'78-'87 El Camino V8 Stocker?

[Tom Moock]

Dwight, the big cam & flat top piston 305, 248 hp.is a good combination in the wagon & El Camino. Same motor in the Camaro is 275 hp.

[6130]

Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland

79 305 4-bbl is good at 235. There are a couple of Arkansas boys that run fast with that combination in hardtop bodies carrying 243hp. The 80-83 small cam 305 engines are also good at 230, and the 84 is at 229. The 83-87 big cam 305s will take more work and $$. The 78-79 350 is good if you will run it as a manual trans; probably better in a SW.

Dwight, are you saying that the '78-'79 350 4-barrel is NOT a good combination with an automatic, and if so, why?

[Dwight Southerland]

I'm not saying it is not a good combination with an auto, but the rating with a stick is 275 and the rating with an auto is 287. That's 132 lb difference in 11lb/hp class (G/S vs G/SA) or 138 lb difference between H/S and H/SA.

Originally Posted by 6130

So is the '78-'79 350 4-barrel combo not as tough? Would that be a better choice?

You can only run the 350 in 78/79 elco or wagon, it was not available in a coupe or sedan body. Most guys run them as 80 or 81 to not carry the extra hp/weight of the 79. 78 would be ok as well but I think finding the newer style taillights is probably easier. The 78 taillight is slanted from the side, the others are not so they will all fit. The nose on the 78/79 are the same but the grill is different, 80/81 nose is different than 78/79 and each year has a different grill for them as well. As to which is best, I think the 79 is prettier but it would depend on how thick your wallet is.

Jackie McCracken

[Tom Moock]

If you want to use 350 Chevy in g body, 1979 & 1980 Olds Cutlass Wagon 275 hp. Same motor as Malibu, Cutlass alu. Radiator support & hood. Malibu wagon 350 was hp wrong first time with Camaro & Corvette, Second time with Camaro & not the Corvette. Best 350 Malibu wagon run in the last 10 years i could find in Nitro Joe's stats was 6 tens under the old index.

[6130]

Originally Posted by Tom Moock

If you want to use 350 Chevy in g body, 1979 & 1980 Olds Cutlass Wagon 275 hp. Same motor as Malibu, Cutlass alu. Radiator support & hood. Malibu wagon 350 was hp wrong first time with Camaro & Corvette, Second time with Camaro & not the Corvette. Best 350 Malibu wagon run in the last 10 years i could find in Nitro Joe's stats was 6 tens under the old index.

Interesting. So Chevy only used the 350 in the A/G body in '78-'79 (in El Caminos and wagons only), but Oldsmobile used it in '78, '79, and '80 (in wagons only).

So the Olds A/G body wagons got aluminum radiator supports and aluminum hoods, and the Chevrolets didn't? Did the Buick and Pontiac wagons get aluminum radiator supports and/or hoods?