El Camino 71
 

I started an El Camino thread to clear my Skylark thread (so if you already saw these pics, that's normal). I will next update here in place than in my previous post.

I wanted a running car while the Buick is under construction, so i bought this Elky with some work.

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/7821/sany0037c.jpg

it needs a paint (of course) some welding on the rear window area, new ball joints and some cosmetic job on the interior.

I tried the 18" wheels and some photoshop to lower it so much.
I think i will have to use dropped spindles, tomorrow i'm gonna measure the distance it needs to be lowered.

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/3165/dscf3313a.jpg

it's a 71 from California (even with the rust!), V8, auto, no airco, power brakes and steering, front discs. It was originally metallic light green and i hesitate to paint it that way or white as it is now...:yes:



here is what has already be done...

the dashboard is clean:
before;
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/7595/dscf3410.jpg

after;
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/9678/dscf3416e.jpg

with some gauges and a radio;
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8825/dscf3542.jpg

the rusted rear window is repaired;
before;
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/8270/dscf3344o.jpg

left side
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/982/dscf3545e.jpg

right side
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/51/dscf3560.jpg

lower side
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/2333/dscf3671.jpg


now
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/7550/dscf3672.jpg

The right rear lower panel
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/6260/dscf3493r.jpg

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6375/dscf3590.jpg

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/6637/dscf3600.jpg


On his wheels
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/5990/dscf3597k.jpg


next step is the paint....:(

The wheels are OZ (but i don't know the model!) i bought them second hand.
They are 8.5x18 and 10x18
Tyres are 235/40/18 (but 245 would suits better)and 285/40/18 .

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/4015/dscf3599j.jpg

let's add some work and pics
 

bare to metal (and bondo!)

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/1746/dscf3894n.jpg

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/8665/dscf3904.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8031/dscf3906iy.jpg

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7852/dscf3941h.jpg

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/9285/dscf3948d.jpg

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/9140/dscf3977.jpg

now the body and panels are all in wash primer:

http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/3066/dscf4058e.jpg

and now...
 

the big surprise, thanks Mr Bondoman !!!

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/8457/dscf4109r.jpg

Problem is that the car is booked in the bodyshop on 08/30...
I have ordered a skin quarter from Summit (because few people ship oversea or at a very expensive rate for example: OPGi asks 1500$ for shipping to Belgium!!).
Summit has to wait for the part to come from Goodmark and then ship it to my nearest airport (it's the cheapest way =260$ ). But the delay is from 2 to 14 days from Goodmark ....then shipping to Europe is 3-7 days....
It will be very hot and my bodyworker will not be happy if the part is delayed!!! :(

Holy**** thats a lot of bondo!!

Good luck!

08/20/10 update

i have a new delivery date from Summit = 09/16/10 it sucks !!!!:mad:

welding advice
 

COOL PROJECT!!!!!!!

My buddy rebuilt one of these as a drag racer one time.

I'm sure you already know this but make sure you remove 100% of the rusted metal and wire brush everything down to raw steel. Otherwise you will be repairing this again in a year or so.

Scott
Fab Manager
Welders360.com

looks great

Hi Scott, thanks.
You can see on the pics, i went to bare metal everywhere, all the rusted panel has been removed and protected inside. The front fender, the hood and the inner doors have been sand blasted.

Warning: the El Camino is not a complete restoration,(i'm undergoing a full frame off resto on my Buick) it's a good refresh with a new paint on the body but i'm not cleaning the frame (only Por15 paint).
At this time while waiting to go to the bodyshop, i'm cleaning the electrical harness in the engine bay and give a little coat of satin black paint.

It's not either a big budget, the suspension arms have been sandblasted, epoxy coated and fitted with Prothane bushing, the brakes have been redone, the interior will receive a new headliner, door panels, dashboard and Recaro seats, the engine will be clean and painted but for instance no budget for upgrades....

It should be nice when your done.

ready to go to the bodyshop on monday...

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/378/dscf4123.jpg


i also adapted a Scat steering wheel by removing it from his riveted hub and bolting it to a Sparco hub.

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/5319/dscf4128x.jpg




http://davcars.skynetblogs.be/

into the work
 

the roof and the rear window are done
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4918/dscf4148.jpg

the right side panel has been worked and repaired.
before:
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/9217/dscf4120u.jpg

after
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/1364/dscf4149r.jpg

i also received my skin panel from Summit (Goodmark).
but.....the panel is bended, no wood frame in the box to reinforce the package....so during the shipping it was damaged.

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/203/dscf4147e.jpg

And the quality is not very good ! :rolleyes: the stamping of the fuel door is not straight at all!!!

