This area looks to be the best place to post this, so here goes :D

What are your plans for your Ekly? For me, I'm making my '78 into a combination of a Conquista and an SS.

The Conquista part is pretty much done, I transfered the entire interior from an '84 Conquista into my '78. Mine came with the light blue int with vinyl bench seat and standard gauges. The interior is now gray with PW, PL, sport gauge pkg., and a split bench pwr seat from a Regal.

The SS part is still being worked on. The org. 305 was gone when I bought it. I put in a freshened up 350, and had the TH350 trans rebuilt with a shift kit and a TCI sizzler torque conv. I bought a 3.73 Monte Carlo rear end for it and the guy threw in a Monte SS front sway bar too :) I swapped out the stock steering box for the Camaro "Z" box too. I havn't installed the rear end or sway bar yet, still waiting on more $$$ for bushings.

The body is still in need of attention. A drivers side 1/4 will be ordered hopfully within the next month and off to the body shop it goes. I'm looking at having it painted the same color dk. blue Chevy is using on the Trailblazers, with silver along the bottom. Finishing it off will be the "Super Sport" decals that go on the bottom of the doors, with both SS and Conquista decals on the tailgate.

After all that, I'm sure somthing else will need attention, maybe a little more "work" on the engine :wink: Lets here some other Elky hopes and dreams!!!! :D

I think maybe the Bench Racing Forum would be best... maybe we can move it over there...

Good topic though! (trying to drum up conversation on a new board is always tough!)

I bought my 70 last may- the car was & is very nice, complete, looks good, drives pretty good- So I pretty much just drove it as it was for the summertime- then starting in august I began the "making it mine" stage... :lol:

I cut off the exhaust and went with 2.5" all the way with an "X" pipe and Edelbrock RPM Muffs- Then I yanked the peg-leg 3.08 gears and swapped up to an eaton posi & 3.73s, all new axles, driveline yokes, etc etc.

I got rear-ended in september, and decided to do a little customizing along with the fix- went with a smooth tailgate, no backup lights or emblems-

I just had the whole front end re-done- new ball joints, new brake calipers, new rotors, bearings, etc etc.. I had new springs & shocks added out back- soon gonna have AirBags put in, and i'm looking for the rest of the F41 rear suspension to add too (boxed control arms & sway bar)

Next Comes the interior- THe Previous owner had the whole thing re-done just before he sold it, but he did it in this bright red-fabric- Blech :oops:

So- I just located & bought a set of 68 Impala buckets, They are going to the upholsterers shop in another month, for new covers- Combo black vinyl & dk gray cloth (goodbye bright red!)

Looking a little further down the road... I gotta get a better cam & some decent heads! That'll probably be next summer/fall- I think i have enough projects going right now! :lol: 8)

On my '81 I dropped a 350 4bolt main, turbo 350 with a MTS fabricated crossmember for dual exhaust and header clearance and a monte ss 3:73 rear end. It had great pickup with the 3:73's but it sucked on the highway. The 3:73's are good to use if you have an overdrive trans. I ran at about 3700 rpm's at 70 mph with 26 in. tall tires. I switched to 2:73's and was much happier.

I also put an F41 steering box, frame braces, swaybars on(sweet! big help!) and poly body bushings (dirty job).I changed the gauges to 120 mph speedo and 6k tach. As for plans I'm working on the body and paint. I'm also changing over the interior to bucket seats, console shifter and tilt column with no lever. This is my second '81. I've also owned 1 '80,2 '66's, 4 '67's and still own a '67 chevelle big block. lots of fun!

hey my plans are to restore my 76 el camino classic to the best i can, which is im starting on the interior then the engine. so far the body isnt too bad but still needs work, with the rust and such. i got a powerfull 400 so im not really needing a new engine cause i can manage with that

My plans are to paint my elky black cherry with a steel cowl induction hood and drop in a 400 small block with a 350 horse cam with headers and a 600 holley and true duals with a pair of flow masters and 373s and may be 16 or 17 inch pollished tork thrust wheels lowered 2 inches.

My plans for my '68 Elky are to rebuild the 396 and the TH400 to get the poor thing running so I can drive it back and forth from home to work and start doing the things I hate doing the most, fixing previous owners repair attempts. We've all been there, cleaning up after persons with lots of enthusiasm but no talent and they usually do more harm than good, armed with all the necessary tools for all jobs, a pair of Vise-Grips, a sledgehammer, propane torch and endless supply of Duct tape and silicone sealer.
Now I'm prepping the engine block where I work and sure enough, as soon as the engine had been set up on the stand, 15 self acclaimed experts appeared from nowhere, giving me all kinds of tips and unwanted recipes for the ultimate engine combination. Most give me the dropped jaw, wide open eyes-look when I tell them what I'm striving for and I get a big kick out of bursting their bubble after endless lists of trick cams, compression ratios, oversize valves, etc., have been poured over me.
I don't like it when people attempt to live vicariously through me and after all, I'm the one paying for the whole thing. I'm going for a stock rebuild, all the trick stuff will have to wait until later.
In my old country of Iceland, the old american cars are very few and far between and in the winter they put ungodly amounts of salt on the roads (and winter is LONG!) so undercarriage rust is usually what kills any automobile over there. I'm so glad I now live in south central Texas where it doesn't snow and there are quite a few more El Caminos left, there are like four '78 Elkys left in existance in Iceland.

