El Camino project car

[hotrodalex]

I finally picked up my El Camino yesterday. Like I said in the chat thread, I bought it on ebay for $3300. I planned to drive it home, but the engine has a rod knock problem and probably shouldn't be driven 50 miles on the highway (I confirmed the sellers worry about that, I took a little test drive before putting it on the trailer and I wouldn't trust it on the highway very long)

Anyways, here it is.

1969 Chevrolet El Camino

305 engine (not stock) with a rod knocking
Saginaw 4 speed
10 bolt open rear end
15' inch wheels
New tires
Black interior with bench seat
Needs new floors
Could use a new bed (it's banged up)
The rear bumper is in so-so shape. I got a new one from the seller for $100 and will put it on eventually.
Door locks need to be fixed
Parking brake needs to be fixed
Needs a new tie rod up front

And various other things. I have about a page long list of things to do.





















Driving it home.

[Cookie Monster]

Nice!

[Eye of the Tiger]

are you gonna fix that 305, or just drop your camaro motor in?

[the Teuton]

That Saturn...are you too embarrassed to mention it?

[hotrodalex]

That Saturn...are you too embarrassed to mention it?

It's my brother's car.

[hotrodalex]

are you gonna fix that 305, or just drop your camaro motor in?

Swapping the 350 in. I'll probably rebuild the 305 anyways, but I don't know what I'll do with it after that. Might sell it or just keep it in the garage.

[the Teuton]

It's my brother's car.

I'd rock it.  It better be 5-speed, though.  Saturn automatics are anemic.

[Pommes-T]

Gorgeous!!!!! 

I love El Caminos, especially that age. Congratulations. Oh, and I also love the wheels..

Please keep us posted about what you do to that car! 

[Eye of the Tiger]

T-56?

[hotrodalex]

I'd rock it.  It better be 5-speed, though.  Saturn automatics are anemic.

Automatic. 

[hotrodalex]

Gorgeous!!!!! 

I love El Caminos, especially that age. Congratulations. Oh, and I also love the wheels..

Please keep us posted about what you do to that car! 

I'm in love with the wheels too. 

T-56?

I'm not going to get a new tranny until I get a big block or something in it.

[the Teuton]

Automatic. 

At least it's the DOHC model. 

My bro has the SOHC stick, and it actually feels fairly peppy.

[ChrisV]

Excellent project! Love those. And not too terribly bad condition, either.

[hotrodalex]

Got to know the car a bit better today, kinda messed around with things (found bondo spots, looked at the floor more, looked at the underbody, messed with the engine to try to solve the knock, etc.) Got the parking brake fixed too. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

Are you going to paint it?

[The Pirate]

Badass, I love it!  Should be a fun project, too.  Have you ever post pics of the Camaro (I don't recall seeing any, but I very well might have missed that thread)?

[hotrodalex]

Are you going to paint it?

Eventually, after I get most of it finished. Right now it's black primer, which is what I would've done if it needed body work.

Badass, I love it!  Should be a fun project, too.  Have you ever post pics of the Camaro (I don't recall seeing any, but I very well might have missed that thread)?

I've posted some of the Camaro. I can send you a PM or something if you want.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Eventually, after I get most of it finished. Right now it's black primer, which is what I would've done if it needed body work.

Fire engine red!

[hotrodalex]

Fire engine red!

I was thinking metallic orange or a nice, bright blue. Preferably with carbon fiber rally stripes (and that would be REAL carbon fiber)

[Eye of the Tiger]

I was thinking metallic orange or a nice, bright blue. Preferably with carbon fiber rally stripes (and that would be REAL carbon fiber)

Metallic orange! How in in the heck do you make stripes out of carbon fiber? Wouldn't they stick up?

[hotrodalex]

Metallic orange! How in in the heck do you make stripes out of carbon fiber? Wouldn't they stick up?

I would have to find someone to make me a carbon fiber hood and tailgate skin, then paint them leaving just the stripes exposed.

[S204STi]

Congrats!  Should be a fun project.  That's one of the nice El Camino body styles.

[S204STi]

I would have to find someone to make me a carbon fiber hood and tailgate skin, then paint them leaving just the stripes exposed.

That would be very cool.  I got to take a good look at the new Challenger with "CF" racing stripes, and it looked very cool. It would be even better with the real thing.

[hotrodalex]

That would be very cool.  I got to take a good look at the new Challenger with "CF" racing stripes, and it looked very cool. It would be even better with the real thing.

Yeah. I love those stripes. I saw a 'Cuda with carbon fiber bodywork (not sure if it was real or not) and was absolutely in love with it.

My first plan was for bare metal stripes, but I think those are going to become more and more common in the next 5-10 years. I want something fairly tame, but at the same time I want it to be unique and absolutely sweet.

[Secret Chimp]

I was thinking metallic orange or a nice, bright blue. Preferably with carbon fiber rally stripes (and that would be REAL carbon fiber)

This blue is nice:


Chevelle of that same year, SS 396 four-speed (!), was parked across from my high school the whole time I went there. Idiots that owned it put 1980s Firebird seats in it.

[the Teuton]

This car has the potential as a project to be greater than awesome.  I've always liked the El Caminos that looked like a Chevelle with the back chopped off.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Nice! My boy has a '69 Chevelle 396 in bright red that looks real nice. Yours would look good in black with th CF stripes 'tho. Does it have the in bed trunk or was that just an option on the 1970?

[hotrodalex]

Nice! My boy has a '69 Chevelle 396 in bright red that looks real nice. Yours would look good in black with th CF stripes 'tho. Does it have the in bed trunk or was that just an option on the 1970?

You know I did more research on the in bed trunk and it's not a factory option. It's a custom job. Though I think some dealerships did make them in house, which is why some people have thought it's from the factory. So mine doesn't have one but I plan on putting it in. I can keep my sound equipment (amps and other various electrical equipment) in it.

[GoCougs]

Swapping the 350 in. I'll probably rebuild the 305 anyways, but I don't know what I'll do with it after that. Might sell it or just keep it in the garage.

I wouldn't bother with the Chevy 305. It is the worst small block Detroit V8 ever built owing to its tiny bore (can't use 350 heads). Any $$ spent on it will be wasted in that it will always be gutless and no one will buy it in the aftermarket for more than ~$200.

As a replacement engine, I'd personally opt for an economy-minded big-inch small block (~400 cubic inches) which you could have built at a local shop for ~ $2,000, and then opt for an Edelbrock Performer package, including roller cam and rockers, AL heads and intake, and carb for ~ $3,000. Should be good for a very steetable 1 hp/cubic inch.

[hotrodalex]

I wouldn't bother with the Chevy 305. It is the worst small block Detroit V8 ever built owing to its tiny bore (can't use 350 heads). Any $$ spent on it will be wasted in that it will always be gutless and no one will buy it in the aftermarket for more than ~$200.

As a replacement engine, I'd personally opt for an economy-minded big-inch small block (~400 cubic inches) which you could have built at a local shop for ~ $2,000, and then opt for an Edelbrock Performer package, including roller cam and rockers, AL heads and intake, and carb for ~ $3,000. Should be good for a very steetable 1 hp/cubic inch.

The 305 isn't a factory engine, I believe it's a crate motor. It sure is strong enough to be one. Plus I wouldn't be rebuilding it just to make a buck, it would be for fun.

Anyways, today I took off the door panels so I could look at the locks and found that I have two different doors. I'm pretty sure the drivers side is a '68 door while the passenger door is a '69. So that's two things to add to the list - new locks and a new drivers door.