Transforming A Grocery Getter '83 El Camino Into An SS Elky - Trucks! S5, E8

This is one for you budget-minded guys as Stacey takes an ’83 El Camino, and gives it a body make-over. Transforming it from your momma’s grocery getter to an SS Elky with attitude, and showing that one of these truck/car hybrids could be one of the best fun-per-dollar projects out there. After that, Stacey leans hard on the ford SVT lightening in a tire-smokin’ test to show you what makes it so special.

[@DonEnrique9]

I love that 83 stock grill and bumper front end

[@unclebob7937]

Ikr a waste imo.

[@freliaz]

Same! But man I love this show

[@yourdaddy5630]

Your right Best stile El Camino, Front end no doubt.I’m not trying to diss but the SS Monte Carlo front end is just not for me.

[@tylito4764]

I rememeber being a kid and this guy was always on TV on sundays before the games were on. Good times.

[@chrissmith7669]

Lol. Yep. Jim Rockford in “the Rockford files“. James Garner at his best. Loved his Camino

[@Joesire]

Yep, My dad would always be watching this guy

[@christopherdalley411]

My grandmother did drive an El Camino and I flew out of the back and almost died. It was great!!

[@prutissbartlow8835]

Lol

[@larsmanson9577]

All the parts you take off of it are like gold to a restorer.

[@adventurerider105]

It looked better before he started

[@ChasRebel420]

Should have up graded ever. Left the look, alone

[@FordRangerGuy2011]

Some of the parts he put on there looked good but that side exhaust thing looks dumb.

[@shadowwizardmoneygrandpa]

"however stylistically, they look like something your grandma would drive." My grandma actually owns one so that is accurate. However I prefer that style of El Camino.

[@SGTJDerek]

My Great-Grandma had a Black and Gold '79 with American Racing Butterfly Mags.

[@shadowwizardmoneygrandpa]

@@SGTJDerek nice

[@TheREALOC1972]

IDK WTF ya'll talking about.... My grandma daily drove a 1970 Cougar Eliminator. Apparently ya'lls grandma wasn't as cool as mine.

[@shadowwizardmoneygrandpa]

@@TheREALOC1972 man your grandma is cool AF.

[@TheREALOC1972]

@@shadowwizardmoneygrandpa She was, she passed away in 2002. My grandpa called her "5 foot of piss and vinegar" and then followed that up "but that's I married her". Growing up you didn't ask grandpa for shit, you asked grandma because she was in charge of the household, grandpa was just the money man and what grandma wanted grandma got, there was no discussion......

[@Joesire]

This guy was really good. We took for granted how professional and talented tb shows, these internet channels dont compare.

[@dwp139]

Still is really good. Easy to talk to and very knowledgeable

[@wranglercody8422]

Back when elcos were reasonably priced. Everyone wants $10-15k for a clapped out bondo bucket.

[@bmstylee]

Yep. Remember. They know what they have. 😆

[@chrisglover8510]

i got lucky and found an 84 for $2400. but i gotta find a video to do a power steering conversion

[@BoyBoogy1]

I have an 80 for sale for 5

[@juanjones4946]

Yea you right! I paid $2500 for my 85 wit a 383 with a big cam in it about 12years ago, I'm piss I sold it bc been looking for one lately and people talking crazy prices 🤨

[@Dr.Zoidberg087]

dude yeah wtf my first 81 was 2k in 09. same truck would want 8 or more now, it's ridiculous.

[@maddox2028]

I like the stock grill better than the ss one

[@gregodena.a3577]

Big Time...

[@maddox2028]

@@gregodena.a3577 it don’t fit the el Camino at all imo. It’s too much aero for something that is pretty much a box lol

[@gator4458]

I agree. The super sport front end looked good on mid 80s monte Carlos but not so much on the el caminos.

[@stevearehart313]

Should have left the elcamino alone. It was just fine!

[@Tony65]

I love my 82 El Co. this show is a blast from the past man.

[@MsRmaclaren]

Not today. It's all over for us poh folk. Oh, for the day I bought my 68 Chevelle Malibu for $100 put a 65 396 out of a Vette for another $500 plus some Cragars for a manifold trade. Other goodies and for $2K I had a car that would do wheel stands.

[@manbearpig2164]

I thought it looked better before

[@bmstylee]

Oh to be able to get one of those for $3500. Even project cars are selling for double that.

[@richardringelstetter4693]

Solid CA '85 Caballero in my Central Valley CA driveway. 3K sounds good. Let me know.

[@bmstylee]

@@richardringelstetter4693 unfortunately you are several thousand miles away. Or it would be tempting.

