Hey guys, just wanted to share a memorable experience with my former G-body. I had a '78 El Camino which was a factory 350 car, but somewhere along the line the original motor and metric trans were swapped for a '73 350 2bbl and th350 out of a Monte Carlo. That's the lowest power 350 ever made with 145 horsepower, but it had gobs of low end torque and the factory highway gears kept it in the power band. Combine that with the fact it isn't that heavy and didn't spin 'em; it actually got off the line quite well. It had true duals off the manifolds and open filter so it ran healthier for an old oily, smokey, smog motor.
I loved crusing around at night with it and always wanted to race people I knew I had a chance of beating to about 50mph (just to the speed limit every now and then). It didn't happen that often though. One night I was sitting at a stoplight along side a newer BMW and I decided I would launch it in case he wanted to have a go at it. I think it was a 5-series, probably 50 grand plus, and at least 100hp advantage over me. So we both took off strong and I couldn't believe it I kept looking over and I was constantly a nose ahead of him. He was probably floored as was I. We got up to probably 55-60 and he just backed off and gave up. I thought it was so cool that with just pure torque, I managed to beat a new BMW 5-series in a drag race with my rat trap '78 El Camino smogger 350 LOL.
I loved crusing around at night with it and always wanted to race people I knew I had a chance of beating to about 50mph (just to the speed limit every now and then). It didn't happen that often though. One night I was sitting at a stoplight along side a newer BMW and I decided I would launch it in case he wanted to have a go at it. I think it was a 5-series, probably 50 grand plus, and at least 100hp advantage over me. So we both took off strong and I couldn't believe it I kept looking over and I was constantly a nose ahead of him. He was probably floored as was I. We got up to probably 55-60 and he just backed off and gave up. I thought it was so cool that with just pure torque, I managed to beat a new BMW 5-series in a drag race with my rat trap '78 El Camino smogger 350 LOL.