# Questions about my dads 69 El camino SS **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [May 8, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161 "2011-05-08T18:15:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![joelster](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joelster/32/7258_2.png) [@joelster](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/joelster)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 6:39am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/21 "2011-05-09T06:39:38Z")
In mint condition with the best 396 it would fetch $75k, but that is with a lot of documentation. With a 325hp 396 and an auto it would be around $30k if it was mint. It could EASILY cost you $50k to restore it to those specs. When I say mint I mean, that the undercarraige is spotless, all of the nuts and bolts are correct, with the correct plating on each, paint dabs in the right locations, hose clamps are period correct, battery is period correct, Goodyear Polyglas GT tires, correct belts, etc, etc, etc. It’s easy to see what motor it is if you look on the stamping pad on the motor. There will be 6 or 7 digits for assembly line code, then 6 digits which are the same vin number of the car, then there will be 3 letters ('70+ up had 3, '69 and earlier had 2) slightly larger than the other numbers. These letters tell you what size motor, what hp rating, what tranny, and what family of cars it could have went into. Hereis a sample engine pad: ![http://www.nastyz28.com/~madmike/80z28/350ctg.JPG](http://www.nastyz28.com/~madmike/80z28/350ctg.JPG) The last 3 letters are CTG which translates to a 300hp 350 cubic inch engine from a 'Vette. In this engines case the vin is stamped before the build code. Imagine buying a 1970 Corvette from someone that was missing the cylinder heads and intake but the shortblock was still there. The seller is trying to tell you it’s a 370hp LT-1. You have no way of knowing if he’s telling the truth. You look at this block and you see that the vin on the block matches the vin on the car, so you know that this is the original engine to this car. Then you see the “CTG” which is the tell-all. It’s just a base model engine. What size engine is that sitting in the El Camino right now? It might have some value depending on what it is. ---
**Author:** ![TrueBlue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/trueblue/32/7245_2.png) [@TrueBlue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TrueBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 7:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/22 "2011-05-09T07:57:30Z")
Probably worth quite a bit as parts, as well. OEM sheetmetal is getting to be rare, and a period 396 / 4-speed is probably worth $3-6K, not to mention trim, interior, axle, etc. ---
**Author:** ![JDMSIR](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jdmsir/32/7376_2.png) [@JDMSIR](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JDMSIR)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 8:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/23 "2011-05-09T08:47:58Z")
It’s a 396 in it for shore, I will try to get the bin today. ---
**Author:** ![camarojoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@camarojoe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/camarojoe)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 11:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/24 "2011-05-09T11:22:52Z")
> [@JDMSIR](#): > > It’s a 396 in it for shore, I will try to get the bin today. We’ll be able to tell you more on it once you have that. See if your dad has any of the original paperwork or the protect-o-plate. ---
**Author:** ![JDMSIR](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jdmsir/32/7376_2.png) [@JDMSIR](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JDMSIR)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/25 "2011-05-09T14:27:41Z")
vin =136800b120946 [BREAK=1970] 1970 El Camino VIN Breakdown Location – The VIN number is stamped on a plate located on top of the instrument panel and visible through the windshield on the drivers side. It is composed of 13 numbers and letters. A sample 1970 El Camino VIN would look like this: 136800R100001 1st digit – This is the manufacturers identity number 1 = Chevrolet 2nd and 3rd digits - This is the Model Series 33 = El Camino L6 34 = El Camino V8 35 = Custom El Camino L6 36 = Custom El Camino V8 4th and 5th digits - This is the Body Style 80 = 2dr Sedan Pick-up 6th digit - This is the last digit of the model year 0 = 1970 7th digit - This is the Assembly Plant code ![http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/716pro/IMAG0612.jpg](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/716pro/IMAG0612.jpg) ![http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/716pro/IMAG0613.jpg](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/716pro/IMAG0613.jpg) ![http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/716pro/IMAG0605.jpg](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/716pro/IMAG0605.jpg) ![http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/716pro/IMAG0603.jpg](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/716pro/IMAG0603.jpg) ![http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/716pro/IMAG0602.jpg](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/716pro/IMAG0602.jpg) ![http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/716pro/IMAG0594.jpg](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/716pro/IMAG0594.jpg) ![http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/716pro/IMAG0591.jpg](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/716pro/IMAG0591.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/26 "2011-05-09T14:32:48Z")
I want more pictures and the engine code! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JDMSIR](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jdmsir/32/7376_2.png) [@JDMSIR](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JDMSIR)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/27 "2011-05-09T14:36:14Z")
I put a few pics up after the vin info, thats all I could grab for the day. ---
**Author:** ![joelster](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joelster/32/7258_2.png) [@joelster](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/joelster)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/28 "2011-05-09T16:12:54Z")
Thanks for breaking down the vin for us, lol. We couldn’t tell that it was a 1970 El Camino! j/k, get the damn motor numbers for us! ---
