Smog tests in CA are every two years. If you don’t mind yanking out the engine and swapping it around, it’s an option. Personally, I’m a “set it and forget it” guy. Once it’s in, it ain’t coming out until/unless it blows up.
Another carb legal question
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Smog tests in CA are every two years. If you don’t mind yanking out the engine and swapping it around, it’s an option. Personally, I’m a “set it and forget it” guy. Once it’s in, it ain’t coming out until/unless it blows up.
As this is my first car I'm rebuilding and restoring I'd want it to be as simple as possible. If I went down the bar and ref road, I'd be looking at 5.7 engines from chevy trucks 1979 and newer right? With all there smog stuff. I' say I'd probably have about 5 to 7 grand to throw at it when the time comes for new heads, cam, supercharger. I like the idea of the gm performance block but I have horrible luck, so if something could go wrong with smog it probably will
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If your Elco is a ‘79, then the engine itself would need to be at least a ‘79. My suggestion would be to try to find an ‘87-‘95 TBI 350. This would give you good driveability and cold-start performance, and they’re dead-nuts reliable. Only thing I’m not sure about is the hood clearance with the stock truck air cleaner.
However, there are some restrictions on swapping truck engines into cars. Long story short, they need to be in the same basic weight class. If the swap engine originally came out of a regular-cab, 2WD short-bed truck, you should be fine, but if it came out of a 2500, it’s probably a no-go, since there are different smog rules for HDs.
Yes, CA swap rules are a PITA, but as long as you stick to some basic guidelines, and show a good faith effort to follow the rules, you should be OK.
Also, any bolt-ons like heads, headers, intake, etc, will need an EO number, or be factory equipment.
However, there are some restrictions on swapping truck engines into cars. Long story short, they need to be in the same basic weight class. If the swap engine originally came out of a regular-cab, 2WD short-bed truck, you should be fine, but if it came out of a 2500, it’s probably a no-go, since there are different smog rules for HDs.
Yes, CA swap rules are a PITA, but as long as you stick to some basic guidelines, and show a good faith effort to follow the rules, you should be OK.
Also, any bolt-ons like heads, headers, intake, etc, will need an EO number, or be factory equipment.
If i was to take that tbi350 to the ref would i need to know the exact truck it came out of? Or just the general range
Or could I buy an engine like this https://m.ebay.com/itm/CHEVY-383-35...rentrq:f582133a1630a9e2b2b263d3fffd6cca|iid:1
That' designed for the same year range and put carb legal heads and cam in?
That' designed for the same year range and put carb legal heads and cam in?
As long as the engine was offered in a vehicle in the same weight class as your Elco, and has all the emissions equipment appropriate for that weight class, you should be good. The 350 was offered in both 1500 and 2500/3500 models. I would try to find one out of a 1500.
IIRC, El Camino GVWR was about 4000.... dry weight around 3100 or 3200 and 800 cargo rating.
A 1/2 ton pickup from 1979 or 1980 is quite a bit heavier. Their unloaded weight is about 4400 and pushes up between 5000 and a shade over 6000 depending on spring pkg... and that's just the half ton c10.
So depending on "weight class" you may already be in trouble.
In 1981 the sheetmetal redesign facelift and front frame reductions shaved a good 4 or 500 pounds off the truck. Add to that, the cargo options were reduced to carry less weight.
So depending what gvwr they allow, you might need an 1981 or newer truck
A 1/2 ton pickup from 1979 or 1980 is quite a bit heavier. Their unloaded weight is about 4400 and pushes up between 5000 and a shade over 6000 depending on spring pkg... and that's just the half ton c10.
So depending on "weight class" you may already be in trouble.
In 1981 the sheetmetal redesign facelift and front frame reductions shaved a good 4 or 500 pounds off the truck. Add to that, the cargo options were reduced to carry less weight.
So depending what gvwr they allow, you might need an 1981 or newer truck
I’ll have to do a little more homework, but the weight classes are a range, so it’s possible an El Camino and a half-ton regular-cab are actually in the same weight class.
I found this out because I was looking at engine swap options for my Avalanche, and discovered that my options were a lot more limited than I originally thought.
Believe it or not, even though mine is considered a “half-ton” by most measures (it’s a 6-lug with a 5.3), it is considered “medium-duty” because it has a GVWR over something like 6,500 pounds. If it had been a 2wd regular-cab Silverado, it would have been in a lower weight class.
I found this out because I was looking at engine swap options for my Avalanche, and discovered that my options were a lot more limited than I originally thought.
Believe it or not, even though mine is considered a “half-ton” by most measures (it’s a 6-lug with a 5.3), it is considered “medium-duty” because it has a GVWR over something like 6,500 pounds. If it had been a 2wd regular-cab Silverado, it would have been in a lower weight class.
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