I'm doing three things with my 87 Elky. Drive it, enjoy it, and keep it a long time. I put about 2500 miles a year on it, so hopefully it'll stay in good shape. Maybe I'll drive it in a parade some day. And in my will, I'll give it to my grandson.
:mrgreen:

The list is long but here's an idea:

Complete new interior with 98 Trans Am seats, custom gauge cluster, center console etc.

Replacing the front and rear bumpers with fiberglass ones from Lauren Eng. adding front lower spolier, and a steel 2" cowl hood. Fill in the tailgate license pocket. Add a bed cover. New paint job with Silver Green Metalic paint.

1 1/4 front sway bar, jouce bars, quick ratio gear box from a Grand National, Polyurathan bushings everywhere.

And one last little thing. An LT1 and 4L60E tranny from a 95 Impala SS. Mild build up for about 300-325 HP.

In a nut shell that's what I've been doing for the last year. Hopefully the motor will be done and installed within the next 3 weeks.

Well, my '67 pretty much is as it was when it came from the factory. Mom painted it twice, and although it looks pretty good from a distance, it could stand a good body make over. It has never been hit, so the sheet metal is straight, just the little parking lot dings. Dad used it as a "truck", so I need to chase some dents in the bed. I have replaced the bed rails, rear corners and top trim on the tailgate, and have the 4 rail pieces that go up and over the cab that I found at a swap meet. These have been re-chromed and are stored in a box in the basement waiting for the bodywork to begin. All the emblems have been replaced, as well as the grill and rear bumper. There is the typical rust below the rear window, so the glass needs to come out and that area addressed. Also need to replace all the door rubber. The front end also needs to be rebuilt. The engine is a stock 283 California "smog" motor, and it is a 3 on the tree 3-speed manual. I'll run this for now, as it only has 65,000 original miles no it. Down the road there may be a 330 hp crate motor and 4 speed in the picture. I picked up a '67 Chevelle column from a floor-shifted car to complete this future engine/trans swap. For now, I just drive it. The rest will come as it comes. :wink:

Mine's going to be a full blown custom. Body dropped (chaneled) 2"-3" (will be the onle BDed El I've ever heard of) then a full fast bag suspension with a notched rear end (I want to lay frame, and tuck the 275s in the rear) A custom front & rear end treatment (per my design) and a wild custom interior (all red digital gauges, with black vinyl) hidden fuel cell & nitrous tank to power the 350, and I already have the 700-R4 & 3.73 posi

i plan to do pretty much a full restoration on my '79 elky. i am going to swap the frame out and drop in a 350 for a little extra power. i am redoing the black interior except i added high-back g body bucket seats and i am adding a console. the car will be painted two tone silver with black on top and i want to black out the grille, trim, and the bumpers.i am also going to repaint the rally wheels to match the black and silver color scheme. i would like to add a hood scoop somewhere down the line, along with a few other things.

A Storage shelf and towel rack for the garage.
http://elcaminocentral.com/albums/album13/78ss.jpg

Someday soon I hope to put in an 8.5" 10 bolt 4.10 posi which has now be laying on patio the the last 2 years. A new paint job too since the lacquer has cracked and a new cover for the driver's side bucket If I can find one.

MechEng,
very nice platform to start with...

MechEng,
very nice platform to start with...

Yeah...no kidding! Mine may not be pretty, but she's my daily driver and not used for a storage bin :lol: I'm pretty good with my hands when you're ready to put those shelves up....

A Storage shelf and towel rack for the garage.

Nice looking 1978 towel rack ya got there. It's nice to see a 78 Elky with real 78 tail lights. :o

:mrgreen:

Thanks guys. I did drive it through Chatanooga in July of 78, wife and I were headed to Florida on our honeymoon!
I drove it daily for the first 3 years and retired it in '84 at 67,000 miles. Never was it driven when there was salt or salt dust on the roads. Drove the wife crazy but I never caved!
Typcially it burns maybe a tank of gas per year unless I have major repar issue with on the Sub or Caprice
Always starts quick but sometimes a little fussy in the cold with its Competition 268 cam. Sorriest thing I did to it was putting in a hi-stall torque converter to compensate for the 2.41 gear ratio. I killed the mileage and of course all that heat energy is transfered into the transmission fluid.
Typcially it burns maybe a tank of gas per year unless I have major repar issue with on the Sub or Caprice. Then to work it goes!

Looks like a pretty nice SS under all those boxes....what kinda wheels are those?

I started out buying my Elky with the original LM-1 350 having been rebuilt to 325hp and the original TH-350 tranny rebuilt as well. I've replaced all the accesories and radiator, added "F-41" bars to the lower rad support (they're not really part of the F-41 package, but that's what everyone calls them) and added an MCSS rear sway bar.

Plans for the immediate future include headers and a no-cat true dual exhaust system. After this, the 1406 will be replaced and the hood will be replaced with a steel cowl induction model from Goodmark, then a 3.73 rare axle gearset to replace the factory 3.08 posi.

Then works starts on restoring the interior. Swivel buckets and a console (I'm going to build one...probably Mahogany), then a new dash and panels for the door to match. I'm going to change the color from beige to black if I can get the parts....

Want to check out my plans go to my site http://www.cardomain.com/id/patselk

:D When I first decided on the elCamino that I purchased I thought I was getting a driveable vehicle. Not one riddled with rust. It was advertised as "a rust-free desert southwest car". So my origional plans have been altered slightly. I had a relative check out the car while I talked to him on a cell phone. I wasn't aware at the time that he was as blind as a bat! :x ( sorry for the slight to bats) Unfortunatly I had at one time trusted this relative, so when he told me 1 day before I was to fly to Vegas and get the car that I needed to send the money to secure the car I should have hung up the phone. But I fell into my private hell instead.
Oh sure it sound funny now, but my wife still doesn't smile about it.

