Hey guys. I'm a car noob, but I bought a 1974 El Camino Classic at auction today. The motor seems solid but at 180,000 miles, likely needs to be rebuilt. The transmission, while functional (barely) struggles and shudders to haul 3500+ lbs of steel. Rust is not too bad, only a few places will NEED to be cut out, the rest can be stopped chemically and fixed with bondo. The body is in otherwise good shape with no collision damage. All but one piece of the chrome is still present and likely recoverable with some buffing. The original vinyl seats haven't split, but the carpet is kinda greasy and one door wont open.

It needs a lot of work. So, before (if) I do any of that stuff, I need to know what it's going to cost me realistically speaking to get a functional transmission into this thing. The rest of it can be taken care of as I get the money. Is it likely that the vacuum modulator is to blame for my transmission issue? It shifts smoothly and doesn't feel like it's slipping as you would typically think (sudden jolty shifts), but rather simply struggles to engage especially in the low gears, and shudders with too much power or on a steep hill.

TL;DR: Transmission is jacked up, how much $$$ to replace/rebuild? Engine is the classic Chevy 350.

I don't know how to rebuild a motor/trany, but have a friend who might be able to help.

Bought it at auction for 850. I think I can get $1500 for it as is (correct me if I'm wrong). Fix or sell as a project car?

5.7 liters of love baby!

 

If your intentions are to make money, then sell it with the least amount of money invested. These kinds of projects are money pits. With that vintage motor I'm not surprised the engine is tired AND prolly has already been rebuilt once. If it's a small block, rebuilt engines are in the pipeline all over the world and are pretty cheap. The tranny, prolly a THM 350 or 400 is likely also very tired and worn out. THM350 is common and easily rebuilt and may be cheaper to outright purchase a rebuilt THM350. The THM400 would be 30 to 40% more cause it's rarer and larger and can handle much more power and also unnecessary. The THM350 can handle any power a garden varity small block could produce.

It's a cool car/truck, but you'll never get the money out of it you put into it.

 

Well, I'd like to see if adjusting the vacuum modulator would help any. Any thoughts on where I could find it to adjust?

 

The vacuum modulator is on the left side of the tranny. About in the middle. It will have a vacuum line going to it. AFAIK the oem modulator is not adjustable. I believe there are aftermarket modules that can be adjusted.

BTW, if on the odd chance you have an adjustable vacuum modulator. You would pull off the vacuum line and there should be a tiny screw access thru the vacuum nipple.

 

You should sale it to me and be done with it :-)

 

I still have it if you want it.