[@eddierools]

Actually bought my '82 El Camino for 2800 XD

[@maxhammontree3169]

I love the 1983 model haircut.

[@kleimbach77]

Lol

[@christirobinson5372]

I love your channel when you show the super fast truck for the teenager's and parent's it's pain in the ass to keep them out of trouble for example stealing the cars and trucks most teen can't afford to have a show quality cars every day driven and gas safer limited speed control and adding more brake power most common how we turn all american people to go diesel engine that gives more miles per gallon that's what you need to show some positive passion

[@mookie714]

Woah! Trucks with Stacy David! Blast from the past.

[@chrissmith7669]

I’d love one with the Lagune nose. Those are the ultimate lookers to me with engine bay space matched only by a destroyer.

[@everettgrover9459]

that would be rad....im kinda looking for a laguna slant nose myself with a 383 stroker and TH400

[@cheifchull8946]

The absolute only thing I might do after watching this video is make the back bumper smooth and lining up with the tailgate, nothing else really looks good. I do like how it's not sticking out like it was

[@richardarthur8191]

I had a 78 Palomino until grandson blew the motor, let him use it one day. Was restoring it sold it. Wish I would of kept it.

[@novicefinger]

never kids drive your stuff.

[@richardturk7162]

I like the original grill better and the side exhaust looks silly on an elco

[@Motoxr32]

When they are done right they look great. I would add a picture of mine but KZbin doesn’t allow that.

[@obudoken]

@@Motoxr32 Add a video 😁

[@jaybirdg4927]

Hell yeah, I've got a 79 Camino

[@bilbobaggins4710]

I love it

[@yourdaddy5630]

Thanks for making the video. Great looking cruck. I sure would like to get my hands on those headlight bezels there in way better shape than the ones on mine.

[@kattcasel9730]

Drove these El Caminos and some Rancheros for many years until they were just obsolete. Done several rear body treatments including this one and the Corvette taillights look. If you would like something really trick and different, the 2006 full size Chevy pickup fleetside bed taillights are very close in contour to the El Camino upper rear fender just outboard of the tailgate. This mod is for the bodyshop guys and takes some effort, but guarantee you will not see another, (mine is in the junkyard after a rough accident ). Another item, don't even drill any holes in the forward half of the bed, it will fill the secret spare tire compartment under the floor full of water every rain and drive-thru car wash!!!!

[@calvincooley1074]

I'd love see a panel built from a Malibu wagon body with the B pillars removed and el Camino doors installed and new door jambs fabbed in for the Elco doors and of course the Monte SS nose. A "modern nomad" if you will.

[@kitdinker]

I just went to Honest Charlie's and found that front SS nose. $2,195. And $200 to $300 for shipping. Wow.

[@invictus1973]

I was just looking at that.

[@joedesalvo3316]

I wonder what the price was in 2003...

[@bmstylee]

Shipping is not shocking. It's a large piece that you can't really break into pieces.

[@nichoalasgerian4590]

What the hell why so expensive

[@carena70]

I called Honest Charlies yesterday and tried to order this with the same grill on the show because all the new ones have a Billet grill and I don't like the look.. but the guy said to just put my grill off my Choo Choo on the new front end ... 3 to 9 month wait for the front ends...

[@leobaker291]

I love the stock front end

[@brickarias7850]

Nooo he destroyed that chevy !!!😪😪😪

[@robertpoudrette4483]

Destroyed... Most of you would have let it rot in the backyard beside the shed. That piece of dirt was starting to rust away and wasn't worth it's weight anyway. However, I would have liked to see that car all finished up with a nice 350, suspension bits and refinished. it would have looked a lot better than stock. Simmer down will ya!

[@jamesmorton8431]

He got a little crazy with that reciprocating saw... jumped into the fender a little

[@ishanpriyanga4107]

Superb

[@seanphillips5745]

I like the old bumper back!

[@nhlakaniphozimu7086]

Honest Charles deserved some cred

[@glenfdoss]

He always has a trusty file on him

[@billbowles2380]

Looked better the way it was.

[@robertpoudrette4483]

No.

[@MichaelOKeefe2009]

This was when I was introduced to the crazy oddball truck known as the Chevrolet El Camino.

[@fraciscofrancisco3030]

Just Sharp nice ride

[@dragonsbreath1984]

I used to have an 85 El Camino. What I wouldn't give to have it back and do a resto-mod on it. An LS engine, fully independent rear suspension, and a 5 speed manual.

[@iambiggus]

That steve perry cut brings back more nostalgia than the El Camino, tbh.

