1984 El Camino

Couple weeks ago I was thinking about saving up for a supercharged Jag, so obviously today I picked up an 84 El Camino.

advertised as "el camino project" for $2400, then $1500. Went to look yesterday, it was at a consignment shop that handles estate cleanouts, and was ready to ask if they were firm but ready to pay $1500, then got hit with "this is the last car we need to sell to settle this estate, if you say yes today it's $1000" 

I said yes knowing it had a solid frame, holey floors, and no idea what was under the hood except a small block that was recently out. 
 

This morning Colin and I went and grabbed it. Fuel tank fell out when we were winching it onto the trailer. 

When we got home I poked around. Engine is fresh paint, has warranty telltale overheating discs on the heads, so it's recently remanned or a crate engine. Assuming 305, I moved some harness and spotted 3970010 casting - 350! Has aluminum Z28 intake and a non feedback q-jet and standard HEI. Oil looks almost new so rigged a fuel cell to gravity feed the fuel pump and it fired right up, warmed up and settled down into a nice idle. Has a little chop so it has larger than stock cam, brand new duals with stainless mufflers. On the trailer the trans goes into all gears and the brake pedal has feel.

When the tank fell out I noticed the limited slip tag on the diff cover! 
 

Cabin floors are bad, immediate needs to make roadworthy are floor pans, tires, and fuel system sorting. Power windows don't work. Seats are getting thrown out. 


 

Car was restored at some point. Has a GM restoration parts sticker on the hood. They didn't bother with the floors or they weren't bad back then. 

Score! Will this be a fix n flip?

I was really worried when I didn't see your hand in the first two photos!  Whew.  This looks like fun.  I've kinda always wanted an El Camino. 

Your house Your rules so I presume an Atlas drive train will not reside between the frame rails......fix n flip ?

Rust sucks. Looks like a good score for the price though

This is one of the vehicles that made me buy a large garage with a house next to it.  Cool cool cool.

In reply to OHSCrifle :

Nah it's on my bucket list

"When the tank fell out I notice the limited slip tag on the diff cover!"

I would like to nominate this as GRM quote of the month, because only around here would the fuel tank falling out of a car you just bought end up as a win.

Very cool.  I worked on a rusty G-body today and my first vehicle was an '80 El Camino.  Looks like a good start to a project!  Looking forward to following along.

Screaming deal! El Caminos are hard to find that cheap these days, in any condition. I too will be following along.

That seems like a score! Nice!

A buddy of mine bobbed the bed on one of these and a solid axle under the front. Was super cool on some big tires.

Great score! Is the plan to simply make it road worthy, or do you have something wilder in mind?

May not apply in Cleveland, but look at th frame just forward of where it rolls over the axle; BIG opportunity for mud & moisture to hang promoting rust.

Everything about rust applies in cleveland

I just went over everything, and I think the best direction forward is to ensure the frame is as solid as it looks, pull the engine and trans for the chevelle and move it along as a roller with a solid frame and posi rear end for as close to $1000 as possible. Verified it is a factory super sport, so maybe that will add to the value. The firewall is rotten. 

I'm bummed because I REALLY love me some elky, but there's too much rust and I would be throwing good money after bad, but to get an essentially new 350 that runs like this with a new exhaust I can make work and a seemingly functional 200-4r for $1000 that can all slot right into the chevelle and make it a runner very quickly? I think that's a W

Full rundown: both a pillars, inner rockers, bottom of b pillars including all 6 body mounts at those spots are crust. Just look at it wrong and it crumbles. There is essentially nothing holding the body to the chassis between the front bed floor mount and the core support. The firewall is rotten up the pillars on both sides extending to above the booster on the cowl and the same on the other side. From underneath none of this was really visible, it was only after pulling the carpet that I got a real feel for what was bad. I knew about the holes on the firewall above the booster from looking at it tuesday. 
 

absolutely not upset at the seller, nobody could have known without pulling the carpet. And at a grand, I'm perfectly ok with getting the drivetrain for the chevelle and selling whatever is good to make some other cars have a new life. From what I can tell the frame is solid which is a big thing. I won't be surprised if I get my entire grand back and end up with a $0 engine/trans. Can't win them all, but I can certainly make the best of it

Rust is definitely a bummer.  It's a shame but I agree that sounds just too far gone to be anything but a parts car.  I'm glad it's got a good engine/transmission for your Chevelle!