I know what people talk about when they have to spend hours fixing what some bone head tried to "modify" with chewing gum, nail polish, and duct tape. On the drive up north I found out the hard way what a half assed repair job will get you. It will get you into the clutches of a dishonest tow truck operator, that what it will get you. I guess I was lucky to get the car home though, :cry: because that is when the real fun happens. I've gutted the interior, replaced the heater core, wiper motor, starter motor, water pump/pulley/belts, replaced the front windshield, eaten pounds of rust dust, had patches welded in the floor, and rear window sill replaced, replaced guages, bulbs, screws.... :?

Now my plans have shifted toward making a usable vehicle in the short term. The body has potential, and I might be able to make the motor hold until I find out how much my wife will sacrifice toward this project before she pulls the plug. It will be a gonner if something major happens.
I do need to hurry with repairs so that I can sell my other car and make this my driver. Then If all goes well I can add parts to restore this car to what it should have been when I picked it up. :lol:

This was the first and last vehicle that I have, or will ever purchase sight unseen. I'm hoping that I can return the favor some day to the dirt clod that sold me the car. As far as the relative goes he's dead in my eyes. R.I.P. :twisted:

I originally just wanted a driveable truck. Right now I'm concentrating on making it run a little more reliably. Got the new carb and intake installed, just need to hook up the throttle. Next is the ignition system, I'll probably install one of those pertronix ignitor elec. ignition things so I can get rid of the points. Future plans include ralley wheels, new interior (recover seat, new door panels, carpet, some kind of sound system). Eventually, I'll replace the damaged front body parts, add an SS hood, change front drums to discs and add 2" drop spindles, then respray it in either the original jade green or possibly fathom green so that I'll have a car that doesn't frighten pedestrians, other motorists, small woodland creatures, etc... By the time I've done that, it will probably be time to replace the motor. Probably stick another 350 in it. I'm not going for a show car or a racer, just a clean daily driver with decent power that I'm not ashamed to be seen in.

I've pretty much completed the 76. I have to change the rear end gears and bearing and possibly add some PolyGraphite Bushings, maybe a hard cover.

The 80 SS will be completed this year. I've stripped it down to base metal, painted the frame, detailed all the hard lines, replaces all the cabling, Wiring, added Billet GT 93 17" wheels, installed a new 383 with AFR 195 Heads, DynoMax Headers, FlowMaster Exhaust, Airbags, New springs all the way around, New shocks all the way around, new Brake system, COMP Cam XE268, Roller Rockers w 1.6:1 ratio, Keith Black 9.5:1 Pistons, Scat Rods & Crank balanced Rotating assembly, Performance Built 700R4 w/ 2500 RPM Stall Converter, 4:10: Rear Gears with PowerTrax system.

Complete new Interior with Custom Qualtex Bucket seats Silver Gray and Lt. Royal Blue, custom Console, B&M Hammer Shifter, New gages all the way around, Complete rebuild of the Air Conditioning system, Silver Gray Carpet and all new plastic inside dyed silver gray and Lt. Royal Blue. New Dash cover/Cap, New vents, Kenwood Stereo complete, Hard Bed cover w/functional Spoiler from Lauren Engineering and all new IROC Stage II Ground effects and nose conversion from Lauren Engineering (Complete package) The Rearview mirror from a Lumina. It is Coarse Blassberry Blue Chromalusion by Dupont outside and engine compartment, Ultra Violet Pearl Metallic Frame, Engine, Transmission and Rear End. The bottom of the Body is painted Peach.
All accessories on the engine are Chrome or Polished Aluminum. Electric Fans (Pullers) Stainless Steel Radiator Hoses, all Other hoses are Russell Stainless Steel Braded hoses W/ Russell Aero Connectors. Edlebrock RPM Air Gap Intake (Polished), Edlebrock 750 CFM Performer Carb.

I am not even going to start on the 72 El Camino's list. Just two words, Pro Stock!

[I WAS ACTUALLY THINKING OF THAT SAME COMBINATION,THE BLUE (ALMOST BLACK) OVER THE SILVER.I WANT TO SEE THAT WHEN ITS DONE.
I'M CURIOUS IF ANYONE HAS ANY HELP,I WANT TO MOVE THE LICENSE PLATE OFF THE TAILGATE + DOWN TO THE BUMPER.THE ONLY PROBLEM IS I BON'T WANT TO GET RID OF MY STOCK '79 CHROME BUMPER.ANY TIPS APPRECIATEDcolor=blue] [/color][B]

[I WAS ACTUALLY THINKING OF THAT SAME COMBINATION,THE BLUE (ALMOST BLACK) OVER THE SILVER.I WANT TO SEE THAT WHEN ITS DONE.
I'M CURIOUS IF ANYONE HAS ANY HELP,I WANT TO MOVE THE LICENSE PLATE OFF THE TAILGATE + DOWN TO THE BUMPER.THE ONLY PROBLEM IS I BON'T WANT TO GET RID OF MY STOCK '79 CHROME BUMPER.ANY TIPS APPRECIATEDcolor=blue] [/color][B]

That's unfortunate...the recessed plate is one of the coolest things about the 78-87's. You could drill the bumper for plate brackets, but it sure would look blank to fill that recess in the tailgate.

