1969 Chevy El Camino SS 396, Is it worth fixing or do we walk away?

This is the first time I get to take a good look at my family's Chevrolet 1969 SS396 El Camino in many years. This is an original numbers matching big block car. While visiting El Paso I spent a few days working on this classic American muscle car to determine if it was worth the effort of taking on as a project.
This is a SS 396 Big Block Car, TH400 Transmission, 12 bolt rear end. The body is in terrible shape, but there are definitely some things about the car worth saving.
Hope you guys enjoy the video. This video is made for people interested in Classic Cars, Muscle Cars, Chevys, automotive restoration, and hot-rodding. Please Drop me a comment and let me know what you think, and check out the channel to see my other Plymouth Duster Project Car.
If you are new to the channel, my name is Marcos. Welcome to the Dust or Bust Channel! This is a DIY automotive channel about building, driving, and having fun with classic cars. I am not a professional mechanic, but I love both the mechanical and body work side of doing auto projects. I am into customizing and hot rodding, and doing the work myself. It is not always perfect, but I get it done and share both the good and bad. Thanks for following along!
Thanks for watching!

[@edsmachine93]

Hey Marco, I really like your BB El Camino. It is definitely worth fixing. With the experience you gained on the Duster, you now have to experience to do this car. With a Big Block, Turbo 400 and a 12 bolt. And it's and SS what's not to like. '69 is a nice body style abd year. I say fix it. It would make your Dad proud. Thanks for sharing. Take care, Ed.

[@DustorBust]

Hi Ed! Thank you!! I think it is a sweet car, she's a bit ugly right now, but good bones for sure. Lots of potential, and thankfully Chevy parts seem to be much cheaper than Mopar. Thanks for checking it out!😀

[@chucksgmgarage1116]

We just picked up a 72 El Camino SS 454 LS5 with a M22 transmission. That going to be a nice ride if you build it back up.

[@acardiac5983]

I hope you get more subscribers. You provide quality informative content.

[@DustorBust]

Hi Acardiac, thank you!!!! Your comment really means a lot to me. It is a grind right now, but knowing some people appreciate the content makes it worthwhile! Thanks for watching, tell a friend. 👍

[@johnkent9582]

I would definitely do it. More quality parts than ever are available- I'm a bit biased, I have a '68 big block Elky lol.

[@chrIstoPherFarmer77]

As an owner of a 72 Matching number SS, it's worth it homie, I can't stand when people ask y drop 50 to 70 thousand in an old school and I tell them we'll you'll pay that much for a hellcat or corvette...well mines is basically brand new with a ls7 so what's the difference. Keep doing you my brother hooah

[@DustorBust]

Hi Christopher, thanks for the perspective. Agree, much cooler to have a classic! LS7 huh, sweet, I love restomods. Thanks for watching! Hopefully I will be able to spend some time on this 69 this summer.

[@79asspin]

I really like this, great video..

[@DustorBust]

Thanks buddy!!

[@jerryespinoza2113]

This one would have been a good one for that vice grip garage guy. Watching the rusty parts flying off on the highway as he chugs along😂😅

[@DustorBust]

Haha, yes definitely. I am still a beginner, so it will take me a little bit longer, but stay tuned and you will for sure see it on the road again. Thanks for watching!!

[@Autophysn]

Hot rod the hell out if it! 👍

[@DustorBust]

Heck yeah 👍🤠!! I will hopefully pull the engine and start on it this winter. Thanks for watching!

[@wileygailey9553]

Matching numbers? I might would do it.

[@lorikennard231]

I say DO IT! And if you don’t please sell it to me, I would love to take that on. Best of luck to you.

[@DustorBust]

Thanks for the comment!! 😂 Glad you like the car. Yeah, she is a basketcase of problems, but I really dig this car. Hopefully will get back to it in the near future. Thanks for watching!

[@DuddiesAdventure]

Unfortunately the area between the bed and the cab is a common rust problem for these cars from the 60's all the way into the 80's. But fortunately for you they make lots of patch panels because that is a very popular car. I wonder since the previous owner was a Paint Contractor if he had some chemicals in the bed that accelerated the rust. That is a very unique and desirable car. Which means working on it , you will see a return on your investment if you ever decided to sell it. Not a ton of cars out there that you can get your return on but a SS 396 El Camino is one of them. Plus El Caminos are freaking Awesome!! So yes, you should build it! It might be a lot of work, but I think this car would be worth the investment. Either it be original, restomod, drag racer, or slap it on a 4x4 blazer frame and go mudding! That's popular in East Texas Ha Ha Good Episode!

[@DustorBust]

Hey Duddie, thanks for tuning in! Yeah, I am pretty excited about it. I think it could be an awesome car. Will definitely take some work, but like you said the parts are pretty easy to come by. Haha, in about 3 years I will build a mudder😉. Got to finish these 2 projects first, but am jonesing for a Trailduster.

