1972 Chevrolet El Camino SS 454

Dan Carr dcarr@chevelles.com

Colorado

HISTORY :

    March, 1972 Manufactured at GM Leeds plant (Kansas City, Missouri).
           1972 Purchased by original Colorado owner.

      May, 1974 Purchased by second Colorado owner.
September, 1979 Transferred between second owner family members.
September, 1983 Transferred between second owner family members.

                Stored eight years from 1983 to 1991.

  January, 1991 Purchased by third (current) Colorado owner.
 February, 1991 Frame up restoration started.
    March, 1991 I offer to help a new co-worker move into an apartment
                (that's what trucks are for, after all).
   August, 1992 Restoration completed.   Decide I need a better place
                to park it, so build a new house.
     July, 1993 The co-worker (Donna) and I get married, take "CARRGO"
                on our honeymoon.
   August, 1995 Drive to Yosemite National Park and "Hot August Nights"
                in Reno, NV.

TRIM CODES :

                |-----------------------------|
                |                             |
                |  ST72 13680  K  531986 BDY  |
                |  TR  704 A51     53  A PNT  |
                |     03B 08741     L         |
                |                             |
                |-----------------------------|
                               [   26B A PNT  ]

FACTORY OPTIONS :

• Original LS5 454 high performance engine.
• Engine codes : T0228CRW, 2K594109.
• Horsepower : 365 gross, 270 SAE net @ 4000 RPM. (Rebuilt to 425+).
• Torque : 465 gross, 390 SAE net @ 3200 RPM. (Rebuilt to 500+).
• Fuel : Regular gasoline. (Rebuilt to run best on unleaded premium).
• Bore and stroke : 4.251" x 4.000". (Bored 0.030" over).
• Main bearings : Five. (Align bored). (Billet 4-bolt bearing caps).
• Compression ratio : 8.5:1. (Rebuilt with 10:1 forged pistons).
• (Hardened rod bolts).
• Original block. (New high performance GM camshaft).
• Original intake manifold. (Ported).
• Original steel crankshaft. (Ground 0.010" under). (Balanced).
• Original high performance 119cc cylinder heads. (Ported).
• (Roller rockers). (3-angle hardened valves and seats).
• Original dual exhaust manifolds. (Ported).
• Original Rochester (4MV) QuadraJet 4-barrel carburetor. (Rebuilt).
• Original A.I.R. emissions control system.
• Original heavy duty 4-core radiator. (Re-cored).
• Original heavy duty alternator.
• Power brakes with front discs.
• SS 5-spoke 15x7 wheels.
• SS dashboard with round instruments.
• SS 454 emblems and trim.
• Black accented tailgate, headlight bezels, and turn signal bezels.
• Wheel opening moldings. Hide-away windshield wipers.
• Roof drip rail moldings. Side window frame moldings.
• Glove compartment light.
• Original M40 (K19) Turbo-Hydramatic 400 3-speed automatic transmission.
• Transmission codes : 72F426, 72-CF-4033.
• Heavy duty F41 performance front and rear suspension with rear air shocks.
• Positraction rear axle. (12-bolt, 3.31 ratio).
• Cowl induction system.
• Hood stripes and hood pins.
• White vinyl top.
• Tachometer.
• Gauge package - ammeter, temperature gauge, fuel gauge.
• Electric clock.
• Dual horns.
• Original black interior with carpeting.
• Strato-bucket seats with headrests.
• Console with floor mounted shifter.
• Power steering.
• Tilt steering column.
• Air conditioning.
• Tinted glass.
• Left hand remote control outside mirror.
• Map-light mirror and engine compartment light.
• Front bumper guards and door edge guards.
• AM/FM pushbutton radio with windshield antenna and two speakers.

CUSTOM (non-GM) OPTIONS :

• BF Goodrich radial T/A tires (P235/70SR15 front, P255/70SR15 rear).
• Locking fiberglass bed cover with SS stripes.
• Hidden no-hop traction bars.