I'VE SEEN 1 IN FT.WORTH THAT HAD THE FIBERDLASS BUMPER + THAT SMOOTH GATE W NO TAILLIGHTS IN THE QUARTERS WAS GREAT.I LIKE THE CHROME BUMPERS + I THOUGHT I MIGHT TRY LIKRE THE FRONT BUMPER,BUT I'VE SEEN LIC.BOLTS W LIGHTS

Lauren Engineering. http://www.laureneng.com/ they sell just about any body mod you'd want for a Gen 5 Elky including, I'm pretty sure, that tailgate.

Currently I am sending my '76 to the shop to have the front end straightened out after a black ice incident 3 years ago before I got stationed in Okinawa. Now that I am returning to the states I can't let it sit any longer.
The first priority is to get the body patched up and then get rid of the cream and brown color scheme and go with a dark red and black, keeping the two tone and trim. Then I plan on completely stripping the interior of its buckwheat and putting it back together in a nice shade of black.
The engine is a rebuilt small block 350 bored.030 over breathing in through an edlebrock 4bbl intake and out through duals. Its was rebuilt less than 3,000 miles ago and the only thing I plan to do is install headers and then call it good for a few years. I also plan on installing a 4:11 posi to put the power to the ground. It is perched on 4 American Racing 5 slot aluminum rims with 275/60/15's all the way around, which gives it a sweet looking wide stance that hugs the road.
When I get back to the states in July I'm sure I'll be on here alot looking for advice and parts.
Speaking of, does anyone know where I can get ahold of the "classic" emblem for the drivers' side fender? It went MIA somewhere between the black ice and the ditch and I haven't been able to find one anywhere.

Speaking of, does anyone know where I can get ahold of the "classic" emblem for the drivers' side fender? It went MIA somewhere between the black ice and the ditch and I haven't been able to find one anywhere.

Let me look around a bit. I had some extra trim parts at one time or another I can't promise anything. I had a hard time finding that stuff for mine also. The two tone trim is also next to impossible to find and I have never located anyone that makes Repop stuff like that for these years.

The "Classic" on that Elky is unique. It is not the same as the Classic for the Malubu Classic (same year). Those were more cursive lettering. The Wagon could be the same. The bumpers and two tone trim for the Wagons are the same as the Elky so it is possible that "IF" they made a Wagon with "Classic" in the name then it could also be the same. I need to go to a few bone yards anyway.

Speaking of, does anyone know where I can get ahold of the "classic" emblem for the drivers' side fender? It went MIA somewhere between the black ice and the ditch and I haven't been able to find one anywhere.

Have you tried the El Camino Store, EC Parts, and all the other Elky parts catalog houses?

I have looked through just about every El Camino/ Chevelle web site they have and haven't found the Classic emblem. I did find the two tone trim, it wasn't cheap, but I found it on www.ecparts.com. Luckily most of my trim is intact except one of the front fender "L" shaped ones.
Thanks for the help

76;

Have you tried Trim Parts (http://www.trimparts.com/Pages/Results.asp?VehicleCat=17&ProductCat=51) yet?

Yea I checked them out too. Between all the sites I've been to I found almost everything I will need except the classic emblem. I even found an almost full set of 2 tone trim on Ebay for about $40. Thank God for Ebay.

I own an '81 V-6 EC. It sucks gas like an 8 cyl., but I haven't owned it long enough to track it down and eradicate the problem. I inherited it about 1 1/2 years ago when my grandmother passed away, I've driven it maybe 1000 miles in that time, 800 of which was right ebfore it went into the shop for 6 months to replace the tranny. The original engine was stuffed with a red rag to keep blowback out of the air filter. Grandmother had a rebuilt motor put in, so it's probably on about 10K miles on the rebuilt. The 350 tranny was scrapped and a rebuilt was put into it, about 500 miles on that now.

I'd like to put in a 3.73 rearend, dump the automatic and shimmy a manual into it, bucket seats (maybe some swivelers from a Chevelle, I saw that mod on an older model EC once), SS front clip, bigger tires, drop, who knows. I know I want more power than the 6 cyl. can give me.

If I had the money, time and a different everyday driver, I'd have a big block, overbored V-8 w/ blower, 3.73 posi, drag radials, drag cam and stepped headers in no time.

----
'81 El Camino (running)
'94 Dodge Ram 1500 (running)
'85 Dodge Charger 2.2l EFI (being rebuilt)
'84 Dodge Aries K-car (needs battery and hoses)
'94 Chevy Silverado EC (running)

me i don't know what i really wanna do. i do want take different concepts from differnt areas of the auto industry. i've been getting many ideas from the truck scene.

Lots of plans for my 78! First, I need to rebuild the carb, then the tranny needs to be worked on. I am in the process of making a custom dash face out of Lexan with 2 5/8" Autometer Ultra-Lite gauges with a matching 3 1/2" speedometer. I will get a 2" steel Goodmark cowl induction hood, I've got 15" Weld Drag Star wheels that need some new skins.

Lots of plans for my 78! First, I need to rebuild the carb, then the tranny needs to be worked on. I am in the process of making a custom dash face out of Lexan with 2 5/8" Autometer Ultra-Lite gauges with a matching 3 1/2" speedometer. I will get a 2" steel Goodmark cowl induction hood, I've got 15" Weld Drag Star wheels that need some new skins.

when u do the dash can u post some pics of it. i wanna take out my dash and do some custom work to it or make a custom one out of fiberglass.