[@fernandoesquivel5964]

PURRROOOOO TAKUACHE CUHHHHH

[@samuelvelez1643]

Why you didn' t used an IROC Z front end?

[@joekennedy7752]

Did you ever finish the elco?

[@SGTJDerek]

Keep the Hood. Section the bumpers and tuck 'em. Swap out the 305 for a mild (by today's standards) 350 with a Manual. 3.54 posi. CPP Pro Tour Stage III kit and use it as it was meant to be.

[@TheREALOC1972]

I was with you until you got to the manual part, I spent 21 years jumping out planes and helicoptors with 175 lbs of shit straped to my back, I can;t drive a manual anymore, my knees barely work to walk. I gotta have an auto.

[@SGTJDerek]

@@TheREALOC1972 I'm with ya on the broken body. 12 years Active. 8 AFTER an L4-S1 Fusion. Already know what's in the future so I'd want to enjoy banging gears while I could.

[@TheREALOC1972]

@@SGTJDerek 21 year and 6 deployments.... It will be here quicker than you know. I've had 5 knee surgeries, getting ready to have surgery on my left elbow. I have less than 5% of the cartalidge left in my knees. I just can't drive a manual anymore.

[@colelightfoot4651]

At 4 min Stacey definitely cut the front fender on accident with the sawzall

[@albertgaspar627]

Elkies and Mazda Miatas....the Nickelback of hot rodding, yet both have such great potential. Had I a shop, I wouldn't waste time leasing a new truck, I'd pick up an Elky from this year and toss together a parts chaser (MaximumTorqueSpecialities makes a nice Caddy 500 swap). But then i remember when shops would actually OWN a truck and hot rod it so customers could get an idea of what the shop could perform. but why oh why, bolt rusty hood equipment to a new hood. Soak it in a 50/50 mix of salt and vinegar, wash off and repaint.

[@philcollins932]

i love these models of el caminos, don't care if my wife doesn't either lol

[@Ramblin_Cyclops]

Got a 84 El Camino that looks close to this ones color maybe a little lighter, but the hood was nkt as bad as this ones. 3500 wasnt far off of mine in all honesty and this was what roughly 18 years ago?

[@toddhaver1143]

Pain in the rear to work on. Scrap them. Tried to put a v8 into one that had aV6. Never again headers would not fit

[@jumpsawesomeness4639]

Yes they will. You just have to put them on with the engine inside the doghouse but not mounted yet.

[@bradjacobs1844]

The STOCK look of an El Camino is cool. This bolt-on project did nothing more than mess up a cool truck. Unbelievable.

[@joekennedy7752]

Any update video on the el camino.

[@michael61985]

I wonder why all of the episodes of trucks are not available to watch

[@xxjdsupermanxx]

Watching this in 2022 “expensive with its price tag of $33k.” I remember thinking that was expensive too.

[@Elevated618]

Looks more better to me to each it's own

[@Stackali]

elky? i've only heard elco for an abbreviation of el camino.

[@TitaniumSkullRacing]

Where did you get the side exhaust rocker panels I need them and can't find any

[@mariusmcleod2487]

I do believe he said he got it from honest charley .

[@TitaniumSkullRacing]

@@mariusmcleod2487 yeah I looked threw their catalog and contacted them, I don't think they make it anymore

[@forpointsix4.678]

Does anyone know what year this particular episode was originally aired on television?

[@joedesalvo3316]

2003

[@forpointsix4.678]

@@joedesalvo3316 just now got to the end of the episode. When he showed off the brand new 2003 Lightning and got my answer, lol.

[@menom7]

Also,to prove the age of this video........I LOVE how he says (when introducing the F-150 Lightening) that $30,000 some odd dollars is "EXPENSIVE"!!! HAHAHA............compared to today's "stock" Trucks??? That's a BARGAIN!!!

[@malbers35]

It's amazing how much butchery he did on this show.

[@jonhall7145]

There is absolutely nothing you can do to make that tip look right!!!

[@arthursmith3401]

When I restored an 87 some years back, I made extra grill pieces that went over the lights, with an actuator, kinda like the old rs Cameron, 68?? Not sure, but man did it come out sweet. It was a budget build and I repurchased so much stuff I had hanging around from other hot rods I owned, that I really didn't spend that much, but boy, it came out nice and I made a hefty profit....

[@TheBoer1987]

this is form the 90"s this program

[@WilsonAutoworks]

Those bed rails are hard to find and he just tossed them 🤦🏻‍♂️🤬🤬

[@parkerbowling2010]

Can you call it a SS if it's just a base model underneath?

