Im wanting to buy an elcamino, been looking & found one with a 454, it was not original but put in. It has also been given a turbo 400 trany, Ive always driven a manl. trans its just a preference. I would like to know any manl trans out there that will work for the 454. Would prefef a 4spd than 5spdbut any info would be great, & also any tips when buying a car like this would help.

 

I think you should consider leaving the 400 in it, if you like to shift you could put a manual valve body in it and a floor shifter. I like your choice of rides, a 68 El Camino is hot. My suggestion for checking it out would be to focus on the sheet metal, take a magnet with you to check for body filler.

 

This is also going to be my daily driver so im split between a 350 bored out to 355 motor or 454? both have auto trans. I would just like some input from you guys & which one you guys would go with to help make my decision. Is one more reliable than the other?

 

If it already has a 454 in it, I'd stick with it. Depends on how much you plan to drive it. I don't think one is more reliable than the other, but the 350 will get slightly better mileage. The 454 will give you a better grin ratio, though.

 

Im leaning toward a nother car with a 350 bored out to 355, two diff. cars sorry for not being clear. owner now says his nephew just put in that motor with no more that 1,000mi on it. as well as forged steel cam. Is there anything i can check to see if its bs or not? & is a lil rust ok? as long as nothing is rusted threw?