Another project 1970 LS6 El Camino

[Raceman]

I've had this car for over 20 years and it's finally gonna roll under it's own power this year. This car has THE original motor and transmission (M22 4 speed, called "rock crusher" by Chevy heads) and has been painted and back in storage for 3 or 4 yrs. It also came from the factory with 4.10 gears.

It's actually rarer than the LS6 Chevelle, but probably slightly less valuable. It's supposed to have El Camino scripted on the front fenders right above the SS and 454 emblems, but I'm having a hard time making myself drill the holes. The front fenders were new old stock GM that I bought in the mid 80's and put up, so they haven't ever had any emblem holes until now.

[The Big Al]

Raceman, I had a 1970 Elcamino SS

There is one interesting fact.

The front end on the 70 was 1 inch longer. Station wagon front end!
If you have the original cowl induction hood it is very hard to find.
Most change the fenders to get Chevelle hood to work.

Also the front bumper is the same as the 1970 Monte Carlo, they both shared the same round turn signals.
Chevelles had rectangle ones.

Al

[heath brinkley]

you should be ashamed of that garage, it's almost as bad as mine.

[Raceman]

Raceman, I had a 1970 Elcamino SS

There is one interesting fact.

The front end on the 70 was 1 inch longer. Station wagon front end!
If you have the original cowl induction hood it is very hard to find.
Most change the fenders to get Chevelle hood to work.

Also the front bumper is the same as the 1970 Monte Carlo, they both shared the same round turn signals.
Chevelles had rectangle ones.

Al

This one has the original hood, so I was unaware there was a difference in length. I'm surprised by that possibility actually and will measure my Chevelle first of the week to see. Actually the El Camino and Chevelle front fenders are totally different. The Chevelles are wider with bulges around the fenderwells, matching the bulges in the rear quartes. The El Caminos are flat in both areas. This requires different headlight doors also between the Chevelle and the El Camino/Wagon. The El Camino/Wagon fenders won't even interchange with the Chevelle. The bulges in the Chevelle fenders and quarters carry back into the doors at the front, and of course the Elkys don't have the bulged doors. When I bought the Chevelle in 1981 it had a couple of very small rust bubbles in the lower sides of the front fenders. Since I hate rust, I bought a new pair from GM and cut em in with the correct blue laquer. I went to bolt em on the car and they were wrong, and I couldn't send em back since I'd painted em, so I had to turn right around and buy another set for the Chevelle. They wouldn't match up at all around the front. When I got the Elky several years later I already had a brand new set of GM fenders new in the box for it, already trimmed in the correct color for it also.

A lot of people don't realize that the El Camino was made on the wagon floorpan also, and shared the wheelbase of the wagon. The rear passenger footwell area in the floor pan is in the El Camino, but buried under the bed floor. Removing the front section of the floor which is in with screws reveals it. The chassis was different between the Elky and the wagon though, with the frame being boxed on the Elky and just C channel on the Wagon and Chevelle, which were different from each other also.

I think this is gonna be a really neat matched pair when I get through with em. Both the Chevelle and El Camino are Fathom Blue with White stripes, both are cowl induction, and both are LS6/4 speeds with THE original motors and transmissions. The Elky has a bright blue bucket seat/no console interior, where the Chevelle is black bench seat, but otherwise they're like fraternal twins. I even thought about changing the interior on the Chevelle to match the El Camino, but with the trim tags and original build sheets on both cars I'm not going to damage the originality.

[Trikki1010]

SWEET:D :D

What's in the background ????

[The Big Al]

you should be ashamed of that garage, it's almost as bad as mine.

That's a working man's garage! I love it!:D

Super clean and sporty gargaes are for the want to be's! ;)

All nice and looks like a TV studio, I like a working garage!

Why, because both of mine look worse!:eek:

HA HA!:)

[Raceman]

you should be ashamed of that garage, it's almost as bad as mine.

Heath, nothing is as bad as the areas my car and boat stuff stays. I'm not exactly a neat freak myself and I had a shop guy for 12 years that was an absolute pig. Matter of fact that's the reason he's no longer around. He was dependable and fairly knowledgeable, but could lose stuff faster than I could buy it. I find Corvette parts still that I've reordered 2 or 3 times.

[Raceman]

SWEET:D :D

What's in the background ????

SeaDoo RXP (215 horse) right behind, SeaRader mini Jetboat right behind it, and 16 Ally/1500XS obscured by camera angle on the other side of it. The little wagon in the front there is all the junk UPS brought this week for the El Camino.

[Trikki1010]

I think I need more toys :D ;)

[The Big Al]

I will ask for the day, you have the Elcamino going for a drive!

I really miss mine and my Nova. I had the M-22 in the Nova, I love the sound of first gear! BUZZZZZZ, I could always tell when someone had a Finespline imputshaft! (that means I know what I'm talking about)


Raceman, do you remember the day when you could buy a B/W 4 speed over the parts counter for 399.00, and it was painted Red, White & Blue?

