1983 Chevrolet El Camino Service and Repair Manual

This factory service and repair manual for the 1983 Chevrolet El Camino has an unusually wide spread of engines for one pickup body: a 5.0L V8 of 305 cubic inches, a 3.8L V6 of 231 cubic inches and a 5.7L V8 of 350 cubic inches running diesel, all overhead-valve and naturally aspirated. The two-door standard cab was sold as Base, Conquista and SS. Because the diesel is fueled and ignited differently from the two gasoline engines, its injection and starting-aid procedures stand apart from the carburetor work.

Engines covered

• 5.0L V8 (305 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 3.8L V6 (231 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 5.7L V8 (350 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, diesel

Body styles covered

• 2-door standard cab pickup

Trims covered

• Base
• Conquista
• SS

Known issues on the 1983 El Camino. Two recalls touch this model year, and both are about fluid finding a way out. One concerns replacement oil filters sold for these engines that may not seal properly, letting engine oil escape toward hot surfaces where it can burn. The other concerns the brake pipe running rearward from the master cylinder, which can chafe against the air cleaner resonator bracket until it develops a leak and rear braking suffers. A single owner complaint is on record, against the engine and cooling system. Line routing, lubrication service and brake bleeding are all covered here with their torque values.