**Author:** ![ieatpaint](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ieatpaint/32/7311_2.png) [@ieatpaint](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ieatpaint)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/29 "2011-05-09T16:23:00Z")
I thought a BBC filled the engine bay much better than that. ---
**Author:** ![JDMSIR](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jdmsir/32/7376_2.png) [@JDMSIR](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JDMSIR)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/30 "2011-05-09T16:59:16Z")
↑Is it under the valve cover? Maybe tomorrow i can get it. My dad said its a 396 but it actually came a 402 and its the 375hp version. ---
**Author:** ![joelster](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joelster/32/7258_2.png) [@joelster](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/joelster)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/31 "2011-05-10T04:12:08Z")
> [@JDMSIR](#): > > ↑Is it under the valve cover? Maybe tomorrow i can get it. My dad said its a 396 but it actually came a 402 and its the 375hp version. Did you read any of my posts? I showed you where the stamping pad is on the motor. What is the redline on the tachometer? Take a pic of the tach for us. 375hp versions are extremely rare. I doubt it’s one of them. ---
**Author:** ![TrueBlue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/trueblue/32/7245_2.png) [@TrueBlue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TrueBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 5:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/32 "2011-05-10T05:59:58Z")
> [@JDMSIR](#): > > My dad said its a 396 but it actually came a 402 and its the 375hp version. > [@TrueBlue](#): > > First year for the new 396, **which actually displaced 402 cid.** You could get them with either 325 horse (very common), 350 horse (also very common), or 375 horse (very rare, they cost almost as much as the new 454 cars did and few were sold). Get a pic of the stamping. > CKN 402-4 330-LS3 TH-400 > CKO 402-4 375-L78 Manual-4 > CKP 402-4 375-L78 (w/L89) TH-400 Aluminum Heads > CKQ 402-4 375-L78 Manual-3/4 Heavy Duty Clutch > CKR 402-4 330-LS3 Manual-3/4 > CKS 402-4 330-LS3 Manual-3/4 Heavy Duty Clutch/LS3 > CKT 402-4 375-L78 (w/L89) Manual-3/4 Aluminum Heads > CKU 402-4 375-L78 (w/L89) Manual-3/4 Heavy Duty Clutch/Aluminum Heads > CTW 402-4 350-L34 TH-400 > CTX 402-4 350-L34 Manual-3/4 > CTY 402-4 375-L78 TH-400 > CTZ 402-4 350-L34 Manual-3/4 Heavy Duty Clutch First three letters are the pad stamp, next is engine displacement and barrels in the carb, then horsepower - order code, finally transmission and notes. ---
**Author:** ![Deathproof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@Deathproof](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Deathproof)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/33 "2011-05-10T15:42:39Z")
The suspense of this thread is quite fun. ---
**Author:** ![ieatpaint](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ieatpaint/32/7311_2.png) [@ieatpaint](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ieatpaint)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/34 "2011-05-10T15:44:31Z")
Meh, I’m annoyed already. ---
**Author:** ![JDMSIR](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jdmsir/32/7376_2.png) [@JDMSIR](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JDMSIR)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/35 "2011-05-10T15:47:01Z")
Busy today, I picked up my pool thats being installed tomorrow. i do know he told me he paid the extra money for the 375hp engine though. I believe he said it was like $75 bucks more at the dealer at the time. I will have time thursday to get the stamping. How much would that engine and 4 speed be worth? ---
**Author:** ![joelster](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joelster/32/7258_2.png) [@joelster](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/joelster)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/36 "2011-05-10T17:26:29Z")
> [@JDMSIR](#): > > Busy today, I picked up my pool thats being installed tomorrow. i do know he told me he paid the extra money for the 375hp engine though. I believe he said it was like $75 bucks more at the dealer at the time. I will have time thursday to get the stamping. > > How much would that engine and 4 speed be worth? It was way more than $75. RPO Z25 (SS 396), coupes, convertibles, & El Caminos 53,599 RPO Z1 5 (SS 454), coupes, convertibles, & El Caminos 8,773 Total Super Sports, all engines 62,372 RPO L34 (350hp) 396 V-8 51,437 RPO L78 (375hp) 396 V-8 2,144 RPO L89 (aluminum heads for L78) 18 RPO M22 four-speed transmission 5,410 RPO LS5 (360hp 454) 4,298 RPO LS6 (450hp 454) 4,475 ---
**Author:** ![roguestatus21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a88e4f/32.png) [@roguestatus21](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/roguestatus21)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/37 "2011-05-10T17:54:07Z")
yeah deff a 70 ---
**Author:** ![camarojoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@camarojoe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/camarojoe)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/38 "2011-05-10T19:04:55Z")
> [@JDMSIR](#): > > Busy today, I picked up my pool thats being installed tomorrow. i do know he told me he paid the extra money for the 375hp engine though. I believe he said it was like $75 bucks more at the dealer at the time. I will have time thursday to get the stamping. > > How much would that engine and 4 speed be worth? It’s worth more in a restored original car than taken out and sold. If removed, it’s just a 396 that will be put into a Chevy that probably isn’t date matched. Why would you consider selling the engine and not the whole car? ---
**Author:** ![camarojoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@camarojoe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/camarojoe)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 6:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/39 "2011-06-03T06:36:35Z")
So any more info on this? ---
**Author:** ![Mike93](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mike93/32/7325_2.png) [@Mike93](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mike93)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 7:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161/40 "2011-06-03T07:44:36Z")
> [@camarojoe](#): > > So any more info on this? Is this AWD? [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/questions-about-my-dads-69-el-camino-ss/212161.md?page=3)