I bought one, it was my first loan, Dad co-signed a signature loan at the Creit union. I bought the transmission, Shaffer clutch, Hays flywheel, Hurst Ram 4 shifter, a pair of ET 15X10 Wheels and Road Hugger M50-15
for my Camaro. I had ripped my 3 speed in half! The cluter gear broke, poped the back, bottom of the case. Every one around said they had never seen a transmission broke up like that. I have never seen it after.
I made 12 payments at 97.50 a month. that was a big payment back then. My Dad said if I was 1 day late, forget the credit union, FEAR HIM!

Dam those days were fun, I had a Sun Super tach, (hell we did not like the factory tachs) S/W Stage III Gauges. And yes, the Craig 8 Track!
I was it when I was in High School! Paid 1200.00 for a 1970 SS Camaro, in 1975. Remeber the prism Decals, yea I had a few!

The exhaust system is still at a freinds house to this day!
Mufflers made from Stainless steel (from the old Chas. Shipyard)
And tail pipes made to come out infront of the rear tires. We made them out of old drive shafts. It was quite inside the car, but outside look out!

Al

[heath brinkley]

I even thought about changing the interior on the Chevelle to match the El Camino, but with the trim tags and original build sheets on both cars I'm not going to damage the originality.

Do it, just keep all the original stuff to put back.

[Raceman]

Do it, just keep all the original stuff to put back.

Daggum Heath............. you're talkin' headliner, all interior hard trim, dash pad, door panels, rear side panels, rear window tray, front kick panels, carpets, seat belts and seat covers. That's a lotta' changin'.:eek: and probably about 3K in parts.:eek: :eek:

[OrangeCrush]

I had a 70 SS 402 t 400 also, had about 6 differant 68- 72 Elcaminos you could feel thedifferants in the ride in the real SS and the clones. took out the 402 used it inmy 20' Stevens. put a 307 in the Elcamino

[Chummy]

Now your hitting close to home, makes me wish the guy that has my Chevelle would hurry up so I can get that going again

[triple dude]

Daggum Heath............. you're talkin' headliner, all interior hard trim, dash pad, door panels, rear side panels, rear window tray, front kick panels, carpets, seat belts and seat covers. That's a lotta' changin'.:eek: and probably about 3K in parts.:eek: :eek:
It'd be easier and cheaper to convert the El Camino interior to black...but as I've gotten older I like black interiors less and less even though the majority of musclecars probably had that color. You were pretty far along on the 442 last I heard. Almost done?? Sounds like 2006 is your year to get some of those things out in the daylight.

[Raceman]

Yeah, I thought of that too for a fleetin' moment, but that blue on blue is a damn good lookin' combo. You're right............ if I'd bought it that way back in '70 I'd have immediately changed to black interior, probably rolled and pleated.

I'm hopin' this is the year I finally make some REAL progress on some of the cars that've been apart for way too long. Since I've sold all of the STV's I've gotta have some kind of obsession since all the college girls call me "sir" now.:( :( The 442 is comin' along, but I'm strugglin' with engine parts. The body shop is waiting on me to drop the chassis back out of the Chevelle so they can paint the floors, then put it back on and do the body. Body wise it's ready to go in the spray booth. I want to get the black 63 running for the first time since about '64 or '65 and 5 or 6 owners in between. The '65 GTO is mostly complete, painted and just needs interior and assembly. 68 Biscayne 427 clone has been painted for several years but needs buffing again because of ****head's half ass work who painted it, then it nees side windows installed, exhaust and brakes.

So that's the goal for the rest of the year, to ride in:

black 63
442
El Camino
Chevelle
68 Biscayne

Realistically any two of em would be a pretty good accomplishment. Hell, it's taken me almost 2 years to pull the motor from the green Corvette and get it back in.

[Tom D.]

I had a 71' GMC Spint a few years back. Used to pull my Checkmate Enchanter with it. Did a bunch of up grades to it. Then a little old lady rear ended me while stoped at a red light and totaled it. I still have a few parts layin around for it. Looks SWEET Raceman. I sure miss mine.

Tom

[CDave]

Raceman, Dream Car Garage on Speed TV is doing a frame off restoration on a 1970 LS6 ElCamino this season.

I miss my old ElCam. I had a 1970 that came with a 307/Powerglide and I bought a totaled 70 SS ElCam, minus the engine, trans, interior and turned my 307 ElCamino into a semi SS clone. Basically I got the 12 bolt diff., hood, disc brakes and SS badges.
I built a mild .030 over 396 and installed a Turbo 400 in it. It ran low 14's to high 13's in the 1/4. It was green and silver with a vinyl top. I removed the vinyl top.

[david martin]

My uncle ownes a 1969 el camino with a 375hp 396bbc. this car is all original and is an ss model.He keeps it in a climate controled garage down in Texas.Car only has 32000 original miles.Sweet ride!
David

[CharlieB53]

Took over payments from 2d owner, high school friend, balance 1400.00 @ Feb 74
70 Elka SS 396 (402) M-22 3.90's Beautiful car (then)

Still in the barn, needs TLC, body and interior

Quit driving it as fuel quality began fading as the lead was weaned out, .030 over 402 10 1/2's and another .045 off the heads, had to pull back timing so far it runs like a tractor!

Told the kids to bury me in it with my harley in the back!

