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1972 Chevrolet El Camino With LS3 Engine Swap Cranks Out 520 HP

Ford may have been the first to come out with a coupé utility in the United States, but the El Camino is that much cooler. Lest we forget, The King of Cool himself chose the Elky over the Ranchero. This 1972 model, however, isn't your average 'Mino.
LS3 swapped 1972 Chevy El Camino 28 photos
Photo: Streetside Classics
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The A-body pickup doesn’t feature the original engine, but an LS3 with green valve covers that complement the Emerald Green Metallic finish of the upper body. Fuel injection and a performance ECU with drive-by-wire are also featured, along with an upgraded valvetrain and a Texas Speed stage 1 cam.

Designed for maximum streetability and more suck-squeeze-bang-blow at low RPMs, the camshaft is only a piece of the puzzle. Taking all the mods into account, the LS3 develops 520 horsepower (527 PS) at the crankshaft.

Because of the higher output, the transmission had to be upgraded as well. Or better said, replaced by a 4L80E from a Silverado. “Completely rebuilt using B&M performance parts,” the four-speeder spins a 12-bolt rear end with 3.73 posi-traction gears. This setup is pretty much the best of both worlds, translating to comfy cruising and off-the-line performance.

The chassis features a few modifications as well, starting with the drop spindles of the suspension system and Eibach springs. Adjustable control arms up front, Bilstein shocks all around, and 18- plus 20-inch Nitto performance radials render this Camino a bit of a pro-tourer as well.

Described as “an impeccably built machine” by the selling vendor, the Elky has also been treated to a frame-off restoration three years ago. The silver paint on the lower half of the body complements the wheel design rather nicely, and as you can tell, all four corners benefit from drilled and vented rotors.

Price-wise, you’ll be surprised to find out that Streetside Classics wants $41,995 for such a clean and custom build. Modern amenities are included in that price, and two highlights come in the guise of A/C and Bluetooth.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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