Anybody out there have a factory equipped 1967 396 BB Elky? Mine came with the BB and I am wondering:

1. If it was a factory big block did the car come with the grill with no Chevy emblem at the top of the grill just under the hood? Mine has no emblem and no holes for the emblem like the Malibu's do. Don't know if the grill had been replaced by previous owner and he put in an SS grill without the SS emblem in the center.

2. Was the aluminum trim piece that runs horizontal across the dash with the light switch and ignition etc. only wood grain or was it black with a BB?

3. Was the trim piece across the tail gate wood grain or black with a BB?

Any resources you can point me to are appreciated.

Thanks
graemlins/beers.gif Chuck

Chuck, I really don't know the answers so I'm just talking off the top of my head cause I'm curious and adding a question to yours.

Since there were no SS El Caminos in 67 why would a big block car have anything different than a small block car (body & trim wise), was there some sort of "special edition" in 67?

I bet Dale knows

A local has his orginial 67 El Camino 396 car.
and as Dean stated it's trim is just like a Small Block' car... wood grain trunk and dash strip
It's the custom model, so has the bright work on the door window frame and drip rail.
As for the GRILL ??? din't ever take notice..
but almost positive it has NO chevelle emblem as the car would have ...

After I posted the questions I read my current issue of Late Great Chevy's magazine and there is a beautiful 67 Elky in the issue. It is a small block and has the chevy emblem at the top of the grill and the wood grain dash and tailgate trim. I have seen a number of BB 67 Elky's in the past but never noticed the trim specifics. There is one listed in the post on Pcs, Vids, Web photos in this section so I will email the member and see if it was an original BB.

I need to research my assembly manual and a few other documents I have to see if there are any clues. Mine has the added aluminum around the doors etc. smile.gif

I always assumed the 67 BB El Caminos were similar to the 66s in that there were no trim changes due to the big block drivetrain. The grille on any 66 El Camino is different from a Malibu only because it has an El Camino emblem instead of a Chevelle emblem. You should be able to verify if this is the case for 67 by looking at your assembly manual.

The 66 BB El Camino only has the different mechanical parts (engine, drivetrain, brake and steering changes, fuel, etc.) that would be found in a Super Sport. But no SS grille, hood, or other exterior or interior trim pieces that wouldn't come on any other Custom El Camino.

Originally posted by Chuck Nixon:
Anybody out there have a factory equipped 1967 396 BB Elky? Mine came with the BB and I am wondering:

1. If it was a factory big block did the car come with the grill with no Chevy emblem at the top of the grill just under the hood? Mine has no emblem and no holes for the emblem like the Malibu's do. Don't know if the grill had been replaced by previous owner and he put in an SS grill without the SS emblem in the center. Sounds like your grille was replaced with an aftermarket SS unit. It's only been the past few years they've been available WITH the holes for the emblem.

2. Was the aluminum trim piece that runs horizontal across the dash with the light switch and ignition etc. only wood grain or was it black with a BB?

3. Was the trim piece across the tail gate wood grain or black with a BB?

Any resources you can point me to are appreciated.

Thanks
graemlins/beers.gif Chuck The 396 was just another engine option available on the Custom El Camino (13680) and didn't bring along anything special with it; unlike the SS series (13817/67) that included trim, hood, badging, etc. All 67 El Caminos came with the standard flat hood, the Custom got the same belt-line rocker mouldings as the Malibu while the Standard got the same rocker mouldings as the Deluxe 300...very similar to the SS mouldings but flat instead of ribbed I think - see http://www.chevellestuff.com/67stuff/gallery/survivors/mountain_green_300_left_side.jpg

1. All El Caminos came with the Chevy emblem across the top of the grille. There is no such thing as a 67 SS El Camino and neither the SS396 badged grille nor Super Sport quarter panel badges would apply. However, when a 396 was ordered, it did get the 396 Turbo Jet engine flags on the front fenders, but that's all.

2. Interior appointments were the same as the Chevelle 300 Deluxe (silver dash strip) for the Standard El Camino and the Custom Elky got the Malibu trim (woodgrain strip). No black dash strips on the Elkys. See http://www.chevellestuff.com/67stuff/gallery/survivors/mountain_green_300_interior.jpg and http://www.chevellestuff.com/67stuff/gallery/brochures/ec-5.jpg for a 300 Deluxe dash strip.

3. Wood trim insert on tailgate was the Custom El Camino only, if the Standard did have the mouldings the insert was probably painted body color, again like the Chevelle 300 Deluxe series.

