There was only one reason for Chevrolet to put an LS6 454/450 horsepower engine in their El Camino SS … they wanted to race it. That long rigid body lauched by Chevrolet’s legendary big block power plant? The El Camino body is built on a rigid boxed frame. It probably didn’t even need sub-frame connectors. One published figure has it that Chevrolet built 544 of them. But many El Camino owners would disagree with that number as being too high. Suffice it to say that they are rare.
So feast your eyes on a 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS LS6 just posted by Red Hills Rods & Choppers in St George, Utah. Not only does it have Chevrolet’s most powerful big block 454/450 horsepower, but it also has an original factory M22 Rock Crusher 4-speed transmission. There is no hiding the fact that this truck was meant to race. It was ordered with cowl induction, a factory tachometer, power disc front brakes and came radio delete. They say this car was well known when it was raced in Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada during the muscle car era.
A no-expense spared, concours nut and bolt restoration was completed on this LS6 El Camino, according to the guys at Red Hills Rods & Choppers. They say it retains its original numbers matching motor, original numbers matching Muncie M22 4-speed transmission and the original 4.10 positraction rear axle. “The body and frame were walnut blasted to take everything down to bare metal,” according to their description. “And every nut and bolt was detailed. The sheet metal is laser straight and the body panels are perfectly aligned.”
Both fenders, both doors, floors, bed and tailgate are all original. New quarter panels and hood were installed during the restoration. All firewall stampings are present including stamping under the heater core and the heater fan motor, which both read 10B146532, Chevrolet 1970 Baltimore plant & last 6 digits of the VIN. The cowl tag & VIN tag have NEVER been off of the car. The correct (Code 10) Classic White paint w/ correct (Code D88) black stripes and (Code B) black vinyl top look absolutely stunning. The paint is the new water base clear coat in the correct factory color. The chrome bumpers, stainless trim and all bright work is show quality. The paint & bodywork was performed by Travis Brown @ Sharp Touch and his work is second to none. When you slide inside the correct (Code 756) black vinyl bucket seat interior, you will swear that it’s 1970 all over again. The bucket seats, door panels, dash pad and carpet are all flawless.
Okay, so how do we know that this truck is authentic? Let’s do it by the numbers:
Block casting date is J 14 9 for October 14, 1969 and Block casting # 3963512. –
Suffix code is T0123CRV – Partial VIN stamping is 188146532. This is one of the many Baltimore built cars that has the 188 stamping instead of the 1OB stamping. There is a wealth of information on the web regarding this stamping from the Baltimore plant.
The square port heads are both 3964291 with casting dates of L 8 9, December 8th 1969, and A 9 70, January 9th 1970 –
Valve covers are the originals w/ drippers and were re-chromed – Intake manifold is the original 3963569 – Left exhaust manifold 879, right exhaust manifold 178 – Rebuilt water pump GM3 3969811 TX, date code A 6 70 for January 6th 1970 –
AC Delco starter rebuilt type 418 –
Correct Holley carburetor 3967477-GG w/ no date code – Water neck is original GM 3877660 – Clutch fan type 772 w/ no date code – Distributor #1111437, date code 9 M 10, December 10th 1969, rebuilt & re-curved –
Correct alternator 1100837 37A CZ w/ deep groove pulley & correct fan dated O A 16 for January 16th 1970 – Water pump pulley 3947824 BV deep groove –
Crank pulley 3955291 AB deep groove for LS6 – Smog pulley 3932458 DA deep groove – Original smog pump w/ original white fan, smog tube 3942533, diverter valve GH, smog check valves 5361992 – Original re-plated power brake booster master cylinder 5470409 – date coded spark plugs & wires.
The original numbers matching LS6 motor is linked to the original numbers matching Muncie M22 ‘Rock-Crusher’ 4-Speed transmission.
Partial VIN stamp 188146532 and date code P0A23C, decodes as Muncie 1970 January 23rdM22. The tail shaft is part number 3978764GM. The main case is part number 3925661. It is the original 621 bell housing.
The original 4.10 12-bolt Positraction rear axle is stamped CRW 0203B1 for February 3rd 1970, Buffalo plant shift 1. The original motor & original transmission were meticulously rebuilt to stock specifications. The original rear end has new gear set, new bearings and new seals.
This car has been SOLD.
this was my uncle ted’s old car back in the day in kitimat british columbia, it used to be king of the hillclimb years ago. Its really too bad that this car wasnt kept in the family it sure is a head turner
Hi all I used to own this 1970 LS 6 M22 4 spd ElCamino when it was in Kitimat and I sold it to a guy in Vancouver BC who restored it. Im not sure who you claim to have rebuilt it but I have pics of it being restored in Vancouver. also the only thing that I sold with the car was the engine the trans and rear end were long gone. but they were replaced with date code correct parts. Plus the engine has been bored out 30 over. Also I was told by the guy who bought it from me that only 4 LS6 ElCaminos were brought to Canada and 3 were automatic and mine was the only 4 spd. he also said that there was only around 14 LS6 ElCaminos made with the M22 4 spd.