[Talon2.5]

hey hey hey what became of the 55?

come on now dont get sidetracked :D

i understand a messy garage but ordering parts again 'cause you cant find 'em what the ...;) :D ???

[Raceman]

hey hey hey what became of the 55?

come on now dont get sidetracked :D



I was just readin' back through the "goals for '06".......... boy did I miss. The Biscayne is done, so that's one down. The '65 GTO hasn't been touched, which is ridiculous since it's so close. The '67 442 is back from the body shop just last week after 3 yrs and 5 months. I've made a lot of progress on it in 8 days but motor is still at machine shop, so when the car is cosmetically done it still won't run yet. 70 Chevelle is still in the same body shop and he hasn't touched it in about 2 yrs, but I'm putting a LOT of pressure on him now since the 442 is FINALLY out of his way. El Camino lacks a LOT of detail. Was done chassis out in '80's and never driven, but damp garage for all those years took a toll on the detailing and the motor has lost it's pizazz, so it's gotta be cosmetically done over.

55 guy is catching a lot of heat from me too. He promised by July 1st and probably worked on it for about 10 hrs, then gave up on that deadline. Now we're working supposedly on Nov. 15th. He's just doing some metal work and a body shop in Atlanta has said they'll take the bare body and do it within 60 days, so I'm gonna give them a shot. Hold up right now is (and has been for several years) the metal work, which is really fairly minor if he'd just get on it.

I did decide on a color last weekend at a car show. I've been teetering between two tone black and white, and solid black or solid silver, and even considered a charcoal & silver combo. I usually prefer red cars, but for some reason a red or red & white 55 just doesn't do it for me. Last weekend this guy had a SUPER high dollar 55 that was black and silver (black on front half). The silver was from a 2001 BMW (Titanium) and I think it was the best lookin' combo I've seen on one, so that's it.

I'll try to get some pics of this stuff again next week and post em....... maybe it'll help with the motivation.

[The Big Al]

Raceman!

You know I'm for hire!!!

Al

I redoing mine after over spray and some upgrades I wanted to do.

And take that dam noisey gear drive out!!!

So just pulled it all.

Transmission upgrades
Change gear drive
Install a Hamberger pan
Pan evact
And put manual throttle linkage and take cable out

So I painted block orange! Just looks better with color of car, did some bling work!!


http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/4125/img0392aoy5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/3585/img0393axo2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Raceman]

So I painted block orange! Just looks better with color of car, did some bling work!!



Chevrolet engines are 'sposta be orange................... anything else is blasphemous. (except for all alum. ZL1's;) )

[Talon2.5]

black and silver will look good, and with the right wheel combo will be really good!!

someday i would like to find another 66 GTO or maybe 67 hell one of those early 70's trans ams with the 455 super duty's would be nice to :D

when i see those car shows here in town it gets the juices flowing but the wallet has no flow :D

[Raceman]

Skip, the wheels are already on the rollin' chassis. They're American Torque Thrusts (chrome) and are 15 X 12 on the rear with BFG drag radials, and 16 X 7 on front. (had to go to 16's to clear Wilwood brakes).

The rear tires are 325 50 15's (I think)................. wide enough to show some meat and hopefully hold the 572, but not too fat to look pro streety.

Look at posts 25 & 29 on this thread: http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33714&page=2&highlight=55

[Talon2.5]

yep, those are nice!! should fill the rear with a tough look with out looking as you say pro-streety

did you test fit the body over those?

[Raceman]

did you test fit the body over those?

Yep. I've got 2 frames for this car. The original is still under it and was done with all the suspension that's on the bare one now. I ran across a California frame (no seams in the main frame rails) after we were well into the project and transfered all the suspension to it. The original frame was done with the rear end and ladder bars in. Only thing we had to do was move the inner fenders in the trunk inward 2 1/2 inches, and that's the big hold up with the sheet metal guy. They're cut and tacked and basically he just has to fill the gaps with solid strip, then grind the welds where it's not noticeable. He promised me AGAIN yesterday to have the sheet metal work done by Nov. 15 so I can get it to the paint shop.

[CDave]

Install a Hamberger pan


Big Al, now ya do know them Hamburger pans don't turn your old oil into hamburgers, do ya? :D

[The Big Al]

Big Al, now ya do know them Hamburger pans don't turn your old oil into hamburgers, do ya? :D

I was hoping as i went down the road it would smell like a Burger!:D :D

[Talon2.5]

Yep. I've got 2 frames for this car. The original is still under it and was done with all the suspension that's on the bare one now. I ran across a California frame (no seams in the main frame rails) after we were well into the project and transfered all the suspension to it. The original frame was done with the rear end and ladder bars in. Only thing we had to do was move the inner fenders in the trunk inward 2 1/2 inches, and that's the big hold up with the sheet metal guy. They're cut and tacked and basically he just has to fill the gaps with solid strip, then grind the welds where it's not noticeable. He promised me AGAIN yesterday to have the sheet metal work done by Nov. 15 so I can get it to the paint shop.

nov 15th is coming up fast, keep us posted with some pics!! you know i'm partial to the ole 55's :D