As soon as I finish building my garage, work will commence on my 60. I have owned two 5th Gens and would love to own another. My last one was shortened by about 30" by a dump truck with me in it - I lived to tell and moved on. I have wanted a 60 since I first saw one - I found a pretty clean one from California and snagged it a couple years back.

Exterior will be a mild custom. I have spent three years scouring the swap meets and online to find all the exterior body parts - desert, rust free stuff, so there will be little rust repair and little Bondo . . .

I have purchased a 93 Caprice Police Car from an auction and I will be grafting the front and rear suspension form it as it has 13" discs front and 12's rear, plus all the performance upgrades are available for an SS Impala (sway bars, boxed control arms, etc.). This big ol' slosh-boat will have some street manners . . . I do have a Ford 9" housing and a Nodular center section with 3:30's and a Posi - I will probably adapt that to the Caprice setup to handle the torque monster . . .

Engine is a 454 that I got from a 71 Monte SS with 8,000 miles (no kidding) on it. It will need a refresh as it has been sitting, but it is rated in the book at 425 hp (and I am told they were rated low at the time for insurance purposes).

Trans - I am looking for an overdrive stick that can handle the torque of the big block - maybe a Doug Nash 5-speed. Torque and a Bang-Stick - could life be better??

Paint, wheels, interior - I haven't gotten that far yet. I need to get dirty with this thing before I start thinking about the finish.

I have 1st generation 1960 elky.. Ijust got it and I'm going to do a ground up on it.. Mostly everything is there, but it needs alot of work.. Floor boards are totally shot. Other than the ash the whole interior need to be done. The rear 1/4's need work, so I'll proably replace instead of bondo. The trim around the bed needs to be redone, but all the other trim is really good. The engine is the original 283 2bbl, but I'll probaly beef that up a bit. Dont' know with what tho.. The car was originally white with acopper interior, so I'm leaning to keeping it that way.. I'm sure I'll need to be talked "down" at times since I can get ansy and want to do everything like now.. But, with 5 degree weather here in the Northeast, I'm just looking at an awful lot... :D


/joe

Yeah, I am learning. And you are right, so far, most of what I have done it is questionable as to how much I have improved it. :P No really, I hope to hang up my silicone tube and slege, and I do feel some responsibility to the heritage and legacy and so forth. :-D Luckily, my friend that knows more about this whole car thing tells me that my car has already been, in his words, "seriously f****d with," so overall, when it's all said and done, I'll start over on another one, and do better.

Anyway, good times, this site is great, and here is my plan.

new floors: done (see sledge hammer, riveters, snips, and sealant).
waterproof it: it's only coming in from the rear window area now, instead of doors and windshied too.
seatbelts: with the seat mounted back farther, a 3 point sounds goot to me.
sound proof it: gonna put in some insulation/firewall stuff so when that is done, I can put in a stereo!
Then, save up and figure out what's next...like what might be under the hood.
Man, some day, I hope to understand the verbage of a lot of the plans already listed.

Later on - ready for the warmer weather.
J

A month or so ago I bought a 77 El Camino Malibu Classic with I guess every option in the book. I am the 4th Owner. It was garage and carport kept its whole live. In the last two years the 2nd and 3 owner basically rebuilt the car from front to rear. New transmisson, radiator, air conditioning, tires, paint and too much other to list. Also the 2nd owner installed a used 350 engine out of an 88 truck. It has been an Alabama car its whole life so it does not know what salt is. Zero rust.

My current plans are to:

1. Remove the two tone trim, wheel well trim, and emblems (I do have the fender emblems)
2. Change quad headlights to older round headlights
3. Paint PPG Cherry Red
4. Change interior to black with bucket seats and floor shift
5. Install 15x8s with 235/60/15s on front and 15x10s with 295/50/15s on rear
6. Ugrade to a 383 or 400 engine
7. Install 12 bolt with posi
8. Fabricate dash insert to hold aftermarket gauges.

Thats about all to start. I am thinking about building fabricating a new front bumper and valance along the lines of a early 70s Camaro look. If I do that I will probably have to do the same to the rear. Still thinking on this one. Any suggestions appreciated.

Dave

A month or so ago I bought a 77 El Camino Malibu Classic with I guess every option in the book. I am the 4th Owner. It was garage and carport kept its whole live. In the last two years the 2nd and 3 owner basically rebuilt the car from front to rear. New transmisson, radiator, air conditioning, tires, paint and too much other to list. Also the 2nd owner installed a used 350 engine out of an 88 truck. It has been an Alabama car its whole life so it does not know what salt is. Zero rust.

My current plans are to:

1. Remove the two tone trim, wheel well trim, and emblems (I do have the fender emblems)
2. Change quad headlights to older round headlights
3. Paint PPG Cherry Red
4. Change interior to black with bucket seats and floor shift
5. Install 15x8s with 235/60/15s on front and 15x10s with 295/50/15s on rear
6. Ugrade to a 383 or 400 engine
7. Install 12 bolt with posi
8. Fabricate dash insert to hold aftermarket gauges.

Thats about all to start. I am thinking about building fabricating a new front bumper and valance along the lines of a early 70s Camaro look. If I do that I will probably have to do the same to the rear. Still thinking on this one. Any suggestions appreciated.

Dave

There are probably a lot of 4th generation owners that would like to have some of the trim your pulling off. Try not to dmamge it. I could go for your wheel well trim. If you are intrested. The "Classic" El Camino trim is very difficult to locate. They are almost a rare commodity now days and with more people pulling that off then it becomes even rarer to find or see driving. I like it on the truck myself and I like the dual headlights, its defining, in my opinion. I know someone here was searching for one of the "Classic" emblems off the fender.