OTHER MODIFICATIONS :

• Mirror finish 1972 Chevrolet "Mulsanne Blue" paint. (With "Antique White" stripes and black lower body sides). (Originally "Placer Gold" with "Antique White" stripes).
• Dual 2.5" mandrel-bent aluminized exhaust with a crossover pipe and chrome tips.
• GM aerodynamic outside mirrors with left hand remote.
• Amber front turn signal lenses. (Like "Standard" El Camino model). (Custom and SS El Caminos came with clear lenses and amber bulbs).
• Original AM/FM mono radio replaced with AM/FM stereo from a 1972 Chevelle. (Stereo was NOT a factory option on El Caminos).
• Original valve covers chrome plated.
• Original electric clock converted to quartz movement.
• New upper body side trim and lower body side pin stripes.
• Vacuum advance solenoid bypassed to allow vacuum advance in ALL forward gears. (Not just 3rd gear).

ACCESSORIES :

• Two spare Chevrolet SS 5-spoke 15x7 wheels with center caps and trim rings.
• (Two spare BF Goodrich radial T/A tires. (P235/70SR15)).
• Front grill 454 emblem.
• Bow-tie key-hole protectors.
• Chrome locking lug nuts and locking gas cap.
• Hood locks and steering wheel lock.
• Battery disconnect switch.
• Spare tire cover.
• Lighted oil pressure, vacuum, and voltmeter gauges.
• Thermometer, altimeter, inclinometer, compass, and mileage counter.
• Custom rubber bed mat.
• Clamp-on splash guards.
• Emergency equipment. (Tools, jack, flashlight, etc.).
• Tailored El Camino car cover with cable lock.
• El Camino key chain and three complete sets of keys.
• El Camino floor mats.
• 1972 El Camino license plate frames with reflectors.
• 1972 Chevrolet service manual.
• 1972 El Camino owner's manual, sales literature, and paint samples.

DOCUMENTATION :

• Registrations back to 1974.
• Before, during, and after restoration photos.
• Receipts for all work and parts.

MYSTERY :

It all started in March, 1972 at the General Motors Leeds Manufacturing facility near Kansas City. It was early Monday morning (or maybe it was late Friday afternoon). Perhaps "leap-frog" day (February 29, 1972) had something to do with this mystery.

Imagine an El Camino (serial number "594108") rolling down the assembly line. By chance, the vehicle immediately following it is NOT another El Camino. The following vehicle is actually a Monte Carlo (serial number "594109"). Somewhere along the line, things have gotten out of order.

The 454 engine that goes into the El Camino is stamped with the correct 454 engine ID, but it is also stamped with the Monte Carlo serial number instead of the El Camino serial number !

The Monte Carlo is supposed to receive a 350 engine, but the engine with the Monte Carlo serial number is a 454 not a 350. What actually ends up being installed in the Monte Carlo remains a mystery.
To top it all off, the build sheet for the Monte Carlo is tossed into the El Camino !

It must have been a rough day at the factory !

The "W" in the VIN number "1D80W2K594108" indicates that this El Camino was built with a 454 engine (and therefore had the SS package because the 454 engine was ONLY available as part of the SS package on 1972 models). Under the carpeting was discovered a build sheet for a vehicle with the serial number "594109", but the serial number of this El Camino is "594108". The 454 engine in this El Camino has the correct engine ID, "T0228CRW", which is the code for a Tonawanda 454 engine built on February 28, for a vehicle with smog, air conditioning, and a TH-400 automatic transmission. The engine serial number on this 454 is "2K594109". The "2" indicates 1972, and the "K" indicates Kansas City. The "594109" portion of the engine serial number SHOULD match the serial number of this El Camino "594108", but it is one digit off. The "594109" engine serial number DOES, however, match the number on the build sheet. The "594109" build sheet, however, also has the code "1H57J2K" which is the code for a 1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo with a 350 engine !!!

WOULD THE OWNERS OF "1____2K594107" and "1H57J2K594109" PLEASE STEP FORWARD !

CREDITS :

A larger image of Dan's 72 is available here.

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