that was an unrestored survivor. I loved it. I kick myself for selling it to buy a toyota 4x4. The guy who bought it let his son drive it and he totaled it.
I remember reading somewhere that the weight distribution was surprisingly good, surprising in that it was actually a hair better than a chevelle of the same vintage.
what is the lower storage area?
There is a 12"x@12"xwidth of the truck storage area behind the seats and below the bed accessible by tipping ther seats forward.
Awesome speaker box/amp location, useless for anything else.
ooh, a hiding spot. I should keep drugs in there.
Look for rust where the frame loops up over the rear axle, mud usually cakes in there and won't let water out.
Root around eBay or CL, $5k is a little stiff unless it's an SS or something.
Google your way around the GRM site and find Tim's Ranchero parts fetcher, love that car. He won't sell it to me.
Dan
I just went and looked at it, it's mostly clean looking on the outside, but looks like it has been repainted on the cheap. The trim had some overspray, very minor rust on the body except one spot behind the right rear wheel where there was ~6"sq that was starting to break through in the middle. The engine is clean, 305 2bbl with the 3spd auto. Interior is cleanish, shows it's age but nothing was broken or modified except the intermittent wiper switch had been replaced with a newer off-hi-lo switch. The battery was dead, so I couldn't start it. The dealer said he would get a new battery and call me so I can drive it and lift it up to get a good look at the underbody.
If the frame is solid, as it sits I'm thinking its a $2500 car, no more, but I'll have to see if I can get them to agree to that.
Oh, the build sheet was in the glove box, factory alloy wheels, plus there was a matching 5th in the lower storage area. Lotsa tread on the tires, but they look like they are 15-20 years old.
I drove an '80 El Camino as my first car for several years (and then my brother drove it when I went to college).
It was a 90 degree V6er to start with. Had been wrecked and had frame repair at some point in the past. When the "metric" transmission started to go, it got replaced with a TH350. Apparently at least some (maybe all???) of this body style came with factory installed air shocks in the rear.
My father and I replaced the engine with a V8 (283) on the cheap and it was a very reliable and, I dare say, fun car for a high school kid.
Rust is the only real "deal breaker" issue as far as I'm concerned. All the mechanicals can be dealt with, and cheap. If that one really has a 6" square rust hole going on that you can see, you can count on rust, in general, being a problem for the remaining life of the car. Like mentioned before, the frames on these cars (all g-bodies) rusted out in the back where crud slings up off the wheels into the frame. There are folks (or at least one guy) who make an aftermarket rear frame section or sections for them, though. When you see a G-body driving around with a droopy rear bumper...it's got a rusty frame.
Clem
The frame looked very clean, but I'll make sure to pay close attention once I get it up on a hoist and can get a good look.
How much seam sealer did GM use back in the day. It looked like a lot compared to my Honda's, but maybe I should be more weary, maybe it was painted over caulking.
http://www.bubbadrift.com/. Yes, Hellen, you can drift a El Camino. Nothing is funnier that seeing a Camino and Carolla both sliding at full opposite lock
That's a fair amount of awesome in that photo...
Joe Gearin wrote: The earlier (larger) El Caminos from 73-76...
That's not THAT early...
First gen was 1959-1960. I've got a '60 model. 
Second gen was 1964-1967 (Chevelle based- very small)
Third gen was 1968-1972
By the time you get to 1973, you are in the fourth generation, and some are 14 years old!! 
I had an 85. Great little truck.
Starting in 78 they were on the A/G-body platform. Not much changed other than in about 1981 the A-body became front wheel drive, so they made up the G-body designation to carry over the remaining RWD intermediates.
Aftermarket support is insane and cheap. Swap on some B-body spindles with 12" brakes from an F-body and you're in business. They'll swallow nearly any GM engine. Over the years the same frame was used for all of the GM lines (except cadillac) so the holes are most likely already drilled for Buick, Olds, Pontiac engines. Caddys fit with different mounts. Nothing like a Caddy 500 in an intermediate car.
Your first order of business before upping the power is to ditch the 7.5" rear axle. They're weak. There is only one direct bolt in upgrade and that is an 8.5 from a Grand National, or Regal turbo. They're expensive. In 78 there is a small chance that you have a THM200C tranny. Also weak. A TH350 or THM200-4r will bolt right in place since they were also offered in the A/G bodies. You just slide the tranny crossmember back a couple holes and you're good to bolt it in. The THM trannys use a TV cable to the tranny and the TH350 uses a vacuum modulator instead. The stock driveshaft will even fit without modifying it. Any of the other GM trannys will fit as well, inlcuding 4, 5, and 6 speed manuals, but they are different lengths and output shaft configurations.
Unless its pretty cherry, or a choochoo custom, $4995 is insane. I bought my 85 super clean, loaded with all the options, 95k on the clock for $2800. This is a cookie-cutter G-body, not a classic A-body like a 1970.
Most common rust spots are on the frame right in front of where the lower trailing arms mount. Other spots are where the frame comes down from the firewall to meet the side rails. Body tends to rust around the wheel well openings. Rear windows have been known to have leak issues so check for water damage around the rear window.
xci_ed6... the Elky is built basically as a Malibu Wagon frame and chassis with a different body on it. The floorpan is right out of the wagon, so behind the seat there is still the footwell for the rear passengers. This part is open to the cabin, and under the bed. Perfect for shotguns, dead underaged hookers, cocaine, and stereo equipment.
You goons are making me want to sell my Subaru wagon and get an El Camino. My wife will kill me.
my wife said mine smelled like burning garbage. she hated it.
I have a 72 "Fish mouth" Ranchero, it replaced my Aussie Falcon XC GS ute I sold to come to the US
Tim Baxter wrote: You goons are making me want to sell my Subaru wagon and get an El Camino. My wife will kill me.
Then why not split the difference and get a Baja?
Seriously, I have noticed that Elkys tend to be female-repellant (redneckian women excepted).
I thought the El Camino frame was 6'' longer than the other G bodies.
Wish we could still get Utes here. (damn Aussies)
Appleseed wrote: Wish we could still get Utes here. (damn Aussies)
I was Henry Ford that wouldn't allow them here, called 'em Kangaroo Chasers.
I'm thinking about throwing over my Ranger for a 60s Ranchero; like Tim Baxter, my wife would kill me too.
Dan
El Camino + Turbo Regal motor and suspension goodies = WIN!
Well not to me, but you'd end up with a fast, capable toy hauler.
A guy on one of the R6 forums is in the process of doing this swap.
Appleseed wrote: I thought the El Camino frame was 6'' longer than the other G bodies. Wish we could still get Utes here. (damn Aussies)
I was doing some "reading" on this the other day on the internets. What I remember is that only the wagon had a different wheelbase (and the number being used on forums was 8"...longer). It would stand to reason that the el camino was different too, but I can't remember if it was the same as the wagon or the same as all the others (I think it's the latter). But anyway, the 4 door sedans and 2 doors shared a common wheelbase.
In any case, as you've probably noticed, any of the chevy g-bodies seem to be holding value fairly well for a 20+ year old car. Not as well as the asking price on this one is indicating, but it's hard for me to pay $2K for a car, so that's why I don't have a malibu or cutlass right now. They're pretty much past the bottom of their depreciation curve (or is that the top?).
Clem
El Camino is the same as a wagon. That's why it get's that weird storage space behind the seats- that's the foot area of the floorpan for the rear seat of the wagons.
On the 1st gens, it is a dead space below the bed (hidden cavity under the bed, which fills with water until it rusts through).
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