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/6132/dscf4151.jpg
it will have to be reworked to suit the trap....

All the panels are beated by use over years, so a thin coat of bondo is necessary but it's very a small amount compare to what was fitted before.


Tomorrow the left rear panel will be replaced ....:unibrow: can't wait to see the result !!!

Always loved that car...you're making it look sweet.
Even with primer the wheels are smokin!:thumbsup:

Nice progress.

suite
 

Before: the edges were very awfull...
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4382/dscf4151b.jpg

After some lead job by my friend Laurent:
http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/6667/sany0185.jpg

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/3453/sany0181.jpg


he also worked some weld wraping and dents:
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5603/sany0187.jpg


and the right side of the body is almost ready:
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/7919/sany0184e.jpg


i think some californian boys should learn how to replace panels instead of going surfing...:lol:

the inside face of the replaced old panel !!! full bondo....
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/21/sany0334.jpg
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7475/sany0335w.jpg

Its looking good.

the paint
 

few pics of progress...

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/8284/dscf4162r.jpg

in the paint boot:

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/5216/dscf4168u.jpg

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/650/dscf4171.jpg

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5057/dscf4163d.jpg

yes, it's green....finally i decided to paint it in a near original color, but i wanted something darker than the lime green, so after a few look around i choose this green (which is much nicer in real world than on pictures!!!)

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/494/dscf4370s.jpg

http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/1424/dscf4442.jpg

for now the car is almost nearly done

i still have the bed to paint with a Protech black textured bed paint, i received some ordered parts like the chrome bed moldings, the dash pad, the door panels, arm rests, headliner,....

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/5230/dscf44571.jpg

concerning the interior, the next step is to fit the headliner, and to have the seats reupholstered with black vinyl to suits the panels...

during the paint process i had to replace the front hood as mine was in very poor condition on its top part (some childs must have jump on it in its past!!).
Fortunately i found one near Rotterdan (130miles away from my home) for a little 180$ (150€) wich is not expensive considering ordering one in USA.
By the way i also picked a tilt steering wheel floor shift for my Buick project for 100$....:cool:

dilemna
 

What do you think?

I think that painted rear mirrors should look better than black ones ?
Don't you ?

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/7626/grinch.jpg

or should i paint the center section of the hood in matt black?

I d like to add a sinister "something", i find it a little too shy....:question:

whats the color code on that bad mother ******

Salut David,

Super boulot, le résultat est vraiment sympa !!
(Nice work, result really fine) For non french speaking ;)

I live in Lille now, since January, but the Bird's still in Paris...
Could be great to meet some day... We are EU PT community :thumbsup:

Matt black Hood & green mirors woul be great, but it's also nice like this...

Gil

This will make one hell of a cool daily.
:thumbsup:

Looks good.
You made a good save on those quarter panels, I can't even guess what it would have cost to ship all new ones.

I was stationed in Belgium for 5 years. Have you made it out to the All American weekend in Lommel?
I've got a friend (Peter) with a primer black 69 El Camino that lives near there in Neerpelt.

Hi Adam,
no i didn't went to Lommel (2much work) but the El Camino will be ready for next year....:)
It already was very expensive for the rear panel (but it was in the hurry) total cost was near 550$ with shipping...



Hi Gil,

Merci pour les compliments ;)

I will try to make some meetings next year, i'll keep you advised...
Not too sad to have your car so far from you?

Cheers
David

moldings
 

:mad:
i'm actually busy trying to fit the bed moldings kit that i bought from Ground Up...they are almost impossible to fit without modifying every single part of them ....so if i can give you a good advise: don't buy this kit !! :(

What or how do they not fit?

list
 

if you want details:
- the front bed corners: the part which goes behind the bed cab don't fit against the below rear window panel. You have to force them to fit.
- the rear corner vertical moldings : they don't fit the rear bed corners, they are too high, i had to redrill the holes lower.
- the bed rail moldings :
1- they don't fit on the new or old mounting clips, i have to cut a slice of the inner fixing portion.
2- the included mounting clips are too soft and they bend when you fit the molding. i used the old clips.
3- the front and rear of the bed rails don't clip over the front and rear bed corners, i had to cut them in the inside to allow the rail to come over the corners.
i haven't yet fitted the front of the bed moldings...so we'll see later...
i will take pictures....of that mess....

WOW! They really don't fit! That sounds pretty bad. Are they the only company that making the panels?

dirty
 

the road was very dusty so, it's a little bit dirty ....

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/9467/dscf4504.jpg

and the bed moldings are in place !!!