83 El Camino LTX swap

[ELtx Camino]

With all the LS swaps out there, I decided to break away from the pack and build something a little different. I'm gonna swap a built LT1 into my G-Body El Camino.

[ELtx Camino]

I will be posting pics and progress as it comes together. So far, I have an intake, carb, and a radiator and fans (thanks to a good friend).

[ELtx Camino]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/03/85742774c72c1ebac88a56a8ab00be36.jpg

[ELtx Camino]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/03/1c18ce75c9ce6011231cf03876210541.jpg
Its gonna breath through a 700 cfm Rochester Quadra-Jet with a vacuum secondaries

[ELtx Camino]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/03/e30de9329411441ea4a7cd179d210515.jpg
Thanks to some friends and fellow members, I got my hands on a GM Performance LT1 carb intake.

[popo8]

Awesome start man... keep up the updates

[ELtx Camino]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/04/3d2ca4c61cffa6d70acb25c36db6f60b.jpg
I also now have an LTX radiator and cooling fans, courtesy of my friend Popo8! Thanks again bud!

[popo8]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/04/3d2ca4c61cffa6d70acb25c36db6f60b.jpg
I also now have an LTX radiator and cooling fans, courtesy of my friend Popo8! Thanks again bud!
My pleasure man...

[95albinobird]

HAPPY BUILDING!!!! i have loved El Camino's since i walked buy 1 on my way home from kinder garden back in dare i say it 1974.ya i'm a old bastard.
i was thinking about trading my bird for 1 on CL (i'm out of parking so i would have to let the bird go). my friend had a SWEET factory black SS not a choo choo version it was M4 car corvette rally wheels man it was nice.
like this but a SS.
32012

[dawdaw]

sweet man, keep the pics and updates rolling...

[Sahara54]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/04/3d2ca4c61cffa6d70acb25c36db6f60b.jpg
I also now have an LTX radiator and cooling fans, courtesy of my friend Popo8! Thanks again bud!

Those look familiar ? :hmm:

[popo8]

Those look familiar ? :hmm:
Lol... they should.

[popo8]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/03/1c18ce75c9ce6011231cf03876210541.jpg
Its gonna breath through a 700 cfm Rochester Quadra-Jet with a vacuum secondaries
Arent those carbs highly problematic? Or am i thinking of the wrong thing?

[SSlowBoat]

Arent those carbs highly problematic? Or am i thinking of the wrong thing?
I'm still trying to convince him to efi it. But quadrajets can work if you do the proper mods to them to fix the factory issues

[ELtx Camino]

The later ones have an electronic computer controlled metering valve, and they are incredibly difficult to get set right. Mine is a early 70s all mechanical, with vacuum secondaries. I personally prefer Quadra Jets over every other carb out there. The fuel bowl is in the center, so hard acceleration wont starve it for fuel, (cough, Holley, cough) They have a different in size between the primaries and secondaries, so they get very good gas mileage just cruising. I have one currently on my El Camino, and our boats 350 has a marine spec Quadra Jet, both perform excellent.

[popo8]

I'm still trying to convince him to efi it. But quadrajets can work if you do the proper mods to them to fix the factory issues
I cant argue about the simplicity and "cheaperness" in going carb, although his car is not hacked so swapping in everything from a donor car would be easier than the vette.

[popo8]

The later ones have an electronic computer controlled metering valve, and they are incredibly difficult to get set right. Mine is a early 70s all mechanical, with vacuum secondaries. I personally prefer Quadra Jets over every other carb out there. The fuel bowl is in the center, so hard acceleration wont starve it for fuel, (cough, Holley, cough) They have a different in size between the primaries and secondaries, so they get very good gas mileage just cruising. I have one currently on my El Camino, and our boats 350 has a marine spec Quadra Jet, both perform excellent.
Excellent. U seem comfortable with the quads. Now lets find u a motor!

[95albinobird]

The later ones have an electronic computer controlled metering valve, and they are incredibly difficult to get set right. Mine is a early 70s all mechanical, with vacuum secondaries. I personally prefer Quadra Jets over every other carb out there. The fuel bowl is in the center, so hard acceleration wont starve it for fuel, (cough, Holley, cough) They have a different in size between the primaries and secondaries, so they get very good gas mileage just cruising. I have one currently on my El Camino, and our boats 350 has a marine spec Quadra Jet, both perform excellent.
you are right they get a bad wrap they were good enough for the ls6 SS454 buick gsx 455 and every muscle car gm made is that not proof enough of there quality.
if i'm not mistaken edelbrock makes new carter afb's and quadra jet's. i cut my teeth rebuilding carbs it's getting to be a lost art.

[SSlowBoat]

it would be fairly simple, just routing the damn wiring harness so it looks clean would be the headache. it aint hard to make a harness run on 3 wires

[popo8]

I agree... sounds pretty straight fwd but Still simpler and cheaper with a carb set up

[Madman337]

The later ones have an electronic computer controlled metering valve, and they are incredibly difficult to get set right. Mine is a early 70s all mechanical, with vacuum secondaries. I personally prefer Quadra Jets over every other carb out there. The fuel bowl is in the center, so hard acceleration wont starve it for fuel, (cough, Holley, cough) They have a different in size between the primaries and secondaries, so they get very good gas mileage just cruising. I have one currently on my El Camino, and our boats 350 has a marine spec Quadra Jet, both perform excellent.


I have seen some very fast cars running the dreded quadrapuke and that changed my opinion of them but I used to toss them and go with the old stand by Holley and as far as the Edelbrock goes I have this image of a station wagon at the grocery store with one on it that I just cant shake. I do know that they were supposed to be a modern updated version of the old Carter AFB that some of my Mopar friends had great success with but I never ran them on anything I had even when I had old school Challengers. Looking forward to seeing how it all works out though and I am with you I like the 80s Elcaminos.

[popo8]

Whats the delay!!!

[ELtx Camino]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/27/b58f59b4bb4c0831f02d0efcd1077ceb.jpg

[ELtx Camino]

Got my motor! Thanks to popo8!

[ELtx Camino]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/27/cd0c4d0d609dd32fa440a5ac23720ad3.jpg

Very clean lifter valley, had Fel-Pro Gaskets for the intake, and valve covers, the head gaskets are Fel-Pro too.

[ELtx Camino]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/27/443162e0512e9e94ef12b3b84d56b5a1.jpg

No signs of build up or sludge anywhere. Valve lash is tight, no play whatsoever.

[popo8]

Im glad to know its healthy. That thing was either recently rebuilt... or at least the top end had been given some attention...

No wayyyyy that motor matches the 158k the odometer read? Have u pulled the oil pan yet?

[ELtx Camino]

I'm going to be doing that sometime this week, and I might be pulling the heads too. I was informed that to run any kind of higher lift cam, the springs need to be changed. So I might just have them ported and shaved as well.

[popo8]

Ok cool. Who are u gonna have do ur porting work. We have the best in the business as a sponsor here on the forum. Lloyd Elliott.

[SSlowBoat]

Ok cool. Who are u gonna have do ur porting work. We have the best in the business as a sponsor here on the forum. Lloyd Elliott.
I took him for a ride in the boat with bum lifters and he had a ear to ear grin, so I think I convinced him to do at least le1 heads

[popo8]

Nice!!!!

[popo8]

ELtx Camino, should i lock this thread up since ur not gonna do the swap?

LTXtech.com IS my drug...

[ELtx Camino]

No, I'm gonna do the swap. Getting more parts together and thinking about doing a 6 speed swap too!

[popo8]

Excellent! What do u need still?

LTXtech.com IS my drug...