Words: Tommy Parry
As his daily driver is a Dodge Challenger RT, Michael wanted to replicate its plush and pleasant driving experience in a much older, more stylish and slightly quirky package. Or that’s how it started, anyways. Without sacrificing any modern amenities, Michael would slowly turn this El Camino into an understated corner carver with plenty of tire, massive brakes, a modern suspension setup and strong traction. Though it couldn’t take the place of his Challenger, the El Camino’s performance would, in an ideal world, make it the preferred weekend car.
When he first rolled the car into his driveway, it was fitted with a rebuilt 327, a TH350 transmission and a 10-bolt open differential with 3.08 gearing. A prior owner updated the brakes with front discs and housed them in American racing five-spokes wrapped in Falken Ziex 612 tires. While the handling wasn’t poor, it was still far from what he wanted.
Unfortunately, the motor coughed and sputtered until it left Michael stranded one afternoon. After a bit of difficulty sourcing a starter, he could enjoy the car with some comfort — though it was still in dire need of a tune. As it sat waiting to be tuned, Michael added a set of Hedman Elite shorty headers, which provided the clearance he needed with the tall speedbumps in his neighborhood.
Next came a new set of shoes. A set of TTII wheels and BFG KDW-2 tires helped give the car a more athletic stance thanks the the sidewalls and 17” diameter, as well as the UMI Stage 4 suspension kit consisting of Viking shocks, anti-roll bars, tubular control arms and delrin bushings.
Next came the bodywork. After running 700 pounds of sand through the sand blaster, picking out the seam sealer and welding holes shut, he was able to apply a coat of POR-15 to the smugglers’ trunk. That set the foundation for a layer of white primer, which he would contrast with the newly blackened trim pieces fresh from the painters.
After a spirited romp in his refreshed car, Michael felt revitalized – happy to drive anywhere. “Driving this car makes driving fun again,” says Michael, “like when I first got my license and couldn’t wait to jump in the car and go somewhere.”
That drive enlightened Michael to the shortcomings of the car. Eager to maximize the traction, he replaced the open differential with an Eaton posi and Richmond 3.55 gears.
Even with the disc brakes up front, stopping the heavyset Elki was always a chore and occasionally a terrifying near-miss. A Wilwood 7/8 Master cylinder with no booster, a Wilwood prop valve and Kore3 Z51 front and rear brakes, housed in tasteful Vision Legend 5-spokes, helped make braking a more reassuring event. Now, the car had the traction, the stopping ability and the athletic stance a Pro Touring car ought to have.
Realizing the one last shortcoming was in the propulsion department, Michael ponied up and ordered an LS1 mated to a T56 gearbox. The motor, also fitted with a 90MM Wilson throttle body as well as MSD coil packs, should both complement and finalize this ambitious build once it’s finally sitting snugly in the engine bay.
Michael’s build has taken him through tough times. A divorce, a daughter in the hospital and issues with work have kept him from getting to the Elki as often as he would’ve liked, but despite these hurdles, he’s managed to create a well-rounded machine with relatively little mechanical expertise. It simply shows that, even with just a few auto shop classes in experience, a build as elaborate as this can be accomplished provided the builder is willing to backpedal, scratch his head, bang the wall a few times and tough it out.
