I have a 69 elcamino that I want to be a diferent type of SS-meaning super special! so going mid engine might get some looks. What do you guys think? Any one seen one yet? Any photos out there?:beers:

I suppose that would mean the el camino would finally have a trunk. I have heard of it done, but not seen it. Could be difficult to get a transmission that would be short enuff to still allow rear end travel.

Toronado axle in the rear with an adapter to a big blown block would sure make it interesting. :thumbsup:

Boy, Camino guys ARE an odd bunch!

Us? Odd? We prefer creative LOL

If your interested in 'old school' look into the Oldsmobile tornado transaxle.


http://www.ericpetersautos.com/home/images/stories/automotive/oldsmobile/toronado/66toro-1.jpg

Wow! So the trans in the pic is a tornado from an Olds? I just saw one at a car show in a baja buggy set up. We were scratching our heads trying to figure out what it was.

How wild do you want to go???

I've never seen it in person but have seen vid's of it driving down the road. I even think it was on E-bay last year..
http://image.truckinweb.com/f/9931019/0809tr_14_z+2008_havasu_havoc_truck_show+chevy_el_ camino_engine.jpg


Wow! So the trans in the pic is a tornado from an Olds? I just saw one at a car show in a baja buggy set up. We were scratching our heads trying to figure out what it was.
It is the trans axle from a Olds. Tornado, not a tornado trans..The Olds. Tornado's were V8 front wheel drive car.

wheelies!

Many years ago I saw a Wheel-stander at a drag strip that was an El Camino. It was set up like the one shown above, may have been a V drive set up.

I believe the one pictured above was at CB07. Not my taste but that is just me.

Boy, Camino guys ARE an odd bunch!
Hold on Wiley,we are not odd or cool, we are VERY COOL! To bad we have more options to hall ass! Seeya (in my dust)

Wow,now that is a wild one and thanks for sending the pic. I do have a different design in my head, I would have the big block at the same height as the org. front eng. design. I was thinking of finding a transaxle with bellhousing design to achieve this, just like a mid eng. ford GT. I know I might have to make the frame a little longer along with the rear quarters but just a little if any at all. any way my design will be low mean an lean and tubed with some wide meats nessled in the back. I would also go with the new gen. Hillborn stack inj. system and ether zoomies or dry stack headers seen on some drag boats on the big block that would be in the back. Some might call it odd, but I would coler it GONE!

With the right amount of time and money, anything can be done

I think that using a FWD setup out of a vehicle like the Toronado is the only package that would keep the center of gravity low and keep the engine in the bed of the truck without intruding on the passenger compartment. Some people are using C5/C6 Corvette transaxles with bellhousings adapted to the front of the transmission to build mid-engine cars, but these put the engine too far forward and would probably intrude into the passenger compartment.

If you don't mind a V-6 I'm sure some of the newer front wheel drive drive trains could be adapted. If the Fiero transaxle is stout enough it might be a possibility. They do make V-8 conversions for those cars.

http://www.v8archie.com/v8pics.htm

I did see that car at CB a few years ago. If I remember correctly it had the engine whith the flywheel forward convention style transmission and a Vdrive similar to what was used in marine application.

Boy, Camino guys ARE an odd bunch!

Yeah, right. You guys withback seats and little itty bitty truncks with no storage space just don't get it. We've got all kinds of room behind our back window to do all kinds of creative things!

Before anyone else decides to dump on me, have a look at my profile, or even signature.
Then you will see that I do not own anything with a back seat or itty-bitty trunk.
I was ribbing US, not YOU or anyone else. Get it?
In my thirty five years of owning vehicles, I can't remember ever driving a 'normal' vehicle, I just have to mess with them too!

I managed to stuff two mufflers and a turbo in that storage area behind the window. But I made it so people won't notice. :D

I've got the Toronado package in my Corvair. The trans is a th400 internally, and the diff is bolted to the trans. You can get gears from 3.08 to 4.10. Mine has a 'switch-pitch' converter. An adapter to install a BOP trans to a Chevy will be needed if a 455 Olds ain't enough for you. I thought about sticking a 502 in the 'vair, but as it don't steer good under WOT with the Olds, I've kept it. I've seen a few cars using the Toronado package that just cut the Toronado frame off at the firewall and sub'd the back of their car with it.

On the Corvair, Yes. It wheelies

Got any pics of the Vair,I had 2 65s sounds very nice. greg

I'm unable to post them, but would be glad to send them to e-mail addresses. If someone else wants to post them it's fine with me.

Just ping me at: mantle@fmtcblue.com

Fair warning, Pictures are large

What about a toronado conversion up front AND in back with 2 engines...........AWD!


There was a short wheelbase chevy van like this in carcraft back in the 70's

I've got the Toronado package in my Corvair. The trans is a th400 internally, and the diff is bolted to the trans. You can get gears from 3.08 to 4.10.
Please tell me where you're getting your gears!

I was aware of only three choices; all factory-issued on various years of Toro/Eldo. The most performance-oriented was only available for the '66--'67 style differential housing; and on the order of 3.20 or some such.

So all this is good news to me!

What about a toronado conversion up front AND in back with 2 engines...........AWD!



I think TV Tommy Ivo campaigned a dual engine Toronado back in the 60's or early 70's with a set up just like that.Made for some impressive burn outs I bet.:hurray:

I've seen the Toranodo setup in an S-10 in person. Didn't look that complex to me. They guy also had a fiberglass cover on the bed to hide his little secret. Everything fit under the cover on the S-10.

Camino Underglass?

Please tell me where you're getting your gears!

I was aware of only three choices; all factory-issued on various years of Toro/Eldo. The most performance-oriented was only available for the '66--'67 style differential housing; and on the order of 3.20 or some such.

So all this is good news to me!

GMC motor homes used the same pieces, and there is a pretty decent industry built around them. Doug Thorley makes headers to get the exhaust around the Diff and drive chain. Here's a link to a trans shop that has gears available:
http://www.appliedgmc.com/level.itml/icOid/482
There is also a builder of a different ratio drive chain sprockets that change the gear ratio as well.
Along with that, if you get the '66-67 TH425, it'll have the "switchpitch" converter. Mine is a rebuilt uunit and stall is 1000/2400.

Before anyone else decides to dump on me, have a look at my profile, or even signature.
Then you will see that I do not own anything with a back seat or itty-bitty trunk.
I was ribbing US, not YOU or anyone else. Get it?
In my thirty five years of owning vehicles, I can't remember ever driving a 'normal' vehicle, I just have to mess with them too!

Hey Ron,

Don't get your shorts in a bunch!. I was just ribbing too. What goes around, comes around.

Rich

Fair 'nuff, Rich!

Please tell me where you're getting your gears!

I was aware of only three choices; all factory-issued on various years of Toro/Eldo. The most performance-oriented was only available for the '66--'67 style differential housing; and on the order of 3.20 or some such.

So all this is good news to me!

Of the two chain and sprocket makers I've found, one increases the gear ratio by 15%, and one by 18%. Although this is mucho expensive in comparison to changing gears in a 10 bolt, you can get a total gear reduction up to 4.8-1. 4.10 gear with a 55 tooth engine X 65 tooth trans sprocket.