Rebuilding Big Block '73 El Camino! | Roadkill Garage | MotorTrend

[@joe-hp4nk]

The ground wire is almost as funny as pounding a lifter through the lifter bore.

[@Bobthebuilder.69]

@@hjkr7528 😂

[@bummeroni]

My dad and I watched this episode while we were staying at a hotel. He's not much of a car guy so he was very impressed with how knowledgeable Dave and Steve are about how engines worked. Was a lot of fun to watch, and such a cool project car too!

[@SuperKONR]

They are so knowledgeable, it's almost like they read through a shop manual one time in high school and then gave up.

[@Chris-s2e5t]

LONG ARMS. OR LADDERBARS

[@markmcgauchie2449]

Has anyone explained to your dad how bad it is to run a motor with a whiped cam? If not you can tell him after that you shall have a wiped oil pump, main an big end bearings cam bearings . Scored push rod tips rockers valve tips etc. I am happy for him tho.

[@gordocarbo]

@@SuperKONR hahaha

[@mrvoyagerm]

Had one when I was 18. 350 4 barrel, close ratio 4 speed Muncie, line lock, posi. It was the perfect car to haul my dirt bikes and snowmobiles. Snowmobiles were a lot smaller back then.

[@mowler8042]

Thank you for give us episodes on KZbin again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Multimedia_Magic]

Fun episode. Steve wears gloves to install a hood, but not when he dips his hands in a can of oil. Old Skewl.

[@thehemiolds455]

😂👍

[@chadallen7914]

That's because those hoods will cut your hands wide open

[@myreviews8099]

He wheres the gloves to install the hood because he dip his hands in buckets of oil. 😆

[@ModelA]

That's how a MAN does it! I'm starting to wonder though... Steve's teeth are getting whiter and his hair is getting more girlie. Is Steve doing what Mr. Beast's friend Chris is doing?

[@jeffreykennedy9553]

motor oil is man's hand lotion but there's nothing worse than being all cut up trying to install something so when possible gloves are a man's best friend when installing metal or anything that is going to be harmful to the skin ya definitely want something covering yur hand n arms n possibly yur eyes when using fiberglass wrapping on yur headers I haven't used the nice golden color wrapping stuff yet so idk what it'd be like to work with

[@CarsandCats]

My next door neighbor had a yellow '73 SS 454 El Camino with a 4-speed. I LOVED that car/truck and still want one. He tore it up EVERY time he left the driveway. 2nd gear scratch always. Car was mint (this was around 1982).

[@andrewmarshall360]

To say that I have a soft spot in my cold heart for elcos would be huge understatement .

[@mariocooldude9092]

Same...my old man had several 👍

[@CameronBuck-eg5uq]

Havent watched your guys stuff in awhile. It's always a good time to see you and Dulcich working together on a project.

[@craigbowley6783]

NOTHING beats the sound of a big block!

[@nathanmarsh2699]

Great show. The coolest guy in high school (long time ago) had a black 73 454 SS El Camino. Cragars, N50s rear, little fronts…bringing back some great memories

[@CarsandCats]

It wheel hops because you are under sprung for the amount of torque you are hitting the tires with. If you're going to run a soft spring, then you need a great shock to control it like a double adjustable Viking.

[@AB-80X]

I think they are aware of that.....

[@larryc8607]

Get some no hop bars . They go between the upper link and rear-end. They change the angle of the pinion . You will need longer springs.

[@dustinandtarynwolfe5540]

Yea 12 years ago

[@Chemist9662]

How would you handle cars that are sprung TOO tight and wheel hop? (Viper)? I have heard these are some of the highest forces that can hit a car, but no clue how one manages...back off?

[@CarsandCats]

@@Chemist9662 Could be control arm/bushing deflection or bad suspension geometry. I assume you are still IRS and those are NEVER great for drag racing. In that case, I would recommend a slipper clutch so that you never hit the tires too hard at launch.

[@iakonagoood4072]

I remember seeing this rod at LKQ ! Awesome to see both of you guys

[@johnbehneman1546]

GREAT VIDEO DAVID AND STEVE!!!! I LOVE YOUR NEW EL CAMINO PROJECT!!! I LOVE ALL THE UPGRADES!!!! GEAT VIDEO AND THANKS FOR SHARING!!!! I LEARNED SO MUCH.

