Brainstorming a new project, what's your opinion?

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Originally Posted by Brewtal66

Thanks for your support! I'm definitely in love with the idea, just trying to make sure it makes sense on paper.

When I say race and be competitive, I'm talking about autocross events and things like the Optima series. Nothing too terribly crazy. I'm not even worried about finishing first as I know I lack in the driving department, but I'd just like to have a car that's capable of being competitive haha.

I'll have to go over the car again. I know that it has some heavy work done to the bed. It has a full four link, fuel cell, and rear mounted batteries. The owner was telling me the car/truck weighed 2800LBS with him in it! His best was a high 8, with a single carb'd N/A 540.

going from drag to road race/autox should be easy. With the right oil pan and back up oiling system that 540 should be just fine. You might need a cam and gear change though.

Post up some pictures when you get it. I wanna see that suspension. You maybe able to use some of it too.

@ 2800 lbs and running a 3000 lbs limit group gives you 200 lbs to add and move around. Which is a huge advantage.

[camcojb]

I like the idea Tim, if the Elky can be bought at the right price. I've always loved the El Camino's, my second car was a 65. I got to drive a friend of my Mom's 71 El Camino for a few weeks in high school, and can still remember that car.

[Brewtal66]

Originally Posted by Vince@MSperfab

going from drag to road race/autox should be easy. With the right oil pan and back up oiling system that 540 should be just fine. You might need a cam and gear change though.

Post up some pictures when you get it. I wanna see that suspension. You maybe able to use some of it too.

@ 2800 lbs and running a 3000 lbs limit group gives you 200 lbs to add and move around. Which is a huge advantage.

I should mention that the 540 and PG will stay with him. I'd much rather have a modern LS and T-56 anyways. I probably won't use the rear end either...I'd have to have it widened, rear geared, etc...by time its all said and done I might as well just pick up something new.

Originally Posted by camcojb

I like the idea Tim, if the Elky can be bought at the right price. I've always loved the El Camino's, my second car was a 65. I got to drive a friend of my Mom's 71 El Camino for a few weeks in high school, and can still remember that car.

Funny, the guy that owns this 71 Elky, use to own a 65 Elky as well. He sold it about 5 years ago though. When I first started hanging around him he had all the toys: massive motorhome and enclosed trailer, this 71 Elky, 33 Chevy street rod, 67 Nova(drag car), 65 Elky, Sand car, Harley, etc. He's slowly sold everything off. Right now his focus is on a '65 Chevelle.

I know there's no way to prove it, but he said this was a real SS too. Not that it means much to me, but that's kind of cool. Pretty sure I can get this car for a song and a dance. Right now I'm figuring out the registration end of it.

[Brewtal66]

I ran over to his house this morning and snapped a few pictures of this Elky. You can see all the junk on top of it, so I wasn't able to get a good picture. And the lighting was horrible, so excuse these really bad pictures.



Under the back:

[Vince@Meanstreets]

ZZ top baby!!!!!!!!

Not too bad, trans tunnel done, cage looks good, back halved, clearanced for big tires , your more than half way there.

700hp LS and a Mag T56 and ford 9 in the rear will be the way to go. You should be able to use the rear lower link mounts.

[Brewtal66]

Originally Posted by Vince@MSperfab

ZZ top baby!!!!!!!!

Not too bad, trans tunnel done, cage looks good, back halved, clearanced for big tires , your more than half way there.

700hp LS and a Mag T56 and ford 9 in the rear will be the way to go. You should be able to use the rear lower link mounts.

Looking at the pictures...would I be able to use that rearend? Just thinking the rear rims would have a ton of offset on them.

The cage actually continues all the way into the engine bay too....so the chassis has to be stiff as hell already.

[GregWeld]

Pick ups and "Elkys" do NOT make good track cars.... Check out any of the times on USCA -- or Good-Guys and you'll see the trucks just aren't competitive, despite having some pretty good drivers. They just don't hook up.

I used to have a 69 El Camino SS with a 396... was the worst driving car ever. All it ever did was light up the tires.

If you want to build a track car - at least start out with something that isn't burdened right out of the box. This stuff is hard enough and costs enough as it is without trying to turn something that doesn't work into something that is now just expensive and doesn't work.

[Brewtal66]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Pick ups and "Elkys" do NOT make good track cars.... Check out any of the times on USCA -- or Good-Guys and you'll see the trucks just aren't competitive, despite having some pretty good drivers. They just don't hook up.

I used to have a 69 El Camino SS with a 396... was the worst driving car ever. All it ever did was light up the tires.

If you want to build a track car - at least start out with something that isn't burdened right out of the box. This stuff is hard enough and costs enough as it is without trying to turn something that doesn't work into something that is now just expensive and doesn't work.

Even if I move the engine and trans back and get this to an almost 50/50 weight distribution?

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Originally Posted by Brewtal66

Even if I move the engine and trans back and get this to an almost 50/50 weight distribution?

yep, super light is not always a good thing but it all can be tuned. Beauty of starting with a light car and link suspension. You can add and move weight around and tune AS for traction.

Your gonna want some rear weight biased. 45 front/ 55 rear.

Most of those cars Greg speaks of are still tri 4 bar rears with not a lot of tire. With a clean sheet suspension a lot of improments can be made. Long arm 3 link, cantillever coil overs and watts comes to mind.

Let the rear end go if he wants it. Your probably better off starting fresh. Theres a bunch to change on the current rear end housing.

[Brewtal66]

Originally Posted by Vince@MSperfab

yep, super light is not always a good thing but it all can be tuned. Beauty of starting with a light car and link suspension. You can add and move weight around and tune AS for traction.

Your gonna want some rear weight biased. 45 front/ 55 rear.

Most of those cars Greg speaks of are still tri 4 bar rears with not a lot of tire. With a clean sheet suspension a lot of improments can be made. Long arm 3 link, cantillever coil overs and watts comes to mind.

Let the rear end go if he wants it. Your probably better off starting fresh. Theres a bunch to change on the current rear end housing.

I know some weight will get added back into the car. For starters, I'd put in a glass front windshield. I'd also put the guts back in the door to have working windows. A bigger fuel cell would add a little weight.

What's your thought on a rear mounted radiator?