Hello,

I just got a 1974 El Camino with the 350 engine and an auto transmission.

I'm using it as a daily driver, since it works, haven't had to do any work to the engine. Here are my plans for it.

I want to replace the boring gauges with needle type gauges like the one the 3rd gen SS had. Is this possible?

The suspension and engine, especially the steering knuckle is caked with rust, how do I go about replacing this?

I want to put the old stock radio back in the dash and right under it, hook up a CD player to the dash. Has anyone here done this, can you give me some tips please.

For some unknown reason, the cable that opens the hood is on the outside, how do I move it inside.

Thanks in advance for any tips you can give.

Hello,

I was replacing the starter on the El Camino and noticed oil leaking from the oil filter. I'm going to replace the filter but I was wondering if anyone has had this problem before and does it signify any other problems that the Camino might have.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Welcome to El Camino Central -----unless the block adapter is loose there should not be a problem just put a new filter on and snug it down---may as well change the oil while you are at it.............Dan

Welcome to the site akinvan. Good to see another 4th gen on board.

Your steering knuckle caked with rust may be an indicator, how is the rest of the car? (frame?)
How you tried to clean it off at all?

I agree with Dan on the filter and the oil change.

You can try to re-route the hood release, unless it's not the original.

Anything is possible to do with it if you have the time, money, and patience :)

Lee "Caveman49"

Tackle one thing at a time.

It sounds like you should definately take care of the oil/filter change first. Get your rig operating properly, before stuff that is just cosmetic.

When you are ready for more projects, come back here and post a very specific question. You will probably get a better response with a post that says "How do I install performance gauges in my 4th gen?" than "I have questions"

Congrats. Always good to see more 4th gens.

I've got a 74 SS myself with the 400.

To get a tach in dash you'll have to track down a 4th gen SS cluster which I dont think run cheap. Last one I saw went for a couple hundred on ebay with the parts needed to make the swap.

Post up some pics when you get the chance. My hood release has the same feature. I got a generic replacement one from autozone this weekend I'm to try installing. I'll let you know how it goes.

Check out the members cars section and you should be able to find a few 4th gen original SS's.

There aren't too many and mine is probably the roughest. Welcome to the fun of 4th gen elkys. :)

Welcome to the site. Plenty of information available here through questions and the search function. Someone almost always has done it before. The gauge cluster can usually be found on e-bay periodically but they are proud of them. Look for a donor car if possible. I am installing the cluster in my 73 right now so I'll let you know how it goes. JJ73

Hello,

I just got a 1974 El Camino with the 350 engine and an auto transmission.

I'm using it as a daily driver, since it works, haven't had to do any work to the engine. Here are my plans for it.

I want to replace the boring gauges with needle type gauges like the one the 3rd gen SS had. Is this possible?

The suspension and engine, especially the steering knuckle is caked with rust, how do I go about replacing this?

I want to put the old stock radio back in the dash and right under it, hook up a CD player to the dash. Has anyone here done this, can you give me some tips please.

For some unknown reason, the cable that opens the hood is on the outside, how do I move it inside.

Thanks in advance for any tips you can give.

I too welcome you to the site and the sometimes maddening world of 4th gens.

I know all you other guys were probably wondering when I would respond to this one :D

Anyway the Hood cable problem is kind of a pain. The factory cable is actually a two piece deal with one piece that runs from under the dash near the driver's side kick panel out of the firewall and meets the second piece with a skinny plastic tube that connects them together. The cables are usually secured to the top of fenderwell with rubber/plastic retainers that push into little holes (just in case you were wondering what those little holes in the top of your fenerwell were for).

The second piece of that cable runs all the way to the latch and runs through a single eyelet piece that is bolted to the radiator core support up top. This part kind of crimps the cable and keeps the cable in place so that it doesn't move when you pull the latch. You want the wire inside to move and have some spring tension on it. You don't want the whole cable to move.

The previous owner(s) of your Elky probably ran into the problem I did when my cable finally let go. See the second piece of cable that goes to the latch is not readily available anymore while the part that goes to the inside of the car is available. I ended up having to install a new hood latch cable assembly made by LOKAR and mount it to my driver's kick panel. It works great but the brushed aluminum look is kind of over the top for me and I will probably end up painting it black. Other than that it's perfect.

As for the rust, when you are ready to start getting dirty start cleaning everything up as good as you can and see what you are dealing with. You may find yourself with a whole bunch of projects to do. The best advice until you have time a resources to dive in head first is to take the "If it aint broke don't fix it" route. I would soak some of your bolts like the shock bolts and suspension bolts with liqud wrench or something like that just to make your life a bit easier when you do finally start taking things apart. Be careful of getting any of that on your brake rotors or BAlljoints since Rotors and pads don't like lubricants and BAll joints can have their grease washed away. You should be able to replace the front suspension parts fairly simply except for the Upper Control arm rod. I remember that being a difficult part to obtain when I had to replace mine. Of course if you get all wild with it you could probably go to an entirely new front suspension and eliminate that problem entirely.

The advice you have gotten so far about the SS dash cluster is good, No need to repeat it. Just be sure you have all the sender's you will need to feed them the right signals. Sender's should still be available but Since I went aftermarket AutoMeter gauges in their own pod in mine I couldn't tell you for sure.

A suggestion for your CD player mounting under the radio. I don't think you would like it because the dash is actually shallower than it looks. And the wires out the back are just ugly when it's mounted. Kind of ends up looking like a bad CB RADIO install no matter what you do. Also it puts it at a kind of inconvenient place to get at. Also if you have AC you will find out really quick that the AC ducting really limits your mounting options since the floor ducts and defroster ducts all run into one point in that area making it kind of stick out.

If you really want to use the stock radio and do an Add-on CD player I would suggest building a small console to house it and go to your local Auto parts or car stereo store and get a universal mounting kit to mount it to the console I did this for years and was quite happy with it. One of my plans was to rob a radio console from a mid 80's camaro or firebird to house the radio and either mount it to the floor or mount it to the dash. I just didn't really like the "futuristic" look of it but that's just my tastes.

Enjoy your ride and keep checking the forums cuz there's always plenty of info on here.

8)