looking for 71 el camino ss 396 specs

sophisto

My vin number is 136801L148434
It is listed as a limited el camino out of Van Nyves plant but this is all I can find from my research. The car has been sitting for 12-15 years so it's been on hold during this whole clone war. The badges are SS396 and what is up with this package? Thanks

Z71 · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:13 am Post subject:

Van Nuys (California, Los Angeles area)

What package?

fyi

Starting in 1971 the SS did not have any engine call-out badging on the fenders except on the 454 engine. So if there are 396 emblems, they are not factory. There were SS 350, SS 396 and SS 454 but only the SS 454 had 454 badging, the 350 and 396 did not have any exterior badging showing engine displacement.

What package are you talking about? Not sure what you mean. You used the term limited but if that is what you are referring to, there was no such thing. Anyone claiming that is bs'ing.

Also, the engine is not coded in the VIN. All the vin will tell you if the base engine was a 6 or V8. This one was a V8 (3rd digits being even) but it does not tell you if its an SS. As for cloning the SS, that has been going on since they were new. I had a new 1970 SS 454, a 1972 El Camino SS 350 and am here to tell you I seen guys put the badging on non-ss cars back in the 70's. Had a friend with a 72 Heavy Chevy (SS wanabee) and put SS emblems on his car, this I know because he copied my car. I can also recall finding a 71 or 72 SS clone on a local used car lot back around 1974'ish. I knew the car lot owner and told him it was not a real SS but he sold it nonetheless and the owner never knew the difference.
_________________
Mike
2005 Cadillac CTS
2008 GMC SLT E. Cab Z71
AMSOIL Jobber

00formula6spd · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:55 pm Post subject:

Also, on the Chevelle (not sure about Camino but would think so) all the SS cars came with round gauges, Malibu had the sweeping speedo. Alot of folks do not go through the trouble of changing it. If Im wrong, someone correct me. thanks
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84 Choo Choo SS, 00 formula, 04 Q-Cab Hemi, 81 Z28, 99 H-D, 92 H-D.

Z71 · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:14 pm Post subject:

Correct, all SS cars got the round pod instrument panel but gauges were optional. The standard round pod panel had idiot lights.
_________________
Mike
2005 Cadillac CTS
2008 GMC SLT E. Cab Z71
AMSOIL Jobber

00formula6spd · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:08 pm Post subject:

Yea, I had a 70 SS idiot lights, bench seat.
_________________
84 Choo Choo SS, 00 formula, 04 Q-Cab Hemi, 81 Z28, 99 H-D, 92 H-D.