79 Elcamino suspension mods

[tnsteve37]

79 Elky SS (red with flames and toneau)
350ci 4 bolt main with edlebrock 410hp kit
th350 trans with shift kit
ceramic headers to duals
corvette rallys with 245/60 rear and 235/60 fronts (they rub a little)

I've been doing a little research and have found a couple of elky owners swapped the 10 bolt 7.5" for a rearend out of a Grand national (10 bolt 8.5"). The 3:42 gearing out of the GN is much better than the 2:56the Elky came with. Does anyone have experience with this? Is it a direct bolt in? I am also changing all of the front end bushings to polyurethane and swapping all of the ball joints, pitman arm and idler arm. Im thinking of going to progreesive rate springs. what do you guys think? I am also going to swap all body bushings. I heard rubber is the way to, because of the ride. Also is it worth it to by aftermarket trailing arms or just put in the poly bushings. Any comments and opinions are welcome. Im looking for a good all around street/cruise/show and go with some umph car and plan on attending the hot rod power tour again this year, last year I was in a 91 454SS Truck which I traded my Dad for the elky. I hope to see some of you out there, last year I only saw 2 Elkys, a 59 and a 78.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[jlcustomz]

Don't have personal experience with the 8.5, but I seem to remember it requires a 1" shorter driveshaft. You may want to consider an od trans for highway use after a gear swap. Aftermarket arms will improve handling, so will boxing in yours, There is a current thread on el camino central on doing this. Improved quality rubber bushings are considered the best street comfort choice by many. Rubber body bushings won't transfer noise like metal versions, stick with rubber. Not sure about progressive springs available, but the average drop springs are a pretty good stiffness/ comfort level.
One mod from the GNX models makes a nice tracking difference,-- the panhard bar setup. A friend made his own & loves the difference just for normal driving.

Ps, I have 235/60's in front w drop springs, I cut out the outer portion of the plastic & metal inner fender reinforcement & slightly flattened the flanges in the fenderwell . Plan to fill back in with custom metal later.

 

[tnsteve37]

That sounds like a plan. I dont know much about a panhard bar but I will research it. Rubber bushing seem like the way to go, thanks for the info. I am probably going to go with the drop springs. I just notched the trans cross member so I could run 3" exhaust with flow masters. Its not for the feint of heart but made a seat of the pants difference. I have a buddy that welds so boxing in the trailings arms is an option, they are really expensive aftermarket.