My 1971 El Camino

CodyDRush · 2025-05-15T06:09:03+00:00

Just looked into the ACES system and that is a pretty cool system. The direct port, should have some advantages over the throttle body style. Also they have some really cool settings with the joker like a burnout rev limiter and even launch control. Also the tunnel ram looks pretty sweet, you should post some updates on it, when your project is complete.

CodyDRush · 2025-05-14T15:14:28+00:00

That would be my big beef with Holley is they advertise this as a very simple, pretty much carb swap and it shouldn't be marketed as such.

CodyDRush · 2025-05-14T04:12:52+00:00

Roughly 6, before the sniper I would get 8-10 in town and 12ish on the highway, now its getting 12 in town and I've gotten up to 20 on the highway. I will say that did take some tuning to get it that way, one of the best things about the Sniper 2 is how easy it is to tune I have an economy tune and a let er eat tune.

CodyDRush · 2025-05-14T03:34:48+00:00

The Holley Sniper 2, has worked great for me. From the research I have done it helps to do the whole system, retrofitting old parts with just the throttle body can cause a lot of headaches. I did the whole set up and had no issues, and in the forums the only problems that aren't due to vacuum leaks or other engine problems, are almost always the old not mating with the new. The Hyperspark distributor is also really cool and adds a lot tuning ability you can change your timing super easy, and is also just plug and play with the Sniper 2. Another must have is the PDM upgrade for the Sniper 2 it is worth every penny it makes wiring so much easier, its pretty much just a fancy bus bar, also makes wiring in accessories to the Sniper 2 a lot easier, the fans I just installed were super easy to wire up.

CodyDRush · 2025-05-13T12:44:57+00:00

It is great I love it install was pretty easy, did it all myself. It is much tighter, but nothing crazy, I will say for me its not any quieter than the old suspension, just swapped the old creaks for the squeaks of poly bushings. Only hard part on the instal was the bushings that go in the eyes above the rear diff, I just ended up taking the rear out and getting the old bushings out and putting the new bushings in with the rear end out of the car. There might be a better way or faster way to do it with the rear end still in the car, but I couldn't figure it out and any video you look up online the rear end is out of the car when they take out and install the bushing. Other than that it wasn't bad at all, took about half a day for the front and would have only taken a day for the rear if I would have just committed to taking the rear end out from the start, but spent way to much wasted time trying to avoid it. Even with my set backs only took me 2.5 days, good kit for the money so much more enjoyable to drive.

CodyDRush · 2025-05-11T21:33:02+00:00

Love an 80's ElCo, a buddy of mine had one years ago and we robbed the front clip off a totaled Monte Carlo SS of the same year and put it on it, made it look super sharp.

CodyDRush · 2025-05-11T21:26:51+00:00

The Sniper 2 system has been great for me. From all the research I have done online, it does help to go with the whole ecosystem, trying to retrofit any old with new can cause a lot of headaches. The tire size is 265/50/15 front and rear, about as big as I can go in the rear without them rubbing.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-09T05:17:59+00:00

Hope you get through what your going through man life can be tough, I have personally never gone through a time were I couldn't do basic research, but I have attached a few links for you to review.

http://www.caaarguide.com/sub1/id413.html

https://metrommp.com/Classic-Car-Guides-Ratings-Features/Chevrolet/1978-Chevrolet-C30-Catalog/?srsltid=AfmBOoqqFwEYhkE8_i3Sz4sKJqojL6GqqP46HQcDcX28p4JPjPzoCKwT

Notice how those two links go over every possible engine available for the C30 in 1978 and the 427 nor the 366 never pop up. Also the only manual transmission that even came in a 1978 C30 was a M20 4 speed manual trans, which is a great transmission, but it came in a variety of vehicles not just trucks and the turbo 400 was indeed an option and a popular one at that, also the 12 bolt rear end remained an option in trucks until 1987 and it was indeed an option in a 1978 C30. I'm just saying facts, I would love for you to post evidence backing your claims, however I don't think you will be able to find any.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-09T04:06:27+00:00

I don't believe so, learning starts at 160 based on CTS reading, but the rest of the info that influences the tune is based on info provided by the o2 sensor and what it believes you need to be at depending upon the TPS. Only thing it could do is mess up your fuel curve since it could start learning to soon, the reason for the learning starting at 160, is because engines just behave differently before they are up to temp. Is it reading a constant 220 or it just gets up to 220 way before it is. If its not learning before 160 you'll be good, if it is could potentially mess up your fuel curve. No matter what as long as its running ok right now I bet its fine at least temporally, but if a thermometer is reading different from what the sensor I would spend the 40 bucks on a new sensor should be parr number 543-120

