[ryan_pope]

I worked on replacing my tailgate, “CHEVROLET” emblem last nite. The old one was busted in two places…Boy the new shiny emblem looks so much better. While I had the tailgate interior plate (approximately 4 feet long) off the tailgate I did what I read on another thread. I added weight in the tailgate using sand bags. I place three sand bags inside the tailgate with approximately 110 pounds of sand. El Camino owners know that the weight balance from front to rear is pretty equal and they know that the back tires can spin in place pretty easy when punching the gas pedal from a stop light. So, I thought, as suggested by other thread, that it would be a great time to add the weight in the rear of the truck for better “hook-up” off the line. I have not driven the Elky yet but hope there is a noticeable difference in the Lack of tire spin. Has anyone else done this? And what were your results?


""He has risen;...Jesus has Risen, Indeed.

 

[Philip]

Ryan I think it will be more detrimental than good. Weight is your enemy and elkys are already heavier than the 2 door cars. Every pound shed is a quicker ET. Traction issues can be resolve with suspension changes like shocks and air bags, even the old slapper bars will help hook. The extra wieght will also be hard on the hinges.

 

[Brettd85]

Ryan I think it will be more detrimental than good. Weight is your enemy and elkys are already heavier than the 2 door cars. Every pound shed is a quicker ET. Traction issues can be resolve with suspension changes like shocks and air bags, even the old slapper bars will help hook. The extra wieght will also be hard on the hinges.

I agree, I am going for as light as possible. While you may get more traction, the weight will probably hurt you in the end.

 

[Robinls5]

Some trivia- 1970 SS 454 El Caminos have a 2-4% more weight on the rear wheels than a 1970 SS 454 Chevelle. Why? Longer wheelbase 112 Vell VS. 116 El camino. When my 70 SS 454 M-22 Camino was new I ran Pure Stock at Quaker City strip in Salem Ohio. SAND is not good it will hold moisture.
In 1970 I used vinyl bank bags with lead shot, I woop azz on Chevelles out of the hole. Also I would run re-cap snow tires, That were one size smaller than Chevelle tires. And offset the weight to the left. With two equal cars , Both LS-5s Both M-22s Both CRV rears=3:31. I had smaller tires than the Chevelle. Not always but most of the time. A hole shot will win!!
Bob ACES--AACA 70 LS-5 M-22 Camino(org. ownr.) 70 SS 454 RED sta. wgn. (driver) The Camino is now a Tlr. Queen.

 

[ryan_pope]

Ryan I think it will be more detrimental than good. Weight is your enemy and elkys are already heavier than the 2 door cars. Every pound shed is a quicker ET. Traction issues can be resolve with suspension changes like shocks and air bags, even the old slapper bars will help hook. The extra wieght will also be hard on the hinges.

Hmmm, maybe not the greatest idea. I didn't have any lead shot...that is where I got the idea, though. What are slapper bars?

 

[mrrepodude]

good shocks, new poly bushings and some old school ladder bars did the trick for me:hurray:

 

[Philip]

Here is a link to the instructions on installation. I have a set but don't think I will use them for now. Still playing with different air pressures in the bags.

http://go.mrgasket.com/pdf/20188.pdf

 

[sschevellefan]

Here is a link to the instructions on installation. I have a set but don't think I will use them for now. Still playing with different air pressures in the bags.

http://go.mrgasket.com/pdf/20188.pdf

those are prertty decent traction bars. I ran those on my 1st 65 and gave them to my buddy to put on his 64. They work pretty good for cheap bars. I went with the Jegster "lift bars" on my last 65.

 

[MM Racing]

I don't have any extra weight added to mine.

 

[Jimmy P]

Nobody has mentioned the obvious, maybe there's no need to, but....lower the tailgate during all track action.

My neighbor had his Dad's 68 SS Elkie given to him. His dad was a well known So-Cal racer. He has a 3" narrowed rear, 10.5 slicks, boxed arms, shop-made aluminum bushings, Airshocks with right side @ 30 lbs, left 5 lbs, and a water bladder in the tailgate. He would fill it and empty it up at home. It was hidden, as the rules for that class didn't allow any added weight devices.
He swears he had 1.0's for 60' times.
It was powered by a real Vette L-88 427 with an Art Carr switch pitch 2,000/5,000 stall convertor and a 4.88 12 bolt.

My 67 is severly traction disabled. I'l be addressing that soon, so this post is interesting.

 

[MM Racing]

Jimmy P... I have to disagree. I and many others have tired the "tailgate down" and all it did is made the Camino bounce when shifting gears because the tailgate moved up and down. I highly recommend not putting the tail gate down but putting some kind of cover over the bed to reduce wind drag.

 

[66ElkyBB]

I saw wind tunnel numbers that clearly indicated that it was aerodynamically superior to leave the taigate up and less so when it was down.......even without a bed cover. I also would not want a flapping rear tailgate out back. I do like the idea of a fillable bladder inside the tailgate (makes me think of some of the Smokey Yunick stuff)

 

[Jimmy P]

Jimmy P... I have to disagree. I and many others have tired the "tailgate down" and all it did is made the Camino bounce when shifting gears because the tailgate moved up and down. I highly recommend not putting the tail gate down but putting some kind of cover over the bed to reduce wind drag.

I understand your point. But, I asked him about the same thing. He said with the extra weight, it stayed down during the complete run. I've also seen a 65 Elky at the track. It had a solid one piece, 'bolt on at the track" 'hinge' on the right side to keep any movement from occuring. That car hooked hard!

Aerodynamics & El Caminos, all in the same sentence? Maybe on a 9 second ride. I think the 60' would make much more of a difference in E.T. than top end aerodynamics, especially in the 1/8th.