Does an El Camino qualify as a 'truck'

[Marv D]

Ok, ok, I know ,, it's just a butchered stationwagon but.... I've got to share my new project or I'll bust. Been sitting disassembeled in my Dad's shop for 20+ years, I bought it out of his estate 2 years ago and am a man on a mission. After being in primer prison since September of last year, it came home from the paint booth a couple of weeks ago and is starting to look like something. Already have the motor and trans in, the new a/c is mounted, the s.s. fuel tank is mounted but still have to plumb the fuel. I've been accumilating parts for this for 2 years and have just about EVERYTHING to put it all back together 'better than new'

I've got a drag car, I have a reasonably quick driver (my 66 truck), this is going to be a 'cruiser'. Motor is the original small journal 327 bored +.040 (for 333 cubes) Original forged crank, stock small journal rods with new ARP bolts and F.M. hypereutectic pistons. And that's where the 'stock' ends and the 2008 technology begins. Had Jay Allen of Cam-innovations design a custom hydraulic roller to work with the Edelbrock 170cc E-tec heads, and the Holley Commander 950 multi-port injection (w/ 24 pound per hr injectors) With 9.4:1 compression and 220/226 @ 0.050", 568/.566 lift, on a 112 centerline and a 114 LSA ought to just right for that 'muscle car' idle but nothing wild,, until you get your foot into it Trans is a 700r4 built by Jake Shoemake, TCI 2400 lockup convertor, and the thing has the stock 3.41 gears, (Aubern posi on order) It won't be a real fast car, truck, stationwagon or whatever you want to call it,, but it will be fun to drive to the shows and such.

Anyways, I've been dumping a ton of effort and $'s into it for 2 years and it's FINALLY starting to look like something. I put together a quick page with a bunch of progress pictures. let me know what you think

[Couch]

Damn. beautiful car in the making. i dont have the patience to sit back and accumulate all the parts to do it all at once.i do it all week by week pay check to paycheck.but either way cars get built its waht they look like in the end that counts. and thats a helluva nice project

[hotrod 80]

I say yea it's a truck and a nice one at that . Now im not the only one with something different . Tell me about Jake Shoemake transmissions . I have heard that name before .

[swb85]

Beautiful!!! I love Elky's, used to have a '76.

[Super73]

Ummm.. Well...







Ok...

[PA-IndianRider]

What is it???? Is it a "bird"... is it a plane???? Oppppps wrong thought pattern...ha!!!

Is it a car that looks like a truck???? ....or a truck that looks like a car???? ..... the ANSWER is that in the "eyes" of a "piston head" it a "hot rod".

So Marv, you've been holding back on us about your "secret project"....

I have always liked El Caminos.... my 2 favs being the '59-'60 & the '69 SS 396/375hp.

I can remember an awesome "SS" that used to cruise the burger joints back in the hey day of the muscle car era.... headers (cracked just a "little"), front end lifted "slightly" Indy 500 Drag mags..... fishtailing every time he'd pull out with Thrush mufflers blasting.... ahhhhhhh those were the days !!!!

Good luck with your project..... I am in your footsteps as we are currently DEEP into the "parts collecting/planning" stage of our C10 project.

Looking forward to the day when we can show everyone here pictures of our C10 as far along as your El Camino is.

BTW.... any news on the "Pinks - All Out" yet????

[bigjimzlll]

In California it's concidered a truck by the registration.
I raised a stink at the local track when we had "truck" races and a 8 second elky used to race.

[djracer]

sweet ride I used to really want one!

[Marv D]

Thanks guys. ElCamino's are one of those vehicles that either you hate them or love them,, never seems to be any in-between on the opinions. I grew up with one around most all of the time since the 59 my dad had inthe early 60's. So the project just came naturally to me.
This thing has been all consuming of the budget and spare time for a long time. It's nice to finally drag some of the boxes down and empty them out to see what exactly it is that I bought oh so long ago,,,, and how does it fit! Kind of like Christmas all over again Sometimes there is a HUGE disadvantage to gathering all the parts and pieces ahead of time. i.e. I have boxes and boxes of items that have been delivered and sitting on the shelf for over a year. Out of warrantee before it ever comes out of the box and put on the car. Only had one issue so far and Jeggs stood behind a 8 month old electrical part,, how's that for customer service!

