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'69 El Camino SS

2574 Views 5 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  stinmar1
Recently purchased '69 El Camino SS. It's been sitting quite awhile but I think I finally got all the junk flushed out of the engine,tranny,& rear end. Runs good, but how do I tell what size engine it has ? Engine is the only non-original part. (Darn it !) I know orginal engine was a 396 & car has all the 396 emblems. Guy I bought it from stated engine is a 402. Is there an easy way for me to tell ? My Dad taught me just enough to be sure I wouldn't be treated like a "woman" at repair shops. He also took me with him when he ran at El Mirage in the old days. Please help the lady in distress. :( <a href="http://[email protected]" target="_blank">email</a>[/LIST] [email protected]

[ December 30, 2001: Message edited by: [email protected] ]

[ December 30, 2001: Message edited by: [email protected] ]

[ January 01, 2002: Message edited by: [email protected] ]
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a 402 is a 396 bored 030 not really much difference, chevrolet produced them starting in 1970 and continued till 1975, they came in 375,350 and 325 horsepower in 70 and were the last of the high compression engines.Scince the engine is not the original it would be hard to say exactly what you have in there. You could get the casting and production numbers off the block, heads , intake ect and post them or go to <a href="http://www.mortec.com" target="_blank">www.mortec.com</a> and look them up yourself, if you post them here I'm sure someone will be able to tell you what you have there
Standing in front looking at the engine there will be a flat machined area on the block where the head and block meet on the left side. It most likely is covered with grease and crud ,there should be a letter and number sequence stamped on it the first few digits will tell you what the engine originaly was. Cubic inch,hp,and most likely the year.
THANKS TOM & LIQUID LARRY !
I CAN NOW TELL SOME PEOPLE MY HEAD IS NOT WHERE IT DOESN'T BELONG. I KNEW ALL THESE BOTTOM ENDS WERE 396. BUT I DIDN'T KNOW CHEVY MADE A 402. THIS CAR WAS NON-OP & LAST REGISTRATION WAS 1980 SO WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT SAT. I BOUGHT AN EDELBROCK PERFORMANCE III 750 CARB RIGHT OFF THE BAT AS THE OLD ROCHESTER ON IT WAS SHOT, PLUS NEW PLUGS,ALTERNATOR,VOLTAGE REGULATOR SO I COULD GRANDMA IT AROUND TOWN LOOKING FOR LEAKS. I WAS OFFERED SOME EDELBROCK CHROME VALVE COVERS CHEAP (THANK GOD !) AND THAT'S WHEN WE (I DON'T DO THE WORK MYSELF---TO OLD SO IT'S TIME FOR ME TO USE MY DIMPLES)SAW THAT MINIMAL TO NO OIL WAS GETTING TO THE HEADS. TOTAL SLUDGE. I THINK THE GUY I BOUGHT IT FROM WAS RUNNING HARLEY OIL !(YEP GOT ONE OF THOSE TOO--1974 POLICE SPECIAL) IN A TWO WEEK PERIOD WE CLEANED THE ENGINE OUT SEVERAL TIMES & CHANGED THE OIL & FILTER EACH TIME ALSO. OIL LOOKS REALLY GOOD ON THE DIP STICK NOW. SOOOOOOOOO....RADIATOR'S FLUSHED,OIL PAN CLEANED (SCREEN ALSO)AND PAINTED,NEW TRANNY GASKET(FLUID LOOKED GOOD ON THE DIP STICK & DIDN'T SMELL SCARY),REAR END FLUID FLUSHED-GASKET,(I WAS SCARED THE GUY PUT CRAP IN THE REAR END ALSO BUT IT WAS OK)NEW BELTS & LINES,NEW OIL PUMP,NEW REAR SHOCKS,(IT HAD NEW FRONT SHOCKS WHEN I BOUGHT IT & SPRINGS ARE FAIRLY NEW) NEW 15" CRAGERS & NEW TIRES. I HAVE AN ITSY BITSY OOZE FROM THE MAIN SEAL SO I AM KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT & HOLDING OFF FIXING FOR AWHILE. I'LL ALSO NEED A-ARM BUSHINGS SOON. REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOSTER & MASTER CYLINDER & NEW BRAKE FLUID. THIS IS GOING TO BE A DRIVER. I JUST WANT A LITTLE POOP TO IT. I HAVE DAD'S LAST ENGINE & TRANNY. CHEVY SMALL BLOCK 350 WITH EDELBROCK CARB & INNERDS. I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE BIG BLOCK IN THE ELKY. IF I EVER WIN THE LOTTERY I WOULD PUT THE 350 IN A '32 FORD FOR THE LAKES IN MEMORY OF DAD. HE HAD A '32,'38 & '40 FORD(SPLIT WINDOW COUPE) HE RAN WITH THE SAME WINFIELD EIGHT