El Camino project car

[Eye of the Tiger]

meh, me 2

[hotrodalex]

I'm a control freak and like watching gauges.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I'm such a control freak that I like controlling gauges.

[hotrodalex]

I'm such a control freak that I like controlling gauges.

Well I can control the speedometer, tach, and somewhat control the oil pressure (goes up when I hit the gas). Can't do much about the temperature, though. Unless I just turn the car off, but that's lame. Can't go FAST with it turned off.

[hotrodalex]

There has been a ticking problem since I got the new engine. It's either the lifter for the #5 or #7 cylinder, or I heard an exhaust leak can sound similar? My dad doesnt't seem too worried about it, but I'm a semi-perfectionist and don't like odd noises. (yes, it is ironic that I am somewhat of a perfectionist and own this far-from-perfect car)

[shp4man]

There has been a ticking problem since I got the new engine. It's either the lifter for the #5 or #7 cylinder, or I heard an exhaust leak can sound similar? My dad doesnt't seem too worried about it, but I'm a semi-perfectionist and don't like odd noises. (yes, it is ironic that I am somewhat of a perfectionist and own this far-from-perfect car)

Pull the plug wire on the suspect cylinder and see if the noise changes.

[hotrodalex]

I'll try that this afternoon if I can remember.

The car sometimes chugs a bit when I get on the gas. Not sure if it's a fuel system problem, a carb tune problem, a timing problem, or me being in too high of a gear. Need to hurry up and get a tach, then I can know my shift points a bit better and I should probably tune the engine anyway, even if it turns out that it's not the cause of this specific problem.

Also need to call the bodyman for a third time. Need to hurry up and get the door aligned so it won't leak and I can put the carpet in. Made a box for the subwoofer and panels for the speakers. Just need to cover them and mount them. Should look sexy.

[hotrodalex]

Finally bolted the passenger seat all the way down. It's only had the front two brackets bolted to the floor - the back was just resting there.

Also took out the parking brake dash light. The sensor thingamajing on the brake lever is broken, so the light was always on when I turned the headlights on. Just took out the bulb so I wouldn't have to look at it all the time, since I'm too lazy to bother actually fixing it right now. I know if the parking brake is on or off, don't need a light.

The tach that I have in the garage seems to be the same size as any of the other ones I was looking at, so I'm probably just going to use it. It won't fit on the steering column, but I might be able to mount it in the front of the shifter on the transmission tunnel.

I pulled the spark plug on cylinder 7 and the ticking noise didn't change. I didn't mess with cylinder 5, though I probably should have. I think it's 7, but while I was doing it I should have tried 5 anyway.

[Madman]

Also took out the parking brake dash light. The sensor thingamajing on the brake lever is broken, so the light was always on when I turned the headlights on. Just took out the bulb so I wouldn't have to look at it all the time, since I'm too lazy to bother actually fixing it right now. I know if the parking brake is on or off, don't need a light.

If you suddenly discover your rear brakes are smoking after a long drive, I think you'll be able to figure out why. 

[hotrodalex]

Tach is hooked up, just need to get two screws to mount it. Of all the junk in the garage, apparently there aren't two small screws that will work.

Bodyman came by today. Looked at it all and I think he'd do a really good job. Estimate was $4600 for door/fender alignment, body work, and paint. Doesn't seem to be too bad of a price, but it's not my money to spend. It's up to mi padre.

Need to figure out how to seal the smuggler's box/front panel of the bed. I think just some sealer/caulking could work, but I'll have to check out the El Camino forums to make sure. I think I might as well strip the paint in the bed, repaint with POR15, and then put in a bedliner after I seal the panel. Should have no leakage after that.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

You shoud do one of those spray in bedliners. Then you won't have to worry about moister getting under the bedliner.

[hotrodalex]

You shoud do one of those spray in bedliners. Then you won't have to worry about moister getting under the bedliner.

Yep!