Kevin here's a thought for the day,, A 67 ElCamino with a 396 had a curb weight of 3230 pounds (1760 on the nose, 1470 on the rear,, 3090# with a small block) Don't you wish our trucks were featherweights and had a 'as delivered' weight bias like that!!

[djracer]

Originally Posted by Marv D

Kevin here's a thought for the day,, A 67 ElCamino with a 396 had a curb weight of 3230 pounds (1760 on the nose, 1470 on the rear,, 3090# with a small block) Don't you wish our trucks were featherweights and had a 'as delivered' weight bias like that!!

That would be the bomb!

[Super73]

[QUOTE=Marv D;2802090]Thanks guys. ElCamino's are one of those vehicles that either you hate them or love them,, never seems to be any in-between on the opinions. [QUOTE]



ehhhemmm.. I'm the in between.. I don't love them and I don't hate them. If done right, I could be fine cruising one, but most likely, I'd buy something else..

[PA-IndianRider]

Got a chance to pick up a part time job (I am retired).... if so I'm gonna need a "daily driver" again.

I started looking a few days ago... got a line on a '81 El Camino.... not one of my "fav" years but afterall it's suppose to be JUST a daily driver.

From the appearance of the car's body/paint it has been a "driver" and NOT a garage kept "baby". No rust but "old looking paint" and tired looking interior. Not falling apart but NOT a show car.

The BAD..... the car needs a "clutch" (yes it's a 4 speed) and state inspection so I'm hoping to pick it up cheap.

The GOOD.... in addition to the 4 speed.... the engine (rebuilt) is of '66 vintage .... out of a Nova (327/350hp) with an Edelbrock performance kit.... manifold - cam - carb & headers.

Hope to find out more about this later this coming week.

Here I go again!!!!

[63sbssbbw]

It's a TRUCK.............in a tux
An '81 with a 4 speed,I'd drive that.
Love the '67 it's going to be a sweet ride
T
Congrats on PINKS and puttin' the 60-66's on the map

[PA-IndianRider]

The '72 El Camino (BIG block) on "Pass Time" tonight ran strong & looked good doing it!!!

Check it out in reruns..... plus ChevyTrucks.com own.... DJ Racer is on the same show...."burnin' up the 1/4 mile".....

[big_al_71]

Well my 65 was just confused so it called it self a "Cruck" it did not know if it was a car or a truck!!!!

[d10s69c10]

Seeing as how its got enuff grunt to pull a boat and a bed the size of a s/10 or ranger.
Def a truck

Avalanches,sport tracks, Bajas, Escallaides(wow cant spell that)and the infamous H2 are not trucks they are s.u.V's.

[PA-IndianRider]

Well..... Now it's MY TURN.... to make a LONG story short.... picked up a "part-time" job and need what some people call a "daily driver" or "beater". So off I go to the swap meet corals & of course Craigs List... and what do I find???

After looking at NOT so "practical cars/trucks (late model Z28's - S10's w/V8 conversions, etc) I FINALLY came across the kind of vehicle a person like me (a car freak) needs as a "daily driver".

It's an '80 El Camino (formerly from Texas) it's in UNRESTORED condition, body/bed in good shape, NO major rust and excellent frame.

Now for the best part.... I said I needed something "practical" and this is what I found.... it's V6 with a 3 speed manual transmission (on the floor - Factory installed). Can't say I have ever SEEN or HEARD of this combination before.

In TRUE "hot rodder" tradition I have already started "collecting goodies" to make it "my own".... picked up a set of Cragar wheels - a COMPLETE SS Monte Carlo front nose piece (Choo-Choo) Sun Tach - gauges - BLACK Leather Bucket seats with plans to add headers & dual exhausts.

Currently it gets 22 mph .... a nice find for a time when gas prices are killing everyone. Plus it still has a "cool factor" enough to keep this "piston head" satisfied..... as the OLD-TIME saying goes this car/truck will be ALL "show" & "NO GO" .... that's the way to "go" as I pass up the gas stations in a hot rod looking El Camino.

