Many of us miss the days of classic muscle cars without all those power-killing emissions requirements. Nobody misses the smog and health hazards that those straight-pipe muscle cars produced though, and today’s engines can make big power without the ugly emissions. With today’s technology we can have mean, clean power.

Famed carburetor maker Holley sees that as the case and they are developing a line of products that will make swapping GM’s emissions-compliant E-Rod engine into various GM platforms a lot easier.

The GM Performance Parts E-Rod LS3 engine packs 430 horsepower into an emissions-compliant package. This engine is part a response to local and state laws regarding emissions, and part a response to the more environmentally-conscious hot rodder.

Today’s engines are worlds away more powerful performers, and they do so while producing fewer emissions at wide open throttle than many classic muscle cars did at idle.

Holley is showcasing the E-Rod in their ’86 “El Camino Verde” project, which will showcase parts for swapping this cleaner, meaner motor into a variety of other vehicles. A Hotchkis suspension package will upgrade the stance and handling, 4L60E transmission will handle the “oats,” and Baer brakes will provide the stopping power.

This El Camino will make more power and fewer emissions than it did when it first rolled off the assembly line. It is a really cool project, and as swapping modern engines into classic cars gets more popular, we hope a new generation of mechanics treat low emissions and fuel efficiency as another key part to producing impressive horsepower numbers.