[@jumpinjojo]

The Harbor Fright timing light. Love it!

[@JoDoDesigns2011]

You two are like the dynamic duo, love watching your crazy stuff

[@paulfmurphy617]

454 4-Speed El Camino ? Even this Hardcore Pontiac guy gives a big👍

[@MotorTrendWatch]

It's a thing of beauty!

[@t0mn8r35]

Roadkill is my favourite car channel because you show little tricks like when you used the large socket to pull out the bearing. Very good tip. What I don't like in other channels is to watch a couple of guys trying to do an LS swap that have never done it before.

[@MotorTrendWatch]

These guys give so many good tips and pointers, we can't keep up!

[@GaryMathews-qk8de]

the former owner was a well grounded person .for a chevelle 4 link suspension ,you need the lower control arm with a 1* up going forward .with a 4 speed manual the pinion angle should be 4* down .install the biggest diameter GM station wagon rear spring ,cut them to achieve desired center of gravity .adjustable race shocks help also

[@gordocarbo]

Yrs back I did those springs, cheap KYBs night n day diff. LAter put SSM lowers boxed uppers and Edelbrock traction bars on both side 0 wheelhop hooked HARD and goes straight no stepping out Tying the tops of the rear spring pockets together really helps also. Takes 100 percent of twist out of the rear chassis

[@norcaljim8535]

We picked up a 68 elky for a $1000. Had a 454 sitting in it. Took the engine apart. Ended up camming it, added closed chambered heads, single plane intake, holley DP. Want to say thank you for the videos. We learned alot.

[@marshallmcdowell3369]

That 454 sounds really healthy! Can’t wait to see more of this project

[@BigMateo24]

My first car I ever bought when I was 15 and able to have a job was a '75 El Camino. It had a 400 small block and a turbo 400. First motor I ever rebuilt, I learned the hard way a 400 is completely different to all the other small blocks. It was a mix of 70/80's drag style with air shocks pumped all the way up in the back, big fat reverse offset Cragars in the back and little skinnies in the front all painted in low rider graphics. It even had a tonneau cover. For $500 I thought it was a steal. I drove it Dukes of Hazard style every chance I got. Those 4th gen Elco's aren't the best looking for sure but they do have a soft spot in my heart.

[@GTRFREAK17]

Keen to see where the build goes, falling more in love with utes every time a practical vehicle is needed.

[@lance4217]

The Big Block “EL Cochino” is Absolutely the Best Ride for Dulcich to Roll the Streets of Bakersfield In🏁🏁

[@bobroberts2371]

Do a Google search for " Tommy Kendall “El Gallo” "

[@adamkeith3625]

I love this show. Ive learned a bunch about older style motors.

[@MotorTrendWatch]

Don't be afraid to go really old with it!

[@gordocarbo]

Ive learned dulchich is a creative genius. Dudes smarter than anyone gives him credit for

[@paulwithers9194]

Late to the party on this one ! Love the amount of donut rubber on the road junction near Dulcich's place ... Wonder who left it there

[@colinwhite5355]

Lugging 90 pound heads around, on wet floors, while wearing sandals. My pal, ‘Hopalong’ used to do the same.

[@australirish3426]

I wonder who laid out all the donuts in the intersection at 17:02?😀

[@albertgaspar627]

well, yesterday was National Donut Day, so...

[@gordocarbo]

Baker STeve?

[@Bayan1905]

When I was a teenager in the early 90's a guy down the road from me had an all original El Camino SS 454. It was gold with white two tone on it. He pretty much left it all stock but it would move just the way it was. Would love to have that car now.

[@gordocarbo]

Love that 2 tone rally wheel look. Neighbor bought a blue and white one new she drove it til she retired. Even in the snow

[@ianwalsh3868]

This show would get watched so much if it were still on yourube

[@phillycheese6287]

Pay 5 bucks to support the show, Mr. Cheapskate...

[@Van-..-z._-_z.-._-._.-z.]

​@@phillycheese6287 Actually KZbin would create a decent revenue because New Viewers. Motortrend (mostly Roadkill) is free and streams 24hrs a day on a Samsung TV, so its not like its that's valuable. They could add "subscriptions" on yoututbe to make even more money from bonus content. Plus the fan interaction you get on youtube. And.. Does Subway still sell five dollar footlongs?

