What kind of engine can I put in a 83 El Camino?

The vehicle currently has a tierd v6 in it. I plan on putting something larger in it and maybe putting some minor aftermarket upgrades onto it such as an elderbrock carb, exhaust and so forth. I want an engine the I can use a manual,like haynes for example, to make minor repairs. I want to be able to walk into the auto part store and ask for a part for a 1983 El Camino and not have any confusion over ot because of the new engine. I really want a 350. any ideas?

Putting a 350 into an El-Camino is the simplest swap I can think of. You will not have to modify ANYTHING!
'83 El-Camino's came with 305 Chevy's too which is the exact same configuration as a 350. So you simply use 305 motor mounts. Same thing.
You'll need other stuff too but trust me, Everything you need to put a 350 in is sitting in a junkyard near your. Your car is what GM called a 'G-Body'. Monte Carlo's are the same, Malibu's, Malibu Wagons, Grand prix's. The interchangability between the G-body's is awesome. Cutlass is the same but only had 305 small block chevy's in Canada. Regal's are the same too.

The other parts you would need from a junkyard 305 g-body from '81 to'88 is all the accessory brackets for the alternater. Maybe the alternator itself. Air conditioner hoses and dryer.(buy a new dryer though) You can use everything else from your V6 for the A/C including your compressor!...as long as you get those accessory brackets.
Belt's, radiator and fan shrowd.
Your V6 transmission won't work so you'll need a tranny. Also, you'll need the transmission cross member. A V8 tranny will bolt right in. If you go with the older, stronger, 350 or 400 turbo V8 tranny, you'll need one from a different car....can't remember off hand. However, Some company's make them aftermarket. Some guy's modify there's. I've seen a Ford Crown Vic cross member used once. If you wanted an Overdive from a G-Body, you would have to weld a mounting tab on the frame for that OD cross member. G-Bodys didn't come out with overdive until '84 on OLDS and '85 for the rest so they already have that mounting tab and your '83 doesn't.
One other thing, all the frames are for the most part interchangeable between the year's except for El-Camino's. Although all the components are the same, The El-Camino's G-Body frame is longer along the side rails between the back edge of the doors and the front of the rear wheel wells. El-Camino's simply have a longer wheelbase than the other G-body's. It's "around" 6 inches.....

Man, I could go on and on. Check out these website's to start and search Google for GM G-Bodys.

http://maliburacing.com/

http://montecarloss.com/

1965 Chevrolet El Camino

1968 CHEVY CHEVROLET MALIBU CHEVELLE EL CAMINO HEADLIGHT BULB PARTS MORE $10.00

1964 CHEVY CHEVROLET EL CAMINO CHEVELLE MALIBU PROJECT PARTS 64 JUNKYARD SWAP $10.00