Story: Rare 348 Tri-Power 1960 Chevrolet El Camino Barn Find!

Just over 6 months ago, Hagerty Media introduced a new show called Driveway Finds, with each episode focusing on rescuing a neglected classic and bringing it back to life.  A notable recent discovery was this 1960 Chevrolet El Camino, reportedly last driven in 1993 and sitting untouched in a barn ever since.  What makes this one so extraordinary is the 348 tri-power engine still under the hood, although hosts Dustin Hallman and John Brito initially see little hope of getting this 335 HP component unstuck.  However, this is one of those great tales that has a happy ending, so be sure to check out the entire installment here on YouTube.

Just pulling the El Camino out of the barn proved challenging, as the tires were flat, there were rat droppings inside, and the last time anyone had been behind the wheel was some 33 years ago.  That’s when the owner’s grandson, Bill, drove the Chevy on its final outing, which was only a short distance around the neighborhood.  He informs us that it was parked for a couple of reasons, mainly since it was overheating due to a cracked head or a blown gasket, but also because there were originally big plans for a restoration.  Sadly, the truck’s owner experienced a stroke not long after and passed away in 1997 without getting to see his vision fulfilled.

Even under ideal storage conditions, that’s a long time for an automobile to sit, and being inside a barn resulted in a thick layer of funk building up on the outside.  Once the El Camino had been rescued, a thorough pressure wash was performed immediately, including both the exterior and the entire engine compartment.  The results were better than expected, and after a subsequent sheet metal buffing, the black patina was showing a surprisingly good appearance.

However, the bigger dilemma was getting the engine unstuck, which was important because the hosts determined it was likely the original factory component.  After the stamping was cleaned, the suffix FH was discovered, indicating this was indeed a 1960 solid-lifter 348 tri-power V8, the highest-horsepower and most expensive motor you could get in the El Camino for the period.  There was still more investigative work to be done here, as the VIN and trim tag don’t provide definitive proof of an original tri-power unit, so you have to look for more clues elsewhere.  The 3/8-inch fuel lines, rather than 5/16-inch, are stated to be a strong indicator that this one’s the real deal, as are those lines running underneath the control arms.  Additionally, the placement of the coil on the firewall instead of on top of the intake manifold, along with the ballast resistor’s location, also helps verify the pedigree here.

After applying a “secret sauce” to the cylinders, consisting of acetone and automatic transmission fluid, the engine was finally able to be slightly turned by hand after sitting for a couple of days.  Then, after a live battery was installed and the starter had been thoroughly beaten, the key was turned, and the motor finally broke free, although oil pressure was nonexistent.  After the covers were taken off and the stuck valves tapped with a hammer, they eventually all moved, and the duo was ready for the next step.

Finally, the timing was adjusted by brute force, then WD-40 was sprayed on the valves, followed by gasoline being poured into each carburetor.  The 348 was now running on its own, even going down the road and back for a brief run with John sitting on the fender, spraying carb cleaner down the throats while Dustin was behind the wheel.  A short time later, Bill returned to the shop and seemed amazed not only by how well his grandfather’s truck had cleaned up, but also by the fact that it was running again.  Though this is undoubtedly the beginning of a fine success story, the pair ends this episode by asking their viewers if they’d like to see the 348 get rebuilt all the way and additional repairs made to this holy grail El Camino.  My answer here is a resounding YES!  How about you?