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.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps4xqloduf.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psqcfqj6pi.jpg

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

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps8i20tq2v.jpg

Chevy High Performance, January 2005

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...psgjkvwkw8.jpg

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

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

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

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

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!