1968 SS396 Chevelle El Camino Mint Collectors Chili Peppa Red

This is for a restored 1968 SS396 Chevelle El Camino

Chili Peppa Red

AZ fresh SS396 Model, M20 4sp, Bucket seats, Power Steering, Power Brakes, Positrack, Factory Ac, AM/FM Reverb

A yearlong professional Body on Restoration of a Genuine AZ/CA Super Sport El Camino with all the best and some rare additional options. Built at the Fremont, CA plant and stayed lifelong in California and Arizona. Free of rust. The pictures attached shows how much work was put into the restoration and the final result to look like it is showroom ready.

Options: Muncie 4 speed transmission, 4 piston power disc brakes, 12 bolt with positraction, Power steering, Performance Axle Ratio, All tinted Glass, Custom Deluxe Seat Belts, Heavy Duty Radiator, Clutch Fan (with A/C), Rally Wheels, rear sway bar.

There were only 5910 SS396 El Camino's built that model year. it is important to indicate that all Genuine Super Sports in 1968 had an "8" as the third digit in the VIN. 1969 - 1971 SS El Camino's can be difficult to authenticate whether or not they are truly SS models (No production numbers are available for 1969 - 1971 SS option).

Rebuilt motor has less than 1000 miles.

1968 SS396 Chevelle El Camino Power Plant Details: complete 454ci Long Block rebuild by Dougan's Racing Engines in Riverside, CA; completely balanced after reconditioning of all internals including flywheel; partial list of internal parts - roller tip rockers, head-work, valves, springs and returns, ARP kit, HYP pistons, scat forged crank, comp cam, roller timing chain and gears kit; bolt on performance upgrades - Edelbrock high rise torker 2 manifold, mighty demon dual pumper carburetor, fuel regulator, hooker headers chrome, one wire alternator chrome, MSD pro billet distributor, MSD blaster SS coil, Taylor plug wires, flow master dual chamber dual exhaust

This vehicle is AS IS with no Warranty Disclaimer. This vehicle is not a new car. Please come and inspect it for yourself. What is described to you is all of the parts and features of the vehicle. The description is not an inspection. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value of the vehicle. The seller shall make and will make any reasonable effort to disclose any known defects associated with this vehicle at the buyer's request prior to the close of the sale. Seller assumes no responsibility for any repairs regardless of any oral statements about the vehicle.

The information below is the very specific details on the restoration process of this beautiful vehicle. You will see how much care over a years’ time they took with it to make sure it was in pristine condition when they were completed.

The restoration process

Body and Paint

The body shop specializes in classic car restoration. They stripped 6 layers of paint to the bare metal. Then had the bed media blasted. There was no metal repair required anywhere due to rust (no rust issues). Both doors and the hood were removed, all trim, bumpers, weather stripping, window whiskers, etc. the body appears all factory with no replacement panels, tailgate, doors, or fenders. Arizona climate has been very good for this El Camino

Both doors were readjusted because gravity and time caused them to sag a bit. The doors were removed and new hinges installed. Once down to the metal, they found there as a fist size dent in the upper side of the right fender that was poorly repaired that was pulled and re-repaired. Primed then 2 stage base coat/clear coat 1968 El Camino Matador Red was applied, then wet sanded and polished to a brilliant shine. The bed was left unpolished so as to appear a semi flat surface. It can be polished if buyer chooses to do it. There is one small dent (paint not damaged) still in the bed on the bed fender well (too small to show up in photos and it may possible to pull it out like they do hail dents).

The body work is professional; there are no waves or runs or straights down the sides. Paint quality is excellent, certainly professional, even without excessive orange peel. Clear coat shows no signs of deterioration. I would grade it at least an 8.5 – 9 and consider it at least local show quality. Anyone that has seen it says “it’s beautiful” or “it looks brand new” or “looks too nice to drive.”

Chrome, Brightwork, and Lenses

Just about everything replaced with the best NEW reproduction parts available (mostly from OPGI). Examples of items replaced are both bumpers, front and rear SS Badges, tailgate bowtie badge, exterior door handles, side moldings, tailgate molding set, complete grille system including brake lights, headlights, front and rear signal lights and side marker lenses were replaced with new ones.

Interior

Very nicely reconditioned. The headliners, sail panels and both door panels and SS396 emblems were already replaced. Installed DYNMAT over entire floor and up behind rear kick panels. Floors were very solid. Only one hold the size of a pencil eraser that was filled with metal material. Replaced dash pad, floor shift boot and factory cover, glove box interior, dome light cover, all door and window cranks, mirror, cigarette lighter, lock knobs, pillar covers, SS396 dash plaque, carpeting, re-upholstered bucket seats with PUI covers and new foam, seat side shells and metal trim added. New GM authorized reproduction deluxe seat belt kits.

Dash and rear shelf and lower area repainted, front kicks repainted and new rear speaker kick panels installed to accommodate special8ohm speakers for the FM reverb system. All new wind lace and new sill plates.

Interior Adds

Grant wood steering wheel, customer storage box slips concealed into bed wall and rebuilt factory AM/FM push button radio. A rare option was installed with under dash reverb unit (Stereo Magic). It’s like a concert hall sound. It was a dealer install mostly for Pontiacs at that time but I believe that 1968 was the last year GM allowed for the feature.

Engine bay

Rust free and mostly factory looking and complete with chromed accessories. Just needed cleaning up and detailing. No wiring messes, no fluid leaks. Inner fenders sanded and re-painted, hoses and belts replaced as necessary. Engine was painted, new factory style BB valve covers, air cleaner, pcv elbow and hose, etc. new plugs and Red Taylor wires added. MSD ignition system. New hood installation.

Mechanical – recent repairs

Mechanically a sound vehicle with a very powerful engine and smooth shifting 4 speed but was stored for a long time so some repairs had to be made.

Power steering leaked so that was fixed. The A/C unit was missing a lot of parts under the dash as well as under the hood. A great deal of time and money was spent to compete the A/C system to make it operational again. Flushing it all then it was charged and leak tested to indicate no leak. It blows strong and cold

Installed a new power booster and CPP master cylinder and since one of the 4 piston front calipers leaked, it was repaired/replaced those and had the system power bled. Plenty of stopping power now although the comp cam lope is beg enough that it does deplete the vacuum level at idle. Also replaced the fuel sending unit.

No leaks from rear end, rear brake cylinders, radiator, transmission or the engine. Valve cover gaskets were replaced when the new valve covers were installed.

As for the mileage on the rebuild, the prior Arizona owner said that after the California owner had all that work done on the motor, he then primed it and parked it for years, never getting to the cosmetic restoration he planned. In fact, he stated that the break-in oil was still in the motor before he changed it and added zinc additive. Compression is high enough to require 91 octane fuel grade or higher.

Wheels and tires/suspension

Suspension is factory with air shocks in rear. There is what I think is an F41 rear sway bar which is not factory El Camino. Rides really well without suspension noises or squeaking or undercarriage rattles

Wheels are 17” American racing torque thrust MS & Lug kit wrapped in 235 Falkan Low profiles.

Undercarriage

Awesome un-detailed dry undercarriage. This is just the way I like to see them, no over sprayed cover ups or POR (Paint Over Rust). Bed underside is good, rockers, shock towers, core support, all solid. Before DYNAMAT was installed, the drain plugs were re-sealed with factory color seam sealer. It looks white with the flash.

Rear end is positraction and seems to be a performance axle. Best guess is 370 or 410.

NO frame damage.