Thanks for the input guys. Now I have to decide whether to correct the trim on my Elky and go back to the wood grain or leave the dash strip and the tailgate strip black. I am not hung up on it being all original but would probably want to put it back as close as possible. I think I will look for a nice new grill and emblem to start with.

It's only money and as they say you can't take it with you :D

Problem would be finding a good woodgrain strip. I don't know of anyone making them so a donor car may be the only out. Between you and me, IMO, now that the Malibu emblem is being reproduced, it looks as good as the SS396 badge on the grille. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Like Dale said, the 396 simply added the 396 flags on the front fenders, otherwise it was just the same as any other El Camino Custom. Plenty of El Camino Customs have been 'turned into' SS396 models with black paint inside the rear moldings, plus the addition of a big block hood and perhaps even the grille. Not stock though.
You used to be able to buy sheets of woodgrain for repair of those old woodgrained wagons. I don't know what is out there today, but there probably is something. I'd see what 3M offers.
The base El Camino that year was based on the 300 Deluxe. On the tailgate there was simply the horizontal molding similar to the one in the grille. It sure is rare to see one with it now. Incidently the base El Camino did offer the 396s, although I can't ever recall having seen one.

I am currently bidding on an NOS Malibu grill and an NOS Chevy emblem since my grill is a little messed up and does not have an emblem or the holes for it. I have studied my dash strip and the trim on the tailgate and the guy who repainted the car did an excellent job converting them to black. Since it is a white Elky the black on the tailgate trim piece actually looks quite nice although I will continue to search for a correct woodgrain piece. I see the dash pieces from time to time on Ebay.

The interior was converted to bright blue from gold 10-12 years ago and looks stock so it is not "numbers matching' in several areas already.
Main mechanical components and drive train are numbers matching.

I am going to put a toneau cover on it so I am going to have to drill a few holes in the sides of the bed to mount the hinges and lifter shocks.

This is going to be my very nice driver that I will not be afraid to get wet or hit a mud puddle if I get caught in the rain. I will show it at local shows but the underside will not be "frame off" quality.

Thanks for all your input and if any one sees a dash piece or tailgate piece let me know. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Originally posted by Dale McIntosh:
Problem would be finding a good woodgrain strip. I don't know of anyone making them so a donor car may be the only out. Hey guys. Paddock Parts has the wood grain strip for 67. Check this link.

Brazilian Walnut Insert (http://www.paddockparts.com/Paddock/productr.asp?pf%5Fid=KG53595&gift=False&0=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D6%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tree %3D%2CChevelle%2FMonte%20Carlo&1=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D249%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tr ee%3D0%2CChevelle%2FMonte%20Carlo%20Stripes&2=product%5Ffamily%2Easp%2Cfamily%5Fid%3D3486%26Tr ee%3D1%2C67%2D72%20El%20Camino%20Tailgate%20Woodgr ain%20Insert&HSLB=False&mscssid=6C4FBF7070D44F7E92A84C19E0D2893B)

Originally posted by djw69elky:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Dale McIntosh:
Problem would be finding a good woodgrain strip. I don't know of anyone making them so a donor car may be the only out. Hey guys. Paddock Parts has the wood grain strip for 67. Check this link.
</font>[/QUOTE]I was thinking of the woodgrain dash strip but it's nice to know someone is making the tailgate stuff. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I wonder if you could just trim a thin piece of wood veneer to fit???

Good link there DJW. At least we know that the tailgate trim is available.

Originally posted by Cam:
Incidently the base El Camino did offer the 396s, although I can't ever recall having seen one. That is correct. In fact, all three 396s (L35, L34 AND L78) were available in the '66-'67 El Camino Standard (13480) and El Camino Custom (13680) models.

I won the grill and emblem on Ebay so I will now get it back to "stock" at least on the front end. Previous owner had added an SS hood and I will keep it. I checked out a lot of Malibu's at CB04 and compared to SS front ends.

Chuck, in regards to your grill, the front profile of your 67' has a mean, aggressive look to it. I LIKE! Must be the bumper guards or mabey the grill from the front/side view makes it look darker than stock. Has the grill been painted?
Do you have a pic from a straight on front view?

The grill has been painted all black and I have removed the paint since I didn't like the look. Probably don't like it because I have the 67 SS grill look in my mind since I have the 67 SS convertible. I am now taking our the existing grill and replacing with the NOS grill I found on Ebay.

So much for agressive looks :D