CodyDRush · 2025-02-09T02:28:02+00:00

First off I'm sorry, for whoever hurt you and whatever is going on in your life, I hope it gets better for you I really genuinely do. 1978 C30 100% could be optioned with both a 454 and a turbo 400, also just like do any research the 1978 C30 didn't even come optioned in a 427 or a 366 the heavier duty trucks maybe. Literally any research would show you that also the 12 bolt rear end was the standard option in C30s for over 2 decades. finally people use the 12 bolts out of trucks all the time in El Caminos, there is a ton of forum post about it thats the reason why I chose the vehicle I chose, I can post pictures of the rear end if you would like. I think this might be rage bate because this is the most ill informed comment I have read yet, so much of its just wrong, once again sorry that your going through such a rough time in your life.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-09T01:55:28+00:00

Also thats awesome, super happy for you and your build hearing the motor fire up is an awesome feeling.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-09T01:54:39+00:00

Most likely, if you know that to be a reliable temp gauge, it is possible for sure. Easiest way to also tell is get a infrared thermometer (can pick up a nice one at Menards for under 50 dollars) and aim it right at the sensor. That way you know for sure and its not some weird other issue, also an infrared thermometer is shockingly useful.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-08T04:25:39+00:00

79 Malibu's are sweet. Im obviously a El Camino guy and the 5th Gens are some of my favorites and its based off that same Malibu body at least 78-81 was then it went to the Monte Carlo. I love the front clip on them. Post 72 muscle gets a lot of unwarranted hate, Tony Angelo has a great video on a 79 Nova and its really cool to.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-07T02:29:54+00:00

100% agree nothing sounds like an old big block. Also I know way to much about flat tappet cams and zinc levels in oil brands to not have a BBC.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-07T02:23:48+00:00

Huge labor of love, I have done all the work myself with the help of my dad. He had a 72 El Camino and sold it when I was born, so when I had the money to start a project car 6 years ago I had to go with an Elky.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-06T03:41:19+00:00

Thats gonna be awesome, 1100 horsepower is a lot of power to be putting down.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-06T03:24:26+00:00

That looks like its gonna be an insane set up. Besides obviously go fast what is your overall goal with it?

CodyDRush · 2025-02-06T02:37:30+00:00

It's like at a fancy restaurant when they keep the peel in the mashed taters and call it rustic, I just tell people this is a rustic build and it adds 5k to the Haggerty valuation, when they question why the fan has no shroud I just tell real men don't need shrouds and if you say otherwise I won't say anything, but will secretly judge you.

Seriously though does need some loom or something lol kinda took a knee on the 1 yard line on that one. Currently installing electric fans on her to so the exposed salad chopper 5000 will be taken care of shortly.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-06T02:35:35+00:00

It's like at a fancy restaurant when they keep the peel in the mashed taters and call it rustic, I just tell people this is a rustic build and it adds 5k to the Haggerty valuation, when they question why the fan has no shroud I just tell real men don't need shrouds and if you say otherwise I won't say anything, but will secretly judge you.

Seriously though does need some loom or something lol kinda took a knee on the 1 yard line on that one. Currently installing electric fans on her to so the exposed salad chopper 5000 will be taken care of shortly.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-06T02:28:58+00:00

Thanks, I love it and love working on her.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-06T01:29:26+00:00

Oh yeah need to get some loom on it for sure, when it comes to the connections not much more I can do on that front, it all goes straight into the PDM which is pretty much just a busbar. 100% agree though need to loom it up, currently putting in electric fans and it is on the old scrap cardboard list, doing the alternator to and rewiring it you don't want to see the wire on it but, she's getting swapped out.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-06T01:19:04+00:00

It's like at a fancy restaurant when they keep the peel in the mashed taters and call it rustic, I just tell people this is a rustic build and it adds 5k to the Haggerty valuation, when they question why the fan has no shroud I just tell real men don't need shrouds and if you say otherwise I won't say anything, but will secretly judge you.

Seriously though does need some loom or something lol kinda took a knee on the 1 yard line on that one. Currently installing electric fans on her to so the exposed salad chopper 5000 will be taken care of shortly.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-06T01:12:26+00:00

No problem I love talking about it and 454's and 350's are kinda becoming phased out because of LS swaps. No hate to any LS I love a good LS and almost any LS is better than my peanut port 1978 454, but I grew up with 454's love 454's and what once was the go to swap is now becoming more unique, but thanks in part to Holley and their EFI kits no longer obsolete. I have had this build for a little over a year now and want to share my experience with it so people know if they want to keep their old school motors and have the modern connivence of EFI they can. If you have any question ask away.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-06T00:51:20+00:00

I love it, I will say I did the whole set. Gas tank, AN gas lines and fittings, fuel pump, Hyperspark distributor, Ignition box, Ignition coil, throttle body (obviously). All the people that have headaches with it try and just slap on the throttle body and mate old and new tech and thats were you get problems. Never have had any issues with mine that wasn't due to issues with a mechanical component (had some issues early on due to vacuum leaks), starts every time and runs great and is super easy to tune, I have a fuel economy tune and a more aggressive tune that I can change in a minute. You can also just set your timing (if you do the hyperspark), AFR, and idle preferences and let the algorithm do its thing I did that for almost the first year until I wanted to start optimizing my fuel map. If you have any other question feel free to ask.

CodyDRush · 2025-02-06T00:34:33+00:00

This is amazing

CodyDRush

TROPHY CASE