A puzzling g-body

[DRIVEN]

One other thing you could do is check the casting dates on the intake and heads (when you replace the valve covers) to see if they jive with the production date of the car. I know it's looking like the car came with a 350, but date codes might help prove that you have the 350 that the factory installed.
Looks like a solid car. Nice find!

 

[SRD art]

One other thing you could do is check the casting dates on the intake and heads (when you replace the valve covers) to see if they jive with the production date of the car. I know it's looking like the car came with a 350, but date codes might help prove that you have the 350 that the factory installed.
Looks like a solid car. Nice find!

We will.

Holy shoot that box van is Bad! Is that yours? Wow!

 

[DRIVEN]

Nope. Not mine. Just thought it was cool.

 

[Csilvy2000]

My '78 el camino came from the factory with the exact same setup you're describing. The Chevy 350 was dropped as an option in 1979. I've heard of several '78 el camino's being born with the 350, but your wagon is the first I've been made aware of with the 350 at birth. I'm sure they're several out there, but not extremely common.

It does make sense, however, because if I'm not mistaken the frame under the el camino and the frame under the wagons are very similar. I suspect GM offered that exact same drivetrain into those altered style frame combinations.

Some '79 cutlasses came with a 350, but they had the H/O package and it was an Olds 350.

Regardless, you found a neat car and good luck with the build.

 

[SRD art]

My '78 el camino came from the factory with the exact same setup you're describing. The Chevy 350 was dropped as an option in 1979. I've heard of several '78 el camino's being born with the 350, but your wagon is the first I've been made aware of with the 350 at birth. I'm sure they're several out there, but not extremely common.

It does make sense, however, because if I'm not mistaken the frame under the el camino and the frame under the wagons are very similar. I suspect GM offered that exact same drivetrain into those altered style frame combinations.

Some '79 cutlasses came with a 350, but they had the H/O package and it was an Olds 350.

Regardless, you found a neat car and good luck with the build.

Good to know, thanks for the input! 🙂

The wagon frame, as far as I have found out, is only different at the rear frame rail on the driver's side where it's notched for the gas tank. I have the same 108" wheel base as the 2 doors, wasn't the Elky like 112" or something? Lots of folks tend to think the wagon is longer but it's not after all.

 

[Brother Al]

Its entirely possible that Chevy 350 cars may have gotten the heavier gauge frame & steelie wheels similar to the HD frame & steelies offered for the Police Package Malibu and LeMans.

IIRC, there was something on one of the Olds websites about the diesel powered A/G Body cars being equipped with a heavier gauge frame as standard equipment. Perhaps that also included the Hurst-Olds cars with the Olds 350 and wagons/Elkies with the Chevy 350... ??? Not that they had much more torque than the other available V8s, but makes sense.

Definately worth taking a look and comparing the gauge of both frames... doesn't make a world of difference to most, but it would be a cool piece of additional info to add to the '78-'88 G Body files.

 

[liquidh8]

My 78 El Camino was born with the same LM 350 with a Quadrajet carb and no air pump.

Same here, mine was an SS

Ben, not done with one wagon and starting another huh? looks like a nice base to start with.

 

[Longroof79]

What are your plans with this one, Ben? Are you going to keep it mild ?

 

[SRD art]

Ben, not done with one wagon and starting another huh? looks like a nice base to start with.

Lol! I have PADD, "Project Attention Deficit Disorder" 🙂 Well, you guys may know both my son and I also have Novas, mine is a street strip 74 and his is a restomod 73 Hatchback. Both need some $ dumped into them to be up and running so they're more long term builds.

The wagons are great daily drivers and fun too. Outside of getting my 9" rear axle done, mine is mostly dialed in suspension wise. I'm happy with the mild 406 in it, so really for the most part interior and exterior work is what it's waiting on. I don't mind putting that off to put together a quick and inexpensive project/ driver for my son. We're excited to go to cruise ins this summer, both pulling in with lowered Cutlass wagons should be a site. I'm just glad he wanted this car as a daily rather than a little import. :wink:

 

[Bonnewagon]

The apple don't fall far from the tree..... 8)