A project car is rarely ever truly finished, and Pat Powers’ 1970 El Camino is proof of that idea. The car has gone through several different iterations, with the current version being the most radical yet. This also isn’t a checkbook build, Pat completed nearly all of the work on the El Camino himself.
Pat found the El Camino in Georgia as a blank canvas and brought it home to begin the first phase of the build. When he decided to take the car to the next level, Pat installed a 25.2 SFI chassis himself. Today, the classic Chevy utilizes a stock-style front suspension made up of TRZ components. Out back is a four-link suspension that Pat built himself. Penske shocks are used at all four corners and were spec’d by Adam Drzayich.
Power comes from a 415 cubic-inch small-block Chevy designed by Andy Jensen and assembled by Pat, along with his friend Joe Priola. A pair of 88mm Garrett turbochargers supply the boost. Behind the engine is a Lenco four-speed transmission and a 10-inch dual-disc clutch from Kale Anderson. Engine management duties are handled by a Big Stuff 3 ECU.
Pat isn’t sharing dyno numbers and hasn’t yet had the opportunity to make a pass in the El Camino, but he’s confident it will be a serious performer. It’s hard not to appreciate a home-built race car with this level of detail—and one that’s clearly capable of putting up big numbers once it hits the track.
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