El Camino project car

[hotrodalex]

Aluminum cylinder comparison time!

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/ccrp-1209-eight-budget-sbc-head-shootout/

Was looking at the Speedway Flo-Teks since they are an awesome price and a good improvement over stock in both HP and weight. The Patriot/Promaxx heads are also an option. $100 more, but +40 HP and +10 torque over the Flo-Teks. That's up at 6k rpm, though, which I don't think I've ever seen. Usually shift at 5k if I'm really getting on it, normal driving is 3-3.5k. It's only a 5 HP difference in daily driving, 20 HP at 5k rpm.

[hotrodalex]

So for the past week or two, I've been chasing a super annoying squeak on the driver's side front suspension. It's been around since I put the coil-overs in, so I figured it had to be something that got touched during that install. First guess was the sway bar end link, so I tightened that up. Then I greased the lower control arm bushings and ball joint. Greased the sway bar at the frame mount. Sprayed the lower shock mount with silicone. No bueno. Today I finally figured out it was the top stud on the shock, which I absolutely did not expect. Few turns on the nut and it's all fixed. Finally, because the squeak was giving me nightmares.

[Secret Chimp]

Something goes "tunk" like a wooden dowel hitting concrete when I turn my wheel enough sometimes. I think it's the idler arm. I have another one, it's just stayed exactly the same for so long I haven't bothered changing it out yet.

[hotrodalex]

Yellow headlight appreciation thread

[hotrodalex]

Took it out for a night time canyon carving session. I'm incredibly happy with the handling on this thing now. Feels right at home on twisty roads.

[Eye of the Tiger]

What does the canyon look like now?

[hotrodalex]

[Eye of the Tiger]

Nice

[hotrodalex]

[hotrodalex]

One (or maybe both) of my turn signal blinker switch thingies died today. I was surprised by how annoying it was to drive to the store without turn signals. Don't know how people do that all the time...

[giant_mtb]

One (or maybe both) of my turn signal blinker switch thingies died today. I was surprised by how annoying it was to drive to the store without turn signals. Don't know how people do that all the time...

People don't give a fuck about letting other people in giant, heavy, moving objects know what they're doing in their own giant, heavy, moving object. 

[hotrodalex]

I think I get my muscle car dirtier than some guys get their Jeep/Brodozer.



It got twice as dirty on the way down.

[280Z Turbo]

Your headlights have yellowed. They must leak. You better fix that.

[hotrodalex]

I moved my tach. Dunno why I thought it wouldn't fit there. Maybe I was unwilling to put it on the tilt part, but ehh not a problem. Although it blocks the turn signal indicators now.

Still need to do something about the speedometer... Or nah.

[CaminoRacer]

Updates:

- aluminum heads and a new cam were installed, much power

- rear disc brakes installed, along with drilled/slotted rotors all around

- new MSD ignition box installed

- new, nicer looking electric fans installed

- new tach because the other one died


I won an AutoX event back in July, so I've been a "pro" since then. Also started doing SCCA races, with the new CAM-T class. Car needs an LSD still. Could also use some 200 tread wear tires, but I'm undecided if I want to spend that much money and find a place to store them. Also deciding if I should install a VintageAir A/C unit.

[GoCougs]

What heads and cam did you go with?

[CaminoRacer]

Flotek heads, Edelbrock street cam (hydraulic flat tappet), 1.5 roller rockers. The cam isn't as big as I'd like. Not rumbly enough.

Oh, I got new header-back exhaust too. Ordered new mid-length ceramic coated headers but they didn't fit. So I just kept the old ones and installed an H-pipe and Flowmasters.

[GoCougs]

Sweet. I'd totally go with the Rollin' Thunder roller cam and probably one of the smaller ones. Used to have to do stuff to use roller cams in older blocks but that may not be the case anymore.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Would have been nice to see more pictures of these modifications.

[CaminoRacer]

Sweet. I'd totally go with the Rollin' Thunder roller cam and probably one of the smaller ones. Used to have to do stuff to use roller cams in older blocks but that may not be the case anymore.

Yeah, it would have taken a bit more work to use a roller. I might have gone that direction, but the new cam had been sitting in the garage for a couple of years and was looking for a home.

All in, I think I've gone from 260 hp to 325-330. Not bad.

[FoMoJo]

Yeah, it would have taken a bit more work to use a roller. I might have gone that direction, but the new cam had been sitting in the garage for a couple of years and was looking for a home.

All in, I think I've gone from 260 hp to 325-330. Not bad.

Careful you don't blow the bottom end out.

[GoCougs]

Careful you don't blow the bottom end out.

Nah, it's all good. He bought a GM crate motor IIRC, and they're all 4-bolt mains, which were factory rated up to 370 hp in the LT-1 in the 1970 Corvette.

[RomanChariot]

Good to see you back. I saw your car at the light a 900 W and Center a while back. It looked really nice. That is a nice bump in power.

[CaminoRacer]

Nah, it's all good. He bought a GM crate motor IIRC, and they're all 4-bolt mains, which were factory rated up to 370 hp in the LT-1 in the 1970 Corvette.

Any further HP bumps would include bottom end upgrades anyway. I could get a bit more power with an air-gap intake and bigger cam, but higher compression pistons and a 400 crank would be the next step for noticeable gains.

[CaminoRacer]

Good to see you back. I saw your car at the light a 900 W and Center a while back. It looked really nice. That is a nice bump in power.

Thanks!

It's been getting more attention lately. I drove around the Nebo Loop a couple of weeks ago and snapped a quick picture, which ended up being reposted 3-4 times on Instagram, once by one of the major car accounts. Kinda cool to see how many likes a crappy old El Camino can get.



Here's some action pictures from the SCCA Cam Challenge East, back in August. I ran right before Al Unser Jr. most of the time, so there was some pressure to not screw up and get in his way. Didn't stop me from spinning out and doing a smoky donut.







Here's some shots of my dad's car and Al's.

[MX793]

Still trying to figure out why somebody would take a timeless classic El Camino and ruin it by making it awesome.

[Cookie Monster]

Still trying to figure out why somebody would take a timeless classic El Camino and ruin it by making it awesome.

[CaminoRacer]

 

[GoCougs]

Any further HP bumps would include bottom end upgrades anyway. I could get a bit more power with an air-gap intake and bigger cam, but higher compression pistons and a 400 crank would be the next step for noticeable gains.

IMO that's not far away from the pinnacle of the streetable classic small block Chevy - 383 cubes, AL heads, moderate roller cam, moderate CR, and throttle body FI. You'd have one potent motor.

[CaminoRacer]

Over the weekend I sealed up the kick panel vents. The stock panels were able to close and keep air out much better than my current ones, which let cold air in at a rate that the heater could barely keep up with. So I just sealed up the hole and will just have to live without the vents in the summer.