Yelcamino 2.0
 

Yelcamino 2.0

Welcome to the build thread for my '66 El Camino. It's 2.0 because I never had a thread for the first iteration. Some of you know me and my Camino, some don't, so here's a little background...

I bought Yelcamino from my friend in the summer of 1997. It was an original Arizona car with about 90,000 miles on it. It was fairly rough but not terrible.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psvtzdzrpj.jpg

Before this car, I had never done a frame off build of anything so there was a huge learning curve. The first order of business was getting it disassembled and fixing the problem areas.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psctpvslna.jpg

While the body work was being done, I had the chassis at home so I could detail the frame, install the suspension, and build the engine and install it. Once the body was ready, I brought the completed chassis to the shop and they put the two back together.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...pscp8b9l3p.jpg

After that, the body and paint were finished. Here it is in the sun with the new paint for the first time in 2001.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psckxjkuhy.jpg

Carol and I were really pleased with how it turned out! I spent the next year or so getting everything working and reliable.

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We took it to a lot of events and in the process got a lot of exposure. So much so that it made a couple of magazine covers and features.

Chevelle World, October 2003

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psxmg5cmwf.jpg

Popular Hot Rodding, March 2004

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Chevy High Performance, January 2005

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Auto Tuning World, October 2009 (this is a mag from Poland)

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Fast forward to 2012... I retired from the Coast Guard after 24 years and started working at Ridetech. In 2013 I hurt the 454 while on Gingerman at the Motorstate Challenge. It was shortly after that I bought my '63 C10. Since the engine was hurt and needed to be gone through and freshened, Yelcamino graciously donated it to the C10 project in the hopes of getting something new and improved.

Its patience has finally paid off, because now it's getting a fresh crate LS3!

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps3h05g64x.jpg

The LS3 is getting a new cam, springs, retainers, pushrods, timing set, trunnions and valve covers. In addition to the LS3, Yelcamino will be getting new brakes, tires, and an update on the Forgeline wheels.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psn7hcj7qa.jpg

At the moment, she's on the lift while I open up the trans tunnel so I can get the driveline angles where they should be.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...pskecdcyyb.jpg

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That's where I am so far.

Very cool, Herb! I'm glad to see you giving the Camino some love. I really dig all your builds, especially the Chevelle. This will be fun to watch it come together. Are you planning any suspension changes? Good luck!

66 is always my favorite year for Chevelle/ Elky's. Looking forward to more.

You've got some nice upgrades there. It should be a sweet runner when your done.

Where did you get the polished aluminum valve covers. I can't seem to find the Chevy script polished ones.

Thanks Trey. No suspension changes planned at the moment, but then, we all know how plans tend to go...

Thanks!

If you're referring to the big block valve covers, I polished them.

Are you selling them

Not for sale, sorry. I've got them on the 454 in my C10...

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psxhqutuhm.jpg

OK, how much for the whole truck WITH the valve covers :D

Cool El Camino is about to be cooler!

ha ha!! alot of work went into smoothing and polishing the ones you have. cool ride!!!!

Yes a lot of work! Thanks!

Would love a '66 Camina along side mine to keep us company...
Great story and car bud!:relax:

always great to see progress! :smiley_smack:

Thanks! Once Yelcamino is done, I have to get back to the Chevelle so she'll have company!

Agreed 100%!

So speaking of progress, I'm still working on the trans tunnel but other things keep getting in the way.

However, I did get some goodies in the mail yesterday! :ups:

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Nice!:gitrdun:

:hail:

It’s been about a month since I updated my thread so this is what I’ve been up to…

Following the Baer brake upgrade, I installed an Aeromotive fuel system that consisted of a Phantom in-tank pump, filter, and regulator.

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I need to finish the wiring for the sender and pump but for the most part, it’s good to go.

Next up are the headers. The first set I bought were Doug’s (D3336-B) and they seemed to fit pretty good until I raised the back of the engine into position. That's when the collectors came in contact with the floorboards. So back to Summit they went.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psaa6wmpkm.jpg

After some internet research, I settled on a set of American Racing Headers (ABLS-64178300HR) in stainless. These headers cleared the floorboards with plenty of room.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psitssulls.jpg

The passenger side slid into place easily and cleared everything. The driver side went in with some fidgeting and once in place the #7 primary tube contacted the lower control arm rear mount.

In hind sight, I probably should have sent them back but I made the driver side fit by trimming off the back side of the control arm mount. Once I’m done with fitment, I’ll weld in a new back piece.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psrf5upmaq.jpg

I think this may be a case of “one size fits all – we hope” for the older applications. At the very least, I have my doubts that ARH trial fit this model in an early A-body. There was plenty of room to position the #7 tube to clear the control arm mount but for whatever reason they didn’t do it. Aside from that, they clear everything else and look like a good quality header.