[Marv D]

Maintain that little V-6 and those silly things would run forever, as long as they aren't abused and you keep fresh oil and coolant in them. A V-6 standard floor shift!! Wow that is an unusual factory combination. Don't ya just love they way a true hot-rodder just has to get in there and 'tinker' to make the car HIS, and let the world know it's HIS! Just watch out,,,, next thing you know that part time job will have to go full time to pay for the mild 'upgrades' to your driver (like a backhalf, some 10.5" stickeys, roll cage, tunnelram out through the hood It's a fun addiction isn't it!

[djracer]

Originally Posted by Marv D

Maintain that little V-6 and those silly things would run forever, as long as they aren't abused and you keep fresh oil and coolant in them. A V-6 standard floor shift!! Wow that is an unusual factory combination. Don't ya just love they way a true hot-rodder just has to get in there and 'tinker' to make the car HIS, and let the world know it's HIS! Just watch out,,,, next thing you know that part time job will have to go full time to pay for the mild 'upgrades' to your driver (like a backhalf, some 10.5" stickeys, roll cage, tunnelram out through the hood It's a fun addiction isn't it!

This habit is like CRACK but its LEGAL!

[PA-IndianRider]

Originally Posted by Marv D

....... Wow that is an unusual factory combination....... Don't ya just love they way a true hot-rodder just has to get in there and 'tinker' to make the car HIS, and let the world know it's HIS! Just watch out,,,, next thing you know that part time job will have to go full time to pay for the mild 'upgrades' to your driver (like a backhalf, some 10.5" stickeys, roll cage, tunnelram out through the hood It's a fun addiction isn't it!

Yes.... it is like an "natural reflex" get a new vehicle and the "changes start to happen" .... most of the time even before the "title" is transferred.... PLANS/CHANGES are being planned.

Case in point....Just picked up a set of Cragar wheels tonight that I found on "Craig's List" (the CHROME Centerline-like-type). Not perfect...but perfect enough for a DAILY DRIVER (pics later)...also got an '80 SS frontend - Mickey Thompson tires for the rear - Sun Tach and some other "mild" changes....PLUS going to another swap meet on Saturday in RANDOLPH, OHIO .... now got 2 PROJECTS to look for parts for ..... the El C & the C10....HA!!!

If I wasn't aready "over-my-head" into my C10 project I can assure you I'd be doing EXACTLY what "Marv said....."

Picking up the El C tomorrow.... and the saga will begin.

Yeah DJ.... Thank God this is LEGAL..... alittle $$$ CHEAPER $$$ would also be OK !!!!

BTW>>>> I will NOT be doing this (See pics below) ..... at least I have NO PLANS to do so at this point in time.....

I need to keep reminding myself by saying "it's only a daily driver..... it's only a daily driver........ HA !!!

[Rodms]

Yes its a car truck you can't haul anything but A**!

[PA-IndianRider]

Picked up the "el Camino today (Thursday afternoon) along with a bed-full of parts including a complete SS Monte Carlo frontend.

Hopefully this weekend will get at least the rear wheels & tires changed - Mickey Thompson on Cragars and start getting the interior "my way".

With all this "gas price disaster" going on right now having a "cool looking" BUT ALSO economical ride sure will $$$ Help $$$.

But many of you will recall that following the "Oil Embargo" back in the 70's all the car manufacturers HAD to get better gas mileage out of already "pathetically SLOW" running vehicles compared to the "heydays" of the mid-60's thru 1971.

Even though I will be enjoying the 22 mph that this El C gets around town.... I wanna tell ya "it's a REAL DOG"..... all 110 bhp ..... can you believe that horsepower rating???? : o (

So for now I will have to be content to have an "ALL show NOgo" car for a change.

Just watch out is the gas prices EVER get lower again.... I know where a NICE "396/375hp - 4 gear is at .... but I ain't going to hold my breath!!!!

[Marv D]

Just had to post an update pic,,
I have been BUSY!!!



Here's the latest update...

[hotrod 80]

Hey Turk , wheres your El Camino ? Jk looks good .

[djracer]

Marv the elcamino is sweet! Is that hood factory? I have never seen one like it. I'm sure it will mean allot to you to have your dad's project. I only see one thing I don't like. THE WHITE WALLS HAVE GOT TO GO.