[hotrodalex]

Put the tach in this weekend. Turns out the rev limiter and shift light actually do work. Limiter is set to 6000, shift light at 5000 (don't think I've actually revved it that high, so it's more like a "just in case" light if I fall asleep and am somehow not woken up by the roaring V8)

It didn't start last night, so I had to grab the BMW key and leave - didn't have time to mess with it. Told my dad and he went out to fix it. I knew it was a problem with the clutch lock-out. Apparently something was hanging down behind the dash and preventing the pedal from going down all the way, even though it was down completely. So he got it started, but noticed it was acting weird - like it was flooded. Ended up taking the top off the carb and cleaning it out. Runs quite well now, and the low speed chug when you get on the gas seems to have disappeared.







The 3 gauge pod is just chillin' behind it for now. They'll be gone once I get the overhead console put in.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

LOL! Thats a hell of a place to mount such an important gauge bro!

[hotrodalex]

Eh, it's not a big deal. Couldn't really fit one on the steering column because it's a tilt column. While having it down low makes it harder to glance at quickly, it's not like I stare at it constantly.

[Rupert]

That long-ass lever needs a T-handle.

[Eye of the Tiger]

That long-ass lever needs a T-handle.

Nah, balls are much better.


Wow, the tach has a rev limiter built in? Cool.

[hotrodalex]

Car is out of commission for a bit. It's been acting weird at times, almost stalling out and doesn't like to rev. Assumed it was vapor locking or the fuel pressure was too low for some other reason. Checked the oil dipstick today and it smells like gas. So the oil needs to get changed and I'll have to figure out where the fuel is entering the block from. Fuel pump?

[hotrodalex]

Nevermind. Forgot it flooded before my dad cleaned out the carb on Sunday. Should be fine after I change the oil this afternoon.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Gotta love all the "Quirks" these old cars have!

[Secret Chimp]

What kind of a carb is on dis ting

[hotrodalex]

Edelbrock Performer, 600 CFM

[Secret Chimp]

Edelbrock Performer, 600 CFM

Do you have a pressure regulator on it? If the fuel pump is putting out more than 6.5 psi it will flood, Edelbrock themselves say so.

[hotrodalex]

Do you have a pressure regulator on it? If the fuel pump is putting out more than 6.5 psi it will flood, Edelbrock themselves say so.

It's a stock style fuel pump, shouldn't be too much for it to handle. I think it flooded because of a clog. Dunno for sure, I wasn't there when it happened.

[Secret Chimp]

It's a stock style fuel pump, shouldn't be too much for it to handle. I think it flooded because of a clog. Dunno for sure, I wasn't there when it happened.

I dunno, my stock pump put out close to 8 psi.

[hotrodalex]

Carb has been taken apart three times now. First time it was cleaned out, second time it was rebuilt, and this time it was cleaned out some more. Turns out half the idle circuit was clogged with some sort of papery cloth thing, possibly a piece of of the old filter. It's running much nicer now, though I'll still put a regulator on to make sure it's not being overloaded.

[hotrodalex]

Putting together my speaker boxes to primer and then plastidip. It's a bit too hot and humid to spray it right now, so I'll wait till later tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Pulled the front bed panel yesterday to reseal it. Need to grind off some rust and bolt in some supports and it should be ready to go back in. I think I might take it to Line-X to have them spray in a bed liner to further seal it off.

I'm going to call the bodyman in a minute to see if he can align the doors/fenders and fill in some of the holes in the body by the start of July, so I can still take the car to the show in Columbus. After that I'll get it painted.

[hotrodalex]

Bodyman said he should be able to do it next week. Ordered some '69 Camaro front marker lights for him to swap in. All other marker lights, emblems, and reverse lights will be shaved.

[CJ]

The Bosch 040 fuel pump in my 940 operates at 94 PSI. 

[hotrodalex]

There are 3 other panels as well. One for the amp, which will be mounted on the back wall under the passenger side speaker, and two to cover the amp and smugglers box (driver's side) and finish the "wall".

Still need to sand the primer, then drill the holes for the mounting bolts, then plastidip and do the final install.