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This was the Cover picture of the 2013 National El Camino Owners Association calendar.
This was the September, 2012 cover picture of the National El Camino Owners Association Calendar.
This site is a new project for me. It will be improved over time, so be patient. My primary reason for creating this site is to be able to share some of the projects I am working on. Hopefully, some of my successes and failures will help the next person succeed with fewer issues. My overall goal with this vehicle is to build the ultimate Elky that GM should have offered- performance, comfort, convenience, etc. Everything has been replaced that moves, so I hope to get another 25 years of use.
The vehicle is a 1985 El Camino SS. It is not a true ChooChoo Custom. The nose was purchased from Honest Charley's. The paint is a 2009 Solstice Color, Wicked Ruby Red (GM Code 79/WA517Q). The bed is coated with Linux bed coating, and is covered with an electric locking Craftec Tonneau cover ( easily removed and installed). The vehicle has been mechanically rebuilt front to rear! Behind the ChooChoo nose is a 2 core aluminum radiator, LS1 dual electric fans, L31 350 CU GM Vortec Crate engine with TPI fuel injection, TES ceramic coated headers, Edelbrock intake manifold ( Est 300 hp). The engine is backed by a GN 200-4r OD transmission built by Len Freeman, a legendary transmission builder in the GN community. It flows through a custom driveshaft to a completely rebuilt GN 8.5" rear differential, with new PosiTraction unit, 3.73 gears, new bearings, and Moser axles. The exhaust flows through a Magnaflow Cat to Dual exhausts with Dynomax VT mufflers. The Elky easily passes SMOG tests here in Nevada. It has never been raced or abused since the rebuild. It is a blast to drive, though!
The Suspension is also completely rebuilt, with new springs, Bilstein shocks, Poly Graphite bushings, and new ball joints, tie rod ends, etc. A heavy duty F-body sway bar on the front works nicely with the HD sway bar on the rear. The front spindles were converted to Blazer spindles for the Bigger 2-piston brake calipers. Rear brakes were converted to LS1 Disk brakes from a Camaro. Rear suspension includes Boxed, adjustable Arms with Poly bushings, Stock springs with Firestone Air Bags and Bilstein shocks. Handles and stops like a dream. Only a slight amount of vibration can be felt due to the Poly bushings, but definitely worth it.
The seats are leather, heated, power from a '98 Acura CL. The leather is new, as are the matching door panels. The console and floor shifter are from a 2004 Grand Prix. The interior plastic was dyed to match the seats, and new headliner, visors , seat belts and carpet installed. I also installed a Homelink sender in the visor. Other minor interior changes include a leather wrap on the steering wheel, 120 MPH speedo, CD player, 7" self powered sub woofer, new speakers in dash, Concert II speaker enclosures on the doors, electric Powered Mirrors, Auto up/down on power windows, inside mirror with map lights, third brake light, new seat belts, tinted windows, and alarm system. Air conditioning is all new from the condenser and compressor to the Electronic controls inside. AC is nice and cold!
Below are pictures of some of the details
Outside mirrors are electric, from a '98 LeSabre. See Electric Mirrors subpage for more details on how to do this mod.
The engine is a Gm Crate L31 350 . It has been converted to Tuned Port Induction, and has a Serpentine Belt system from a '91 Camaro (Not Shown), with a 140 amp alternator. Ceramic Coated TES headers flow into a high flow cat and then into a Monte Carlo SS exhaust, extended for the Elky. Mufflers are Dynomax VT Valve Technology mufflers. No drone on the hwy, fairly quiet at idle, but loud when you step on it! . The trans is a GN 200-4r, as is the rear end ( 8.5" with 3.73 gears). This combo has a lot of torque, and will rev easily to 5700 RPM. It will spin the tires in the first 3 gears, but still gets 21 mpg on the Hwy. See TPI subpage for more details on the swap.
The wheels are S10 Blazer ZQ8 16". Nice looking wheels that can be replaced should one get damaged ( unlike other custom wheels that might require a complete set!),
For cooling there is an LS1 dual fan with relay controls, and an aluminum 2-Row radiator. Manual fan controls are also on the dash, as well as LED indicators of fan operation and speed. There is also an additional HUGE Cadillac Transmission cooler, with a sensor that delivers the temp information to the stock temp gauge at the flick of a switch
There are additional underhood electrical circuits provided by a Lumina Electrical Panel.
AC has been converted to R134, with a Sanden compressor. I have installed an electronic HVAC control from a '94 Roadmaster. See HVAC subpage for details on how to do this mod..
The seats are leather, heated, power from a '98 Acura CL. The console and floor shifter are from a 2004 Grand Prix. The interior was dyed to match the seats, and new headliner, visors and carpet installed. I also installed a Homelink sender in the visor. Other minor interior changes include a leather wrap on the steering wheel, 120 MPH speedo, CD player, 7" self powered sub woofer, new speakers in dash, Concert II speaker enclosures on the doors, Electric Powered Mirrors, Auto up/down on power windows, inside mirror with map lights, third brake light, new seat belts, tinted windows, and alarm system.
If you have any specific questions on any of these projects or mod's you can e-mail me at: m_darby@yahoo.com , and I'll try and help if I can.
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