I started this about a year or so ago.

I have been negotiating with a Jeweler "Friend" to make me some emblems for my 5th generation El Camino. I am wanting some of the "Dash Emblems" made for my 80 that say "El Camino SS" just exactly like the one that came on the truck. These will be made of "Coin Silver" and I've even considered having some of them plated in gold possibly.

I have been stuck by the fact that it has to be cast using a permanent mold and it is not economical for me to have only one or two pieces made. the castings are made using the molds and a centrifuge to keep out any air bubbles in the casting process. I had been hoping to just have a mold made that I could pour the metal into but that is looking less and less desirable. I can't commit to have a "batch" founded, while I am supplying the Silver, it is a labor intensive task I am told and cost is going to be an issue. Polishing and buffing it to a high gloss is a lot of work.

So... I am not making any promises but I am very close to having some actual costs and possibly a time frame just in case anyone else is interested in this project. If so I'll do my best to keep anyone interested informed. As of today nothing is done and I am still on "Wait and see" and cost gathering points.

Depending on cost, I might be interested in the silver...gold would be out of my league. Keep us informed.

I have visited an Elky owners web site before (I think he's also a member here) who is also a jeweler. He designed a SS emblem for the front of his fifth gen. Came out very nice. If I can find the web site again I'll post it. Maybe the two of you can team up.

Here it is:John Christensen's 1984 (http://www.home.earthlink.net/~johncgg/john/elcamino.htm) check out the SS emblem he designed!

I've seen that emblem. The El Camino Store had one for a long time. I understand they finally sold it to someone. I couldn't see paying that much money for it. I am looking to do this at as low a cost as possible. I have two jewelers I've been talking to that I know personally who are both willing to do it and say they can "No problem", my issue is as always cost. I have the original emblem but I'd like to have one in Silver and I'd like to have two more for the doors inside.

I like the SS that guy made. It was a off shoot of the IROC SS on, I think, the Camaros. It was pretty. I'd be all about worrying that someone would steal it while the truck was parked somewhere. At $400.00 a pop that is a lot to loose.

I am looking to get this done for less than a C-note each. If I can do that then I'll be happy. Initially I was looking at spending about $160.00 for the mold and then the cost of casting and polishing. So per piece would have ran me about 250 or so but "IF" I can get it down to a "Per Piece" cost of under a C-Note ($100.00) I'll be happy. So like I said its not a complete done deal.

Just another thought on custom emblems...Does anyone else drive down the road looking a the newer cars emblems? (Just me I'm sure) There are a lot fo new fancy fonts they are using these days, and there is also a lot of new names for cars.

If you look closely at them depending on the name of the car I can pick out different letters that would make up a name of a custom emblem that I could put together. I might want to use....example these 4 letters "ELCO" for my custom emblem. Or "SS." Yes you can buy them, but if you look at all the fancy new "S" letters out there you might find something very creative and cool. You would have custom "SS" emblem that no one else has! Cars guys would pick up on that asking, "Hey were did you find those emblems?" Kind of cool to tell them I took the letters off a new Ni"ss"an pick-up and made it myself! The emblem letters are all out there if you look closely....just a thought. :?:

As a former goldsmith (Allergic to gold now... a real pisser), Making the larger emblems in silver is a real bitch. It takes a ton of heat, and silver doesn't like to be molten that long. That's probably why the expense. Also, most jewelry type equipment is set up for smaller pieces. I used vaccum casting vs. centrifical. I don't like the idea of 5 oz. of molten metal flying around the room if something goes wrong.

I made only 2 SS emblems, and 2 horn buttons, signed and numbered. Rick at EC parts has the other set. I used heavy depositoin gold plating (24K) and the grille emblem is holding up nicely, even in the Chicago salt for the last 4 years. No winter beater yet. I am working on it.

If you have an idea for a dash emblem, I might be able to work something out. I was even thinking on an NECOA oriented one. Any suggestions or artwork is welcome. Line art is better for these types of things.

I am changing Email and web adresses at the present time. The old site is still up, but I have moved to this link: http://home.comcast.net/~johncgg/elcamino.htm So update the bookmarks. I think I did it in the profile too. Take a look at the new horn button too. Modifications/other stuff is where it's at from any page.

Thanks for your recognition, and interest. Keep me posted!

JC

1979 Grilles are the most comon and the CHEVROLET emblem that goes on is discontinued.

I looked for someting to go on it and found this '70 Chevelle SS Door Emblem that fit the boss perfectly. I liked it and it looks factory! It actually looks like it was made to fit there by GM. See if you like it, I did. Jim
http://images.andale.com/f2/127/122/7953605/1068948161760_P1010015.JPG