[@treykelling4497]

@@phillycheese6287would absolutely pay the money but it’s not available outside of the USA

[@mikesmith-vt5nv]

That bronze- tipped fuel pump pushrod will wear out sooner than you realize. Mine did. Love the shows. Keep up the good work!

[@gordocarbo]

Yup!! Bought a Lunati lightweight composite pushrod has held up for many yrs. No more floating the FP springs and running out of fuel at 5k. Drove me nuts for yr trying to diagnose that one

[@jettsouza]

Uncle Freigburger always has the best car names... Honestly, El Cochino is great!

[@andrewmarshall360]

Funny thing my older brother and a few of his fancy friends had 73s . One part they forgot by then I had a “ mildly “ built 69 . I even had a fancy stereo that you could only hear when you turned the ignition off . Before that I had 68 only 327 with a carb and exhaust with a mildly worked 2 speed . That thing was pretty fast “ for a small block “

[@edarmstrong9389]

Putting a 283 crank in that 327 would result in even more fun.

[@ModelA]

We've been waiting to see the 73 El Camino return!

[@__Lurch__]

exterior of Dulcich's garage lookin' fresh!

[@bloodhawk6252]

Had one of these back about 86 ran 8:28in the 1/8 pure stock on 235 78 15s

[@GuildOfCalamity]

The wire with 5 ground points was epic.

[@CJ-gk8jb]

I want those OSHA approved shop sandals. Thanks for the video, and entertainment.

[@stevemadak6255]

For my 72 Chevelle (same 4 link rear end) when I rebuilt the rear end I got that Edlebrock top bushing relocator. It basically puts the upper pumpkin bushings a few inches higher giving it a bigger lever. I also got those PST bushings all around which were the urethane ones impregnated with graphite(so they don't squeak). Then I also harvested the front bars off a 72 SS(aftermarket places sell a version of them). The ones that tie the two front knuckles together, taking the 4 link and kind of tieing the 'box' together. that thing handled like it was on rails. And yeah, no wheel hop.

[@gordocarbo]

67..used the middle hole, ssm lower boxed uppers. Installed edelbrock traction bars on the backside of that crossmember No wheelhop stepping out nothing .launches hard an goes straight. Love it Have hotchkill springs and cheap white KYBs

[@AB-80X]

That laughing fit reminds me of the one time when Freiburger hid the dead dog skull in the engine compartment as they were working on,,,, the station wagons?........ Early days. "Dead dog, gonna put it on you!" Dulcheck got mad lol😀

[@albertgaspar627]

Ironically, it was one of Hot Rod Magazine's "100 tech tips" or whatever articles to explained to me the value of creating a head carrying handle out of an ax handle or something else to bolt to the rocker arm studs. I tend to break the fasteners loose, but keep them in so that the head can be broken loose but the fasteners are still in to keep the head from falling off (rotating the block so the deck is level with the floor also helps, people like to argue the dowels will keep the head from sliding but of course there's plenty of videos where it does not). then undo the fasteners when the head is loose from the deck, give your heads a convenient carrying handle, and avoid having to replace a cracked head.

[@stevemaniaci4750]

The elcolncheno crack me up . Fits 👍

[@AndyFigueroa-vb6iu]

Steve is Andy from Paterson nj you are one of a kind I wish I knew you wen I was drag racing for real ur da best ur friend Andy!

[@ThePower1037]

I love this! Best advert ever!

[@jeremyb4493]

That infinite grounding loop reminds me of 10-15 years ago when fancy grounding kits were the trend, at least for import guys. Anything to gain another 1-3 advertised horsepower lol.

[@gordocarbo]

I really miss the old school JC whitney catalogs!!! THey had everything you could think of

[@alanpaulick7815]

Thanks for sharing guy's.

[@AdventuringwiththeS.G.O.C.C]

Great car, would have dug having a big block El Camino 4-speed back in the day. Great power tour rig.

