I want to thank everyone for the replies. I mostly just window-shop
on ebay and craigslist, but if the right El Camino became available
I'd get rid of mine. I've had Clustertruck six years and have done
little to it. Don't really have the time.
My son is six now and for years I've thought it would be really cool
to have a truck that I could throw some bikes and a grill in the back,
and drive up to the park. Or to tailgate at our local baseball
games. I particularly like the idea of an A-body El Camino because
it's a nice, smooth ride and I love a truck that is low to the
ground. One with a bench seat, so that three of us could sit across
the front seat. Clustertruck has this, but I estimate it would cost
at least another $1000 for mechanical restoration before I felt safe
taking my family in it. And after that, I'd still have a very ugly,
rusty body and ratty interior.
The one in the ad might be worth $3800 (or best offer :) ) to me if
it's in original condition and really runs as good as he says it
does. I asked if it would make a 6-hour interstate trip, and his
response was "runs like a champ." I guess easy to say if it's another
guy driving, but a test-drive would probably tell me alot. I also am
probably the only guy in the country that likes the woodgrain El
Caminos, so if I got this thing I'd want to find a place that can
reproduce that look. That woodgrain look is peculiar to big ugly
1970's station wagons, and makes the '73-'77 Elkies unique these
days. I like unique.
Last month I watched a similar '76 Sprint for sale in Nebraska. It
was a one-owner car that still had working A/C and 8-track. The paint
was a little shinier than the '74 that I'm watching now. The car sold
for $3600 on ebay.
There's a possibility we'll be visiting family in Austin over spring
break. I probably wouldn't even be thinking about this if it wasn't
for us passing Denton, TX on the way there. I do know that it's
unlikely I'll find any Elkies like this in my hometown. All of the
ones I've seen in the last couple years were either too beat up or way
overpriced.
Sounds like the 400 v8 is a desirable feature. Thanks for all the
help guys!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* Chris Lindh <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*To:* elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Sent:* Sun, March 6, 2011 10:22:51 AM
*Subject:* [elky] Re: 400 ci engine?
Nice write up Ray. When I saw the question last night I thought I'd
search around today to supplement my foggy memory, but you nailed it.
I recall the big block versions being marketed as Turbo-Jet 400s.
Back to Saul's questions, the 400 is a good powerplant. The stock
short 5.565 rods are not desirable, but the extra cubic inches
certainly are. There are a few other minor differences between 400s
and a 350: steam holes, bore, stroke, gaskets. For all out
performance the 2 bolt blocks are preferred because they have more
material, so you can add splayed 4 bolts, but there is a point where
an aftermarket block starts to make more sense. My '80 has a 0.030
over 400 (406.6) also , stock stroke, internal balance with 6" rods.
I agree with Robert, that '74 would have to be in good shape to
warrant that price. What is the status of your current Elky? Looking
to replace it, or? If you're looking for another I suggest finding
one with the best paint, (2nd would be good engine) you should be able
to repair most everything else reasonably easily.
Chris
On Sat, Mar 5, 2011 at 10:50 PM, Ray Buck <rbuck@xxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:rbuck@xxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
> There are two different motors that were known as a 400. The one most
> widely known is the 400 smallblock. They're great motors. They have
> siamesed cylinders to allow the larger bore and got a reputation for
> overheating when hotrodders put their double-hump heads on 'em.
This WILL
> cause overheating cuz 400 sbcs need steam holes to facilitate the
cooling.
> My Elky had a mild 406 (400 sbc bored .030 over) and never had any
> heating/cooling problems. My Monte Carlo has a hot 406...its 2nd
> incarnation. It was a great motor except for the high-volume oil
pump I put
> in it. It sucked all the oil outta the sump faster than the return
galleys
> could get it back and it flattened its cam. I haven't fired the 2nd
> incarnation yet...but it's turning over and gets close to firing up
every
> day...more or less.
>
> The other version of the 400 is a big block. It came about as the
result of
> a block casting error that required every one of that batch of 396
castings
> to be bored .030 over (the bores were off-center) and that created a
402 cid
> motor. There was some corporate/political deal at the time that
prohibited
> motors larger than 400 cid, so most of 'em were marketed at either
as 396s
> or 400s. I bleeve some cars that had 'em WERE sold with 402 badges,
tho.
> Can't remember which ones. Maybe someone else can dredge that outta the
> memory banks.
>
> In other news, I spent Thursday and Friday shooting the Salt Lake
Autorama.
> Completely wore me out, so I've taken most of today off. I'll have
photos
> soon.
>
> r
>
>
> On 3/5/2011 8:25 PM, Mary McCarthy wrote:
>
> Classic is the step up from 'cheap model". (look for side
moldings and a
> vinyl headliner)
>
> sprint's is a 400 which is supposed to be a workhorse. In the '76
it was
> dumbed down to meet federal regulation (i.e. flat cam). It's a
small block
> that could be a big small block with the right innards. (Ray -
wasn't yours
> a 400, too?)
>
> In '74 there were two 400's - the 2 bbl and the 4 bbl. All 400's were
> automatics. The bench seat was standard in the cheap and the
classic. They
> all had the big round headlights.
>
> If you want more tech data, I have to do more research.
>
> $3600 sounds on the high end, but if it's in good shape, with a good
> engine, reasonable.
>
> and yeah, Sprint comes with a 25 gallon gas tank to get you from one gas
> station to the next.
>
> Mary
>
> Anybody have any opinions about Chevy's 400 V8 engine? Is that a
big block
> or a small block? I don't see that engine much while
window-shopping on the
> internet for Novas and El Caminos. I kinda have my eye on the '74
in the ad
> pasted below.
>
> My Dad's '79 van used to have a 400. Terrible on gas. Lots of torque.
> Probably not a hot-rod engine, but history has shown that I'm not
really a
> hot-rod guy...I'd just like a nice big El Camino that runs good.
>
> Saul
> '73 GMC Sprint
>
> ----- Forwarded Message ----
> From: "saulmarsh72@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:saulmarsh72@xxxxxxxxx>"
<saulmarsh72@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:saulmarsh72@xxxxxxxxx>>
> To: saulmarsh72@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:saulmarsh72@xxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sat, March 5, 2011 8:45:23 PM
> Subject: 1974 Chevrotlet El Camino Classisc for sale or trade - $3600
> (Denton Tx)
>
> saulmarsh72@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:saulmarsh72@xxxxxxxxx> has forwarded
you this craigslist.org <http://craigslist.org/> posting.
>
> Please see below for more information.
>
> Visit the posting at
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/2239660461.html to
> contact the person who posted this.
>
> ________________________________
>
> 1974 Chevrotlet El Camino Classisc for sale or trade
>
> Date: 2011-02-28, 3:11PM
>
> El Camino Classisc with 400 v8 low miles runs and drives great. Asking
> $3,600.00 cash or best offer. Will trade for big boy toys, guns, etc...
> Call KC (940) 442 3758
>
> Location: Denton Tx
> it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial
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> Original URL: http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/2239660461.html
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