Next on the list was to modify the trans cross member for the exhaust.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...pslfrdqpnr.jpg

I got the ball rolling by mounting the cross member to the work bench.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...pslbihjctd.jpg

I cut out the offending sections and welded in the tubes.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psdulxxwm4.jpg

Since the tubing I used was a thinner wall then I would have preferred, I cut the bottom of the tubes off and welded the cut off sections to the back side of the other tube halves for reinforcement. I also added a pair of gussets to each tube section. It feels pretty solid and gets the job done. I may do something different down the road, but until then, this works.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psf4vqeik5.jpg
Now it's time for some engine work. So yesterday I swapped out the stock LS3 cam for a custom Comp grind. I also replaced the stock single row chain with a Comp double roller set, replaced the LS3 chain tensioner with a LS2 version, and upgraded the trunnions.

Comp Cam on the left, stocker on the right.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psxkcopdox.jpg

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I still need to check valve to piston clearance and install the new springs, retainers, and pushrods.

Slowly but surely Yelcamino 2.0 is moving forward.

Comp cam oil pan
 

Hey Herb tell us more about the cam man.... and what oil pan are you using? The headers look great.

The cam is a Comp custom grind using their new lobe designs.

I tried a Canton pan (15-274) but the inner tie rods made contact at full lock and the sump hung about 1/2" below the crossmember. I sent that back and today I should have a Tilden Motorsports pan. Based on measurements, it should fit and clear better.

Nice work, Herb. Always good to see people making progress with their cars.

Thanks Trey.

Tilden pan
 

Thanks for the reply on the Tilden pan. Are you going to use their standard version or the pro series? Their standard LS pan looks to be the same as a Autokraft pan with the same dimensions but somewhat higher cost wise hope this helps. Gerald

I went with the Pro Series specifically because it has a 1/8" skid plate built in.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...pslsovw3yv.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psjkbhchg9.jpg

Thanks for the pictures and showing the build changes. I like it, that pan has the mod (ie weight) on the trap doors also. Keep swinging Herb . Gerald

That is a very nice pan never herd of them will look at them in the future.

Well it's been a while since I updated my thread! Aside from being lazy about it, I broke my thumb and tried to amputate it in the process back in November. It's still healing but I'm back at it so I figured I should share what I've been up to. I'm just going to go through the camera and post what's new in no particular order.

Even though I don't need it, I couldn't stop myself from getting a Holley mid-ram...

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psjvejgpks.jpg

It looks even better on the engine!

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps9vqdhgcj.jpg

My big mile stone is completing the trans tunnel. Since I don't have the ability to form sheet metal I built a skeleton and then cut sheet metal and welded it to the skeleton. It was probably more work then necessary but I think it turned out ok and now there's plenty of room for the TKO.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psag67dqli.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...pseq62fyeq.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...pskajln70k.jpg

I also finished modifying the rear lower control arm mounts to clear the headers.
Here you can see where I cut the back off on the driver side...

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps42owdzac.jpg

and here it is all welded up with a couple of additional gussets fore and aft.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psfwbw1oy8.jpg

There was enough room on the passenger side but I decided to make a little more.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...pspriy5hzc.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psj3s7omw8.jpg

Since I'm going from a mechanical clutch linkage to a hydraulic, I filled in the hole on the steering column mount plate.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...pswykhju1y.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...pscqaupdyw.jpg

I added an Improved Racing oil cooler thermostat. Very nice quality product.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psymz7sx7s.jpg

Test fit the PRC radiator, which includes a built in engine oil cooler...

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psy2dwp53e.jpg

On Friday I took my wheels to Forgeline for a facelift and a new set of tires. They should be done in about two looooong weeks!

I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting but this should bring you up to date for the most part.

I got a little creative over the weekend...

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps5xu0ulvo.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psssurffbi.jpg

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Glad you didn't lose the thumb, Herb. Good work on the brackets!

Me too! Thanks!

To get the weekend started I finished the harness bar. Now I just need to get it powder coated.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...pscumdynni.jpg

Not much to report from over the weekend other than a radiator cover I made. I had a piece of scrap aluminum taking up space and the next thing I know, I'm bending it and drilling holes and before I knew it, voila!

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psqbjcfalq.jpg

After I took this pic, I drilled it for four 1/4-20 bolts and installed nutserts in the core support. It will be powder coated satin black (the rad has since been painted black).

Yesterday was a good day... I got my wheels back from Forgeline with fresh powdercoating and new tires! :hapdance:

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...pswozrdfsd.jpg

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Sweeeeet!

^^^^ what this guy said!

Thanks! I'm very happy with how they turned out!

Looks great Herb, now get that LS3 in there and running!!!

Very Nice!

Oh thats nice!!!

I had a yellow 68 SS 396 Elco back in the day...the tach went up and down, had power windows too....one of the few that "got" away i wish i had now...sold it for 1700 bucks (rust free lol).

It was (i had maaco paint it) Brite corvette yellow...cant remember the paint name...