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Team Chevelle Member #459
When I was a senior in high school in 1967, my dad bought me a car. We went to Bill Kelly Chevrolet in Hollywood, FL to look at the new El Caminos. I wanted to get an SS with bucket seats and a 4-speed but he reminded me that we had to take Mom with us too, so we ended up getting standard edition with a 283 small block with a three-speed transmission with automatic overdrive. The original bill of sale (which I still have) came to $3004.60, which today would be a bargain.I was in the army in those days and when I returned from Europe, I was stationed in New Cumberland, PA. After I moved to PA, I immediately installed a Hurst floor shifter in the "Elky." It was in PA where I met my wife, Nancy. We spent a lot of Saturday nights at the US Route 30 Drag Races, which are no longer there.
During those days, the car went through a lot. While drag racing it, I had different engine modifications. It was also involved in two accidents where the insurance company wanted to total the car. I elected to keep it and rebuild it each time.
As my son started racing motorcycles, it was our transportation to the races. After a few long trips to Virginia with all of us packed in the cab we decided it was time to get something with a little more space, but I still kept the car.
When my son turned 16, We fixed it up enough for him to drive it. He fit right in at school since many of his friends had muscle cars as well. But the years of non-use sitting in the backyard had taken its toll. Finally one year, the Elky would no longer pass the state inspection. A cracked frame had been the cause and it was taken off the road again and parked out back.
Rebirth
There it sat for about 8 years. Being started from time to time to move it to see if it still had a pulse and allow the grass to grow in certain spots again. Years later, my son quit racing, got married and started his own family. Needing to find a new hobby, I turned my attention to my old car.
Bringing the Elky back to life was not an easy task. It took over 3 years to complete, well over 4000 man hours and more money than was originally paid for it. I did nearly all the work myself (except for the paint, tranny rebuilds and chroming the original parts) primarily for the enjoyment of it, but secondarily to save on the cost. At times it seemed like a lot of work, but I can't imagine having someone else rebuild it for me.
I purchased a used frame that I did some minor modifications on. I found many of the parts from Southwest junkyards. I bought a junk engine and rebuilt it from the ground up. I kept the old engine for the future, just in case. The block was bored to .030 over and 0 decked. I replaced the heads with a Holley Super Max2 system with a Holley 750 with vacuum secondaries. The ignition is an Accel super coil HEI system. The cooling is a 4-core radiator with twin electric fans to keep it nice and cool. The transmission is a Muncie M21 4-speed although I hope to put in a 5-speed someday. I put the estimated 405 horsepower to the ground with a Center Force 2 clutch and a posi-rear end with 308 gears.
It's now back on the road and better than ever. It's solid from the ground up. It's fast without being to inefficient in these days of high gas prices. It accelerates quick and handles like a dream.
A month and a half after putting it back on the road, I was road testing it about 4 miles from home when an 8-point buck darted out in front me. I locked up the tires, but couldn't stop in time. Back to the garage it went again. Another $3000, and three more months and it was back on the road again (after deer hunting season.)
I hope to add a 5-speed tranny, rear disc brakes, and a tilt steering column someday. As well, I've been taking my time adding "finishing touches" here and there. You always find little things to make it just that much better. But till the day comes when I can't possibly find another thing to replace, I'm enjoying the new hobby and all the memories I've had, and memories to come, with the 67 El Camino.
Dave Hidden's 1967 El Camino - Spec Sheet::
- 350 small block bored .030
- Holley Super Max2 system Heads
- Holley 750 Carburetor with Vacuum Secondaries
- M21 Muncie 4-Speed with Hurst shifter
- 10-bolt Alburn posi with 308 gears
- Quick-steer steering box from an 88 Monte Carlo
- Power disc brakes from Stainless Steel Brakes
- Coated Headmen Headers with Flow Masters, and 2 1/2 exhaust pipes
- American Racing Torque Thrust 2 Wheels with P245/50 R16 Goodyear Eagles
- Custom interior by my wife, Nancy and me
- Seats done by Russ Trim Shop, blue and gray tweed
- USA 5 Custom Autosound with a CD change
- Engine Output: Estimated at 405 Horsepower
Dave's website is at: http://members.aol.com/ama28a/index.htm
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