ENGINE IN ALL. WHEN I WAS REACHING "DATING AGE" HE TOOK ME DOWN THE 1/4 MILE & TOLD ME "THIS IS WHERE YOU GO FAST. YOUR BOYFRIENDS ALSO) MY BROTHER & I FOUND AN UNTITLED PICTURE OF HIM IN ONE OF DON MONTGOMERY'S BOOKS--"A BLAST FROM THE PAST". DON SIGNED MY COPY OF THE BOOK "A BLAST FROM YOUR DAD'S PAST". WE ALSO SOMETIMES FIND HIS NAME, IN BOOKS ABOUT THE LAKES, ON THE OLD PROGRAMS. USUALLY WITH SOMEONE ELSE AS THAT'S WHAT ALL THE OLD HOTRODDERS HAD TO DO IN ORDER TO AFFORD TO RACE. I HAVE SOME OF DAD'S OLD TROPHY'S TOO. WE GAVE SOME TO THE GUY HE PARTNERED WITH AS HIS NAME WAS ON THEM TOO. HE OF COURSE HAD THE ENGINE & USUALLY DROVE AS, UNLIKE HIS DAUGHTER,HIS WEIGHT WAS LIGHT. I HAVE HIS OLD "REVS" JACKET & METAL SIGN FROM HIS 1ST CAR CLUB,AN OLD ASCOT SPEEDWAY SIGN HE STOLE,HIS LIONS DRAGSTRIP JACKET & HIS SIDEWINDERS(SCTA)JACKET BUT IT'S FALLING APART. HE HAD AN OLD SPRINT CAR & A 1948 HARLEY(KNUCKLEHEAD)AND VARIOUS LAKES CARS BEFORE I WAS BORN. HE RAN MUROC,ROSAMOND ETC. BEFORE THEY WERE OFF LIMITS TO RACING. HE ALWAYS WANTED TO RUN BONNEVILLE BUT NEVER MADE IT, EVEN THO HE DID GO TO WATCH. I WENT TO EL MIRAGE WITH HIM ALOT UNTIL I GOT THE BOY CRAZY'S BUT MY BROTHER IS 6 1/2YRS YOUNGER, SO THAT WAS PERFECT AGE WISE FOR US CUZ THEN HE WAS OLD ENOUGH TO START GOING TO THE LAKES WITH DAD. HE GREW UP AT THE LAKES. MY BROTHER IS STILL A MEMBER OF THE SCTA-SIDEWINDERS BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE A CAR TO RUN. HE LIVES IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND THE SIDEWINDERS ARE OUT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SO IN ORDER TO KEEP HIS MEMBERSHIP ACTIVE HE USUALLY DONATES TIME AT MUROC DRY LAKE AS THEY NOW LET SCTA HAVE A NOSTALGIC MEET ONCE A YEAR. OF COURSE IF HE EVER GETS A CAR WE WILL PUT THE 350 IN IT IN DAD'S MEMORY. SO I GUESS I KNOW JUST ENOUGH TO BULL---- MY WAY ALONG & NOT GET RIPPED OFF. THERE ARE CERTAIN TIMES I DO NOT WANT TO BE TREATED LIKE A GIRL AND CAR REPAIR IS THE BIGGEST. YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE ME AGAIN ON THE BOARD WITH QUESTIONS. I WENT TO THE NOSTALGIC HOTROD MEET AND FAMOSO RACEWAY IN BAKERSFIELD,CALIFORNIA IN AUGUST. HAD A BLAST & MET GENE WINFIELD & DICK LANDY. SAW DON MONTGOMERY THERE ALSO. BOUGHT MYSELT A COUPLE OF T-SHIRS--"KISS MY SS" AND "PREMATURE ACCELERATION-IT HAPPENS TO THE BEST OF US". THE LATTER ONE IS FOR MY GUY FRIENDS TO SEE OF COURSE.
THANKS AGAIN GUYS FOR THE HELP & CHAT AT ME OFTEN OK? I ONLY RECENTLY GOT THE COMPUTER. DAD PASSED IN 1990 & OUR MOM 2/20/2000 SO WE GOT A LITTLE INHERITANCE $ & I KNOW KNOW DAD'S LOOKING OVER HIS ELDEST DAUGHTERS SHOULDER & IS HAPPY AT WHAT I'M DOING WITH IT !!!! I SURE MISS HIM !!!!! (MOM TOO)
JANICE
THE QUEEN "B"

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Hi Janice, good to hear that your getting that El Camino back into working order. Yeah, the 402 replaced the 396 for the 1970 model year. The 402 is a good engine my father has one in a 1959 Chevy pick up. Man, that engine is strong, pulls like a house, it's out of a 1970 Monte Carlo.

Oh, that was a great story about your dad, I love to hear stories like that. I'm only 20, I've been active in this hobby and online since I turned 16. I hope to someday be able to tell my kids and grand kids what it was like, you know when there was the internet, LOL.

cya
I read everything up to this point . I could write all night but one thing I need to tell you is keep the rat motor in the car . Its worth far more with the 402 , 396 than a small block . I have a 69 CST 8 396 pickup . It will jerk a house off the foundation with its positraction . I have a friend with a 69 ss 427 elcamino , it was a special order from a friend that sponsored him in his racing . I have a list of people I bought parts from to rebuild my chevelle and his elcamino . email me with a wish list and I will try to help you find what you need , I love to see big block cars rescued so I would be happy to help [email protected]
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