[@brettkoeshall2325]

Stacey David can sure transform grandma's El Camino into a hot looking SS model.

[@carlosmata564]

Give me all the parts you took off the el camino it's like Gold to me

[@fraciscofrancisco3030]

Exactly. By. Rod

[@junkie842]

Better stock. Sorry! What happened to gears?

[@sean2148]

Now we are ready for the tip.....we are ready for the tip....😳

[@mnoble2288]

I clicked power nations link to see cast iron welding and this came up!???

[@Dr.Zoidberg087]

could have got real serious a bought all monte carlo parts. you'd have needed doors too but the look is worth it.

[@raypoole4425]

Got one I might be selling here soon..’79 El Co..Loaded..350, runs/drives, just never really drive it and want another “toy”..I’m located in Charlotte NC!..Hmu

[@matssvendsen5021]

Liked it before he started better 😂

[@SGTJDerek]

I ALWAYS hated the Montie Carlo SS frontend.

[@peterhoulis1184]

Like most of these shows when you say budget its usually 5 - 10 thousand which isnt cheap

[@scottybeegood]

El Camino is Spanish for The Camino

[@dermharse9614]

any old chevy is gonna command price

[@meanpaintandbody]

All the stuff he installed is all the stuff they pay me to remove lol poor elcamino

[@glenfdoss]

I think he did more work on vehicles during trucks then he does on gearz

[@user-ud5ho3wd4m]

I am making a GMC gentleman in sports

[@cjpeek5807]

I got to say that car would have looked better with the stock grill and a fiberglass paint to match bumper. The ground effects kit just looks stupid on the side of that thing.

[@fraciscofrancisco3030]

Hot. Rod project

[@user-xd6tw4lu7v]

to bad the 5.4 liter motor was garbage on the ford lightning

[@jimmyhamm9737]

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONE AS A 4X4 6 IN. LIFT WITH A 383 STROCKER AND 5 SPEED TREMEC TRANS.

[@sean2148]

$1500-$3500??? I wish!!

[@Rangersplash94]

Fucking monte carlo front end lol

[@daniel.gthepainter1512]

Try now like 5k and up

[@levistoner]

You ain’t picking up a 1980 anything for $1500 anymore jack. More like $5k minimum if it starts.

[@robertpoudrette4483]

Show was done in 2003... Maybe it was 1500 at the time.

[@gunprojects5398]

In 2024 pricing, you can barely even find a rotted out, non running G-Body car for under $5000....

[@shadyman6346]

Aftermarket junk is used a lot here... still beautiful, though.

[@trentryan27]

That bed cover will kill your gas mileage

[@badbrainsful]

Back in the 80s and 90s they must've ruined a million classic cars unintentionaly, people thought they had better taste than the car designers but forgot to look in the mirror🧐

[@robakagyser2300]

Is this the same nose as the Monte Carlo?

[@cassius213]

$1,500 to $3,500? Where?

[@skylarscales9922]

I forget these are trucks

[@christirobinson5372]

If your child is very unprofessional with out any idea how to keep the cars safe in college and universities they key your car your insurance claim get your insurance sky high paint should be strach proof window should be made plastic nobody can't break in easily and last part they are stealing proof can you bring that kind of project in your show all american people would love to look at it

[@born2wrench]

It's not an ELKY. IT's an ELCO

[@jasonhastings5538]

Power Block needs Stacy and Mel back!!!

[@javiergutierrez6771]

1500 to 3500 not no more boo

[@steveofgilead8173]

Clean looking car but where are the f-bombs, cursing whatever engineer put a bolt there, and a "who's f***in idea was this!"?

[@eggmanfryer]

You should have lowered and painted the El Camino and installed the wheels and tires you planned to use. Then showed the finished product on this episode. Apparently a lot of your followers can't see what it will look like until it is completed. I think it would look great with laser red paint and all SS Badging and white SS stripes installed. Black leather seats and all new interior would make it "POP". However, this is my 1st time on this page. If you are just going to leave it the way it looks now, it DID look better before you started. Just repaint the hood and clean up the rest of the vehicle. I'm going to go check out some more of your content and subscribe if it is this good or better.

[@williambryson2190]

Dude...this episode came out in 2003...

[@benjireid798]

I'm from the uk and even I can spot it looked better before hand. The colours don't match and you messed up a classic look.

[@phrogman4654]

5 point harness with a 305?🙄

[@stegomon]

Stacey david would be a way better host than the goons that are on "truck tec" now

[@goldenmanuever1176]

Stacey is still alive just watch gearz