[@dano4572]

CAM SOUNDS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@bumpedhishead636]

My brother had '71 GMC Sprint with a 350 that was converted to propane, so the smog pump was removed. It ran pretty well (for a 350 on propane). He gave the car to me to sell in ~1980. I should have kept it and converted it back to gas, just like I should have kept every car we had from the 1960s & 70s. **sigh**

[@mariocooldude9092]

Hahaha yes we all should have kept them 😂

[@gordocarbo]

@@mariocooldude9092 Tried to , started driving late 80s and had the foresight of what would happen $ with these No way an 18 or 19 yr old could store insure and maintain 8 of them. Oh well

[@AjarZzzz]

You gott get the instant center right. By changing the anglenof the upper and lower control arms. And some double adjustable shocks.

[@jameslaiola4976]

I sure do miss my 78. Beautiful car

[@dragonsKeeper210]

Finally some love for the 4th gens.

[@dragonsKeeper210]

I want to sell mine tbh

[@TheREALOC1972]

I love car. I had a 73 SS El-Camino back in the day and loved it. You need to do more of these mid-late 70's Muscle cars, Since the CONvid "outbreak" the hottest project/builds have been mid-late 70's Muscle Cars, They are cheap to buy, they made millions upon millions of them so both the used and NOS parts are still plentiful and since they have aged out the Smog Regs everywhere but Commiefornia you can build them the way you want to. Go find a 73-77 Nova, Malibu, Cougar/Thunderbird or a Fury/Magnum.

[@marianouribe9635]

Another translation for “the pig” is; “EL PUERCO” . Sounds cool !

[@JohnnieDorman77]

I own that same Elco with the same engine. In a lot better shape though. It was my uncle's Elco and I bought it from his daughter after he died. I put a new pair of air shocks on the rear. The engine was rebuilt and I have replaced the control arm bushings as well and replaced whatever else the car needed, like the radiator, etc. Still working on things like getting the heater fan working, and stuff like that. I love the car and I named it, "Rosa." Ha! The 73 is the biggest El Camino ever built. Five inches longer and one inch wider that the rest. Mine has an automatic hydromatic transmission with three on the tree and a bench seat which I prefer. I love the car and I will never sell it, even though people keep telling me they want to buy it.

[@gordocarbo]

Those are starting to get repop parts made hang on to it!! Elcos have the best fwy ride of any car Ive owned even late model trucks. WHeelbase is perfect.

[@palmertrees]

Wheel hop like the Bullitt Mustang!

[@teknoaija1762]

My first was 65 Chevy II with 1970 corvettet LT-1(rated 370).Traded that to a 64 Malibu ss with 67 vette 396 bbc and 4 spd+12 bolt.Kept with that and ended with 538 ex pro stock with 8-71 and was in process of building pro mod style 526 chevy with 12-71 magnesium hi helix.After a divorce had to sell everything and settle for watching these vids.

[@junkyardsearcher6407]

I miss watching this stuff so much

[@arrellstormbringer1377]

"I dont want to do that to much. Might break something" proceeds to keep doing it!

[@RoqueM64]

My boy Steve 😎 🇲🇽

[@crystalloar2843]

Love a roadkill car

[@scottblanco5991]

This car is definitely a example of being built “ Roadkill” style

[@MikeJones-bj1cn]

Hey MotorTrend, I just watched this from Australia. BREAKING THE LAW! Please give us MToD back!

[@robertwest3093]

What are the cam specs? It sounds PERFECT! Seems to run pretty strong other than that hiccup every now and then.

[@mariocooldude9092]

Hahaha when they first fired it up after the rebuild I thought they put a stocker in it 😂 no lope

[@gordocarbo]

probably a sponsored comp. Sad so many dont know about isky or crower who sell killer products without stupid catchy names Thier stuff runs!

[@leftyo9589]

there's better stuff than any of them if you look.@@gordocarbo

[@jrgenfriborg3508]

Had one of those when I was young❤

[@herbparker685]

I bought a '73 elco for my wife to drive back in the 90's, those thing float going down the road

[@MrRock861261]

The grounds are probably like that because when it misfired from the bad cam they thought it was electrical and tried to ground the ballast in multiple places.

[@Bo-Dog]

They really showed this piggy some love😂👍👍!

[@Tscaperock]

I love the old Chevy suspension setup!

[@gordocarbo]

4 link boxed frame. Perfect for the dragstrip

[@michaellemke1709]

At 4:12, there is a red and green light flashing at what appears to be under the front of the carb. , or maybe to the battery. curious as to what that is.

