BUILD THREAD 1987 Chevy El Camino

[ElCamMan515]

Hello all,

It has been a long time since I've posted on here. I have a 1987 El Camino that I bought when I was 17 in 2007. Fast forward 10 years and it is still under construction. It only left the garage to go to my grandfather's funeral in 2016 as he helped me restore it as it sits today. I am currently accumulating parts for a fresh 355 that has been rebuilt and a 4l80e swap. I am looking for suggestions on what parts people have used to swap a 4l80e into a g body. The trans came from a 1997 3/4 ton chevy diesel. This will/has been a slow build but hope to have my dream El Camino done one day.

Tim

 

[Longroof79]

Hope to see you finish your dream machine. Welcome back and don't be a stranger.

 

[Texas82GP]

Beautiful car! I really love the blue. I'm looking forward to watching the dtivetrain swap.

 

[88ss408]

That is a electronic transmission. So you will need a Trans controller like a TCI box or something similar.
But thats all I can say about it. As I never really messed around with newer transmission

 

[L67ss]

Why 4l80 if you don't mind me asking?

 

[ElCamMan515]

I was given a 4l80e for free and would like OD as I have a 3.73 rear that I'll be swapping into the car also. I figure the 4l80e can hold the hp and torque from new motor. Motor specs are below:

355 sbc
492 2.02/1.60 fuelie heads fully ported
Elgin 1165 cam
9.75:1 compression ratio with 2 valve flat top pistons

Hoping for a good sleeper car.

Tim

 

[L67ss]

Would be much better off trading that 4l80 for a different trans. That "free" trans will end up costing you a crapload in the long run. Same money could get you a much easier to use and much lighter 700r4/4l60. Not to mention a 4l80 takes a decent amount of HP to run

 

[Texas82GP]

Great project. Are you going to run a factory ecm/modified harness or a stand alone controller?

 

[ElCamMan515]

I would be running a stand alone controller to run the transmission. I thought about a 700r4 but can't turn away free parts. Budget is tight as I recently had a baby 7 months ago and wife is expecting again.

This build may take a couple years to complete.

Tim

 

[L67ss]

It'll cost more to keep the 4l80 than to get a dif trans. Plus most trans shops will give $800-1200 for a 4l80 core