[@jeffdeavours1280]

Go for it

[@elliottgiles958]

I would get it running

[@DustorBust]

Heck yeah!! Definitely worth saving in my book! Thanks for watching 👍

[@budsodalsky]

The 396 saves it. Im a purist so I would go orig. I hope dusters dont go by the wayside😀

[@DustorBust]

Thanks for tuning in! Yes, I probably would not take it on if it didn't have the SS drivetrain. The El Camino will sit for a while, I am committed to getting the Duster running well first! 😁

[@ahoneyman]

Walk away. People will say "numbers matching big block so rare so amazing" The thing about numbers matching stuff is it needs to be 100% correct to be worth money. You will go broke finding that stuff. It's a good project for someone with a '69 El Camino with a rotted frame or unfixable damage. They have all the washer bottles, heat controls, all the knick knack stuff that expensive to buy on Ebay. If you were local I'd get an estimate on media blasting. Dry ice will knock off the house paint and expose the bondo (if any) A guy might pay more to see exactly what he's getting.

[@DustorBust]

Yeah, this car is too rough to be a restoration. I do want to build it though. Right now I am leaning towards making it more of a spectacle. Leave the outside ugly, just fix enough to make it safe. Slight power boost with a nasty sounding cam, possibly a small lift. Just enough to scare the feint of heart. 😂 I am hoping I can start on it this winter. Depends on how the Duster project finishes up. Thanks for the input!

[@michaellovelace8622]

I would rebuild this car

[@DustorBust]

Heck yeah 👍! Thanks for watching!!

[@Nevercouldfigureitout]

I’d do it. Every man needs a elcamino. Man that’s a haul from Texas to Ky if you’re still in Ky. If so there’s a couple dudes up your way that I know that could go and get it.

[@DustorBust]

Yeah, it is a long ways. I do need to ship it and was just going to call some carriers and get a quote, but if you know someone I am definitely interested. Going from El Paso to Cincinnati. Thanks, feel free to have them message me on Instagram if they are interested @dustorbustgarage Thanks bud!

[@DustorBust]

"Every man needs an El Camino" 😂😂

[@moparnut6286]

@@DustorBust well if you think of it El Camino the path, the road, the way! We all need one! Lol

[@DustorBust]

@moparnut62 Absolutely! Buen Camino👍. We all have a path to walk.

[@PeckerwoodKustoms]

Sounds like you are already sold on gettin this darlin back on the road Marcos... lot of work ahead of you but youre not scared...thats a start.. As mentioned there are a lot of parts available for these things so its not like you are handcrafting whole panels to make it work...there might even be some second hand stuff floating around you can use..Id watch you fix this 100%...Im a Mopar guy, but Im also a car guy...get on with it ..hahaha

[@DustorBust]

Thanks Peckerwood Kustoms!! Yeah, I was already pretty convinced 😂. It is amazing how accessible the parts are vs. my Duster parts. Thanks for tuning in!!

[@PeckerwoodKustoms]

@@DustorBust the aftermarket has improved outta sight for certain models .. not so much the Mopar which hurts a bit

[@DustorBust]

@@PeckerwoodKustoms very true!

[@jameshollingsworth7632]

Your asking for trouble, I have one been working on it for 15 years😂

[@DustorBust]

Hi James, yeah, I am sure you are probably right 😂. Haven't even had time to do much on this one. Good luck on getting yours done! Little by little it will get there. I thought my Duster would take a year, it is now 3 years in, but running. Thanks for watching. 👍

[@kevinmcdermott8033]

Any thing can be fixed, but why? Just re body it 1969 SS vin is same as Malibu. 136.

[@DustorBust]

Hi Kevin, thanks for watching! Yeah, but I would know. And I think rebodying is illegal if we are talking the same thing. It will be a challenge😎.

[@johnnyswaggerandtheblackmamba]

Dude, love big blocks, but this is scary and get out your check book; triple your budget. It's a good parts car, find another body and save your budget.

[@DustorBust]

Hi Dirty Mike, yeah she is pretty rough! Right now I am leaning towards driving her in rough shape, ugly duckling at the car show 😂. The plan is to start on it this winter. Thanks for checking out the channel!

[@frednewton9323]

NO! Dont do it. Too far gone. Love my 69 but it was a challenge and in way better shape than that one. Rust kills. Good luck.

[@DustorBust]

Hi Fred, thanks for the comment. It is pretty rough 😂. Right now I am thinking I will leave it ugly and just build the engine to rip around. This one is still on hold, but I will probably pull the engine this winter. Thanks for watching!

[@sofiacarlile6092]

El Guapo? More like La Cucaracha!

[@DustorBust]

Can't get rid of a Cucaracha!

[@eziaslemos3121]

Junk it