[@g3n3sis50]

I think thats a harmonic balancer gun/timing light

[@Batemanmusic2458]

The all important ground wire of power, adds atleast 25hp, 50 if it’s zip tied to a header for good measure and extra magnetization of the exhaust fumes

[@jamesdalton7191]

My 70 SS 396 El Camino had the same wheel hop. Traction bars fixed that problem. Typical for the El Camino. 😎🏁

[@RedfishCarolina]

Is it because there's less weight in the rear compared to say, a Monte Carlo?

[@cliffbrown2566]

Steve reminds me of big chief in one flew over the coo coos nest.

[@wbarney59]

You can never have too many grounds on a friggin Chevy.

[@jeffh8693]

Remember when you did roadkill...that was cool

[@mysticalabysss]

one of my fav cars

[@nonamel6377]

are those flowmasters on there? sounds like heaven

[@Berm_Blaster]

Previous owner was glowing red from embarrassment when he watched this lol

[@robertaBooey69]

Groundhogs must of wired that thing 😂😂😂 10:15

[@Boneshaker420]

They make a good couple. Surprised we haven't seen the wedding pictures yet

[@joe-hp4nk]

Is that the new flip flop safety boots?

[@ThePeopleVerse]

They must have skipped a bunch so we will watch the full episode since we never saw the wheel hop that necessitated the new rear suspension.... which didn't fix it anyway.

[@denniskondel5442]

I like how they work out of a basic garage on there backs just like most car guys .

[@jumpinjojo]

*Their, not there.

[@mariocooldude9092]

​@@jumpinjojo pretty sure it's "there" backs 👍😃

[@jumpinjojo]

@@mariocooldude9092 I hope you’re joking.

[@mariocooldude9092]

@@jumpinjojo I hope you get a life at some point dude 😎

[@stevepurcell5883]

Steves grill look great!!

[@DailyDrivenBikes_1]

Where are the mullets since they're working on an elco?

[@yuris6125]

Well, Dulcich's haircut almost qualifies for a mullet.

[@ryurc3033]

My 76 stepside short bed with a .30 over , Flat top, cammed 454, and 4 speed had wheel hop until I built slapper bars. Learned the hard way breaking several transmissions along the way. Old 60s t10 couldn't take the torque. Neither could the Saginaw close ratio. Broken u joints, and spider gears were next. Didn't like the wheel hop one bit.

[@joeyvattiato9768]

David Freiburger i want that elcamino please!!!!!!!!!!I im in Love wiith it!!!!!!

[@jerryhablitzel3333]

Interesting problem. I have a ‘76 cutlass with a 461 olds in it. I boxed the stock control arms, put in poly bushings and run a stock sway bar. 10 bolt 3.23 gears. Never had any wheel hop. Weight distribution?

[@gordocarbo]

Not the issue you fixed it yourself.

[@hejmuesli]

I miss watching these. Did anything change with Motortrend On Demand only being North America?

[@timothyf24]

That rear brake hose was SCREAMING

[@willemdodgerford5782]

454 and a stick shift.... thats gotta be fun!

[@junkyardsearcher6407]

Grounding is good!!

[@gordocarbo]

What cam did you guys stick in this hunk o love?

[@danielkruger4305]

Zero detail of what found in the bearings? What did you put in it for parts?

[@bobroberts2371]

This vid is probably a condensed version of the full length episode.

[@Fasttrash_Racing]

how do the, broke in the cam or are there cans and lifters that you dont need to break them in?

[@varthdata]

When is MotorTrend on Demand coming to Australia 🇦🇺?!?!? I had it and it was cancelled. I can't even pay for episodes if I want to!

[@gordocarbo]

Man what Id give to have roads like that to test on. What area of Ca is that?

[@bobbybieln853]

I had the same El Camino when I was 17 ,but mine was a th400 tranny. The cam had two bad lobes on the passenger side. Still burned rubber. But the wheel hop was the worst. No weight transfer.

[@jonasljungberg5483]

Please , Get Motortrend back to Sweden! :D

[@williamrose8944]

Back in 1976 I knew someone with a 1970 Elco S/S 4 speed 4.10 gears and a LS 6 454 that thing would move.

[@campervanbug7658]

Sometimes ya just gotta pile up parts and then wait for the right mood to arrive 😅