Good luck with your project.

Lot's of GREAT ideas in this thread!!! 8)

Right now...i'm enjoying just fixing her up and making her into an evil cruiser...with the muscle to back up her attitude. But who knows where she'll wind up! :lol:

gonna turn this....

http://wicked-wind-airbrushing.com/elka1.jpg

into this...

http://wicked-wind-airbrushing.com/elka3.JPG

long journey ahead.....

rigo

My plans for my 86 conquista, is to make it appear fairly stock on the outside.

1. redu the dark/sky blue two tone

2. fix the door(actually this will be probably first)

3. Maybe a five speed tranny from a Monza (305)

4. a nice 350 probably the Goodwrench

5. Headers, I already have the dual exhaust.

6. fix the steering wheel column, because it is moves.

7. And I want to get a bed lid for more aurodynamics and when it snows or ices in st.louis I get put the sandbags in without worry of them freezing to the bed, and making it nearly impossible to remove them once the streets are clear.

What are your plans for your Ekly?

Parts hauler and winter beater. :)

Future plans:
ETR Radio
Bench seat
Column shift
DS Door that doesn't flap at 55
Fix TCC and EFE

http://home.flash.net/~rjgeorge/images/el%20camino/truck%20back.JPG

gonna turn this....

http://wicked-wind-airbrushing.com/elka1.jpg

into this...

http://wicked-wind-airbrushing.com/elka3.JPG

long journey ahead.....

rigo

Rigo,

Did you know that there were less than 17,000 1960 El Caminos built?

I'm stripping mine completely apart. I just need to get the dash out and the doors off before the body comes off the frame... then the real fun starts! I just found out last week that there's a place near me that can powdercoat almost anything. :cool:

Bought my 66 in 1991 for 600 bucks while I was in the Coast Guard. Everything under the hood was painted flat gov't. spray bomb black. The kid paid 1200 for it 2 months prior and put all the engine goodies from his camaro on it, and proceeded to beat on his old suffering "race car". It's been my daily driver since very seldom does it miss a beat. I have a web site up and running and keeping up with the pictures as I proceed along with the work.

Scrubby's 66 El Camino (http://www.281.com/scrubby's)

Some would say my 81 looked better when I got it then it does now. I removed the chrome from the wheel wells and lower body then took off all the emblems. I noticed that a large piece of bondo was falling out so I decided to take the car back down to metal to see what else had been repaired. Now I have a primer red elky with bad doors. I did add a rollpan and tucked front bumper from lauren eng. I also put a hole in the hood and added the street scoop from Mr. gasket. Hopefully body and paint will be done this spring. I just am so fickle about how I want it to look.

Hello all, new member here.
My plans include getting it road perfect, then shaved door handles, T-tops
and an off-set license plate holder.
Last but not least.....
Boysenberry paint with possibly some pearl highlights 8)

Have you ever heard or seen anybody do suicide doors on 5th gen Caminos or Malibus? I think that would be pimp as hell!!!

Hey WarPony.

About 4-5 years ago, Hot Rod mag did a spread on an 82 (?) malibu with suicide doors. The guy did a great job on the car, using all the 60's custom tricks on a more modern platform.

If I can find the article, I will post pics. Sounds like a great custom idea on an Elky - you don't even know it's there until you open the doors.

sure did ElkyPete....that's what makes cuttin into them all the more fun! :-D

my original plan was to use a Cadillac Northstar motor as a powerplant....but still up in ends about that....wanted to call the car "EL CADmino"....Body is off the frame now...still have a ways before i decide on the motor...

check out my website for more of my work...

http://wicked-wind-airbrushing.com

Rigo

Rigo, Is that your work on your website? You are very talented.

Here it goes:

Twin turbo 383 with 8:1 compression, 16lbs of boost and 850 rwhp
18 degree heads, etc
Viper converted T56 with .50:1 final gear ratio
9 inch with 3.42 gears
295/45/17 tires on rear (frame notching and fender lip rolling)
245/45/17 tires on front
Baer 13" brakes front, 12" brakes rear
Possibley Hotrods to Hell centerdrive truck arm suspension

The list continues to grow every month.
Might seem ambitious, but I'm serious about every bit of it. :D

I have a 1980 Elky that I got last july for $500 being a 17 and this being my first car I got a lot of plans

1. Put Custom T tops in
2. Put bucket seates in
3. Build a Fiberglass dash and console in
4. Smoke the headlights and tailights
5. Put cadillace tailights in
6. put duel exhoust in and run it through the taillight holes in the bumper

Well these are just a few of my plains. There are many more.
Tell me what you think.

I have a 84 elko with a 305 motor how can i get more go for the buck???
I live in California with tough smog laws. I want ot hop up the engine, but the law states, that everything inside the motor must be as the same as the factory... what can i do with out flunking out at the department of motor vechiles when time for new tags.
any ideas.....anyone???
:cool:

I have a 1980 Elky that I got last july for $500 being a 17 and this being my first car I got a lot of plans

1. Put Custom T tops in
2. Put bucket seates in
3. Build a Fiberglass dash and console in
4. Smoke the headlights and tailights
5. Put cadillace tailights in
6. put duel exhoust in and run it through the taillight holes in the bumper

Well these are just a few of my plains. There are many more.
Tell me what you think.

Try to Keep it stock as much a possible. it will bring more buck if and when you sell it...

tough Cali laws......go ahead and put a cam in it, and learn how to lean the carb for a test....what are they goin to do, an autopsy????
you could also convert to a latermodel chevy fuel injection, like a tune port or TBI and using the computer, you could swap in and out a performance chip or buy the newer style chips that you can program...

there is alot you can do that will "keep" it legal, go to a carshow and ask alot of questions, but don't dress like a cop :cool:

and never put caddy taillights on an elky, 5 years from now you'll be kicking yourself in the A even if you don't own it no mo...check out the cool roll pans or come up with something more original, I see those taillights molded into everything now

Check my link for updates, I am looking to pull 1.0g on the skidpad. 60-0 stopping in les than 125 feet, 1/4 mile in mid 11's and top speed 180+. We'll see how close I get, my $$$$'s on me. I know I'm gonna start sounding like a share holder but anyone looking into rear truck-arm suspension-----do it. If you can fab your own great, if not Hot Rods to Hell as an awesome kit. You will not regret it. Everything about your ride will improve noticably, stopping, acceleration, handling and even ride comfort.

Well sellinng it again for money is one thing I never see happening. I plan on keeping this car untill it is past all ways of saving it. I don't want a roll pan I love the look of the crome on these cars and I am going to try and keep as much of it that I can. I look of the caddy lights But I thought of maybe reasecing into the rear instead of flush.

I have a 1984 El Camino with a stock 305 motor. I wish to put a 350 engine as a replacement motor. The only possible problem is, will it be lega with a motor with a different VIN letter when it comes time for the smog test at years end ??"

I doubt it....

Chevrolet did us all this huge favor by building so many engines that LOOK exactly the same. You can swap any other sm. blk in, just don't tell the smog police. I live in California, by far the worst smog state. I never check the engine when doing smogs, its not required. If it says it has a 305 in it and it looks like a 305 then it's OK. Just dont cam the hell out of it and someone reason to think its something that its not.

just getting started bought my 85elki with a 350 in it
have purchased 9000 scat 383 stroker crank flat top hypertech
.030 overs ,compcams xtreme energy cam , roller tip rockers
62cc chev heads with 2.02intakes&1.60 ex. dynamax ceramic coated headers headman xpipe 2.50 flowmaster delta flo 50s eldenbrock
torqor 2 intake eldenbrock 750 card
after the eng your guess is as good as mine just to many ideas

First thing is to find a good'un... Then bring it down under and restore it...

I had a '74 Conq Classic, but its gone to Elky heaven. Lookin for a new one...

My plans for my 74 seem to keep coming at me every 3 weeks or so. I've been getting it ready to be repainted for about 5 months now. That included removing all the two-tone trim including the lower chrome strips under the doors and all the emblems etc.

IN the meantime got the hinge covers put on after getting my tailgate hardware straightened out, changed the differential pinion seal, switched out my amp and head unit, reconditioned and painted a dash bezel I picked up on Ebay ( mine was more JB weld than plastic so it need to go ) Made one of those dual speaker setups you see in the OPGI catalogs out of my old center speaker retainer and a couple of JBL 3 1/8" speakers. (mostly because 80 bucks at OPGI seemed too much for panel board and crappy kraco speakers) Then I changed the front springs because the old ones were too damn tall and gave me 4x4 clearance.

The next up is steering. I had the steering box blueprinted 5 years ago which equals about 25K miles and since then have gone through 2 Pwr Steering pumps. 1 started leaking badly and the other just never had enough pressure to the gear. Now I may do it again and while Im at it see about changing the rag joint and rebuilding the pot joint coupling. The pot joint is what really worries me as the rubber seal has blown out. Only reason I am looking at steering is due to a little problem I've run in to with the steering feeling like it's stuck while in a turn every now and again. Kind of scary actually.

Anyway, thanks for asking lets me get my thoughts in order for the next round. :)

If it says it has a 305 in it and it looks like a 305 then it's OK. Just dont cam the hell out of it and someone reason to think its something that its not

At least you guys still have the rolling exemption although I hear they are trying to get rid of it or something like that.

In AZ they make me take the 74 through smog every year and test at idle and loaded on these big rollers that look like a rear wheel dyno setup.

BUt they can't pop the hood so I can put anything under there. If it was a 75 it would be a different story.

I Got rid of the Air pump and EGR long ago. Car passes sniff test better without it anyway.

AIr pump is a joke in that car the manuals actually said that backfiring was a normal occurence with it. Off it goes then, don't need my exhaust valves getting hammered by that kind of crap. Car had Federal emissons for 74 so it had no Catalytic Converter ever. All they do for equipment check on mine is GAS cap.

It's kind of crazy that they even test a 30 year old car for emissions. Most are long gone and those left don't get driven much and/or have become hot rods. That and I don't think its fair to test a 30 year old car for a loaded reading either. The emissions systems were never designed for that but I manage to pass anyway. The 69 Firebird that belongs to my mother is in the same boat, idle and loaded reading but no real equipment check.

It;s all a racket anyway. They don't have emissions testing in gas stations in AZ like they do in CA. They make you go to an "official" state inspection station and wait in line and overheat. I actually killed an AC clutch waiting in line one time. AZ is f****d up... :evil:

The only plans I have for my elky is a wagon cover, The body is straight but it badly need a paint job.
:P I like'em stock

I'm just starting also. I bought an '82 El Camino with an almost brand new 231 V6 (3000 miles on the rebuild) and auto trans for $800. It's a rust-free Nevada vehicle that just needs a lot of cleaning up and general maintenence.

I just got it last weekend, and I'm tracking down a starter problem. No big deal, it just doesn't start with the key all the time. I think I have it tracked down to the positive battery cable - if I wiggle it down close to the starter, it will start. Now all I need is the time to actually get outside, get under it, and fix it. Hopefully this weekend.

The maroon interior is in great shape, except for the seat belts, which won't retract. The dash is cracked from the harsh sun we have out here, but a cover will take care of that for now. It also has a clunky looking white fiberglass camper shell on it, but that might disappear as soon as I get the starting problem fixed.

I have a couple of other projects going right now that have to take top priority, including a '54 GMC Panel van getting a frame-off rebuild, so this El Camino is going to be my daily driver. I'll be wrenching on it and improving it as I go, but it's basically going to be my daily transportation to and from work.

I don't have a digital camera, but as soon as I can get hold of one, I'll post a few pics.

Have a good one, y'all!

I have a 1984 El Camino with a stock 305 motor. I wish to put a 350 engine as a replacement motor. The only possible problem is, will it be lega with a motor with a different VIN letter when it comes time for the smog test at years end ??"

I doubt it too. Most of the time the guys who check don't even know where to look for a VIN stamping. AS long as all the smog crap is there they should be happy with the equipment inspection.

I just got it last weekend, and I'm tracking down a starter problem. No big deal, it just doesn't start with the key all the time. I think I have it tracked down to the positive battery cable - if I wiggle it down close to the starter, it will start. Now all I need is the time to actually get outside, get under it, and fix it.

Good thing you got the 231 buick motor. The 229 chevy V6 was awful in my 81 camaro. My buddy had another 81 camaro except he had the 231 and it'd smoke me every time.

As for your starter. Sounds like loose cable or bad starter solenoid. Specially if the wiggle trick is working. Good luck with it!
:-)

Truthfully my plans are to keep the 305 for a long time. I get pretty good gas mileage, and i'm just trying to make that better. I want to by then end of the summer switch my 350 tranny for an overdrive unit. Then maybe change the rear from the 2.41 to maybe something like 2.73 and at the most at 3.43. I want something that is gonna be a screamer on the highway and still get my good gasmileage. A few other things I plan on doing when money permits is new carb/intake manifold set up. Stuck with a 2 bbl on there now. But before that, some kind of nice exhaust. After that i think i'll be done with all the drivetrain aspects and just work on keeping everything nice.

I cant decide all the things I want to do. Currently my car has a 350, but it is an genuine 454 SS (has the 'W' in the VIN), so I am going to restore that and make it a little more powerful than the 72's had....maybe about 425 to 450 hp...

I have a bench seat currently and column shift automatic. I purchased a tilt column (column shift) and think I will keep the bench. Its nice for the wife to slide over next to me! :P And the rest of the interior will have very little different from stock except color, currently factory black. I purchased a map light factory option rear view mirror and desire to add other factory type options that COULD have come on my car, like power windows and locks, etc.

I have the round gauge dash, but only with the idiot lights, not the optional tach package, so I am currently debating whether or not to restore the original type gauges, or perhaps see if I can buy like some Autometer types, and find a way that will allow me to see them through the stock holes without destroying the SS dash. I am going to also install a Painless wiring harness under dash and engine harness, since 32 years of modifications and snipping have wreaked havoc on my wires! 8O
I am 'thinking' about...only thinking about it....doing the gauges in white face, and recovering my seats, headliner, visors etc in white and leave the dash, pad and column in black. Also probably the carpet. I want the white to ease the heat problem here in florida. But the black carpet is easier to keep clean. I think that black and white combo - if done correctly - could be cool....would even match fuzzy dice! :lol: :cool:

I have a functional factory cowl induction, and a vinyl top. The car is currently painted black but factory color was #14 Pewter Silver. I might return it to that or something similar, and do white and or blackish stripes or flames or something....maybe a mural on the tailgate...
I am installing currently matching sport mirrors on the doors. Not a factory option of course, but I found that certain ones from 71 72 GTO's and LeMans' would fit almost perfectly on my Elky door without shimming to correct height, so I am installing them.

I am currently trying to 'concept' it in drawing form ala Chip Foose on 'Overhaulin'.

other items, as budget allows:

oversized disk brake slotted rotors for the front disks
oversized drums for the back (a lot cheaper than disk conversion and close to the same stopping power)
drop spindles
powerTrax posi unit (currently a 12 non-posi bolt rear - dont know the gearing though)
DVD player in glove box
Removable hard type (like Gaylord) tonneau cover
Rhino liner

second mortgage to pay for it all :mad:

As for your starter. Sounds like loose cable or bad starter solenoid. Specially if the wiggle trick is working. Good luck with it!
:-)

Yep, it was the cable. Dunno if it was just loose, dirty, or if there was a short someplace, but since a new cable was only $5 I went ahead and replaced it. Replaced the negative cable while I was at it, then replaced and added some new split loom to clean up the wiring under the hood. While I had the battery out, I replaced the bulbs in the parking lights and turnsignals (one was burned out anyway), then scrubbed down the battery tray with baking soda and water. Two hours and only minimal sweat later, it fires right up and looks a whole lot better under the hood. Most of that time was spent cleaning up the battery tray. Heh, it might be just me, but it looks like the battery sits about an inch lower in the tray than it did yesterday. It was pretty nasty.

Thanks for the help and the welcome, now I'm off to see how it looks without the camper shell on it. I have a feeling we all know how that's going to turn out.

Dusty