66 Elko
07-17-2009, 09:15 PM
Hey there,
I just bought this beauty about a month ago. I've driven a 96 chevy S-10 pickup for the last 7 years and crashed it unfortunately but it ended up being a good thing as insurance $ helped me finally own the truck I've dreamed about since before I was old enough to drive. It's rusted through and the AM stereo works but there's no speakers but those things don't really concern me. not yet anyway. The thing that matters is that the 350 V8 from a '78 Camaro runs like a champ and after puttin around in my 4-banger for so long, this thing is a blast to drive. I looked for quite a while for 2nd generation el camino with a 4spd in it that ran but hadn't already been restored. I finally found it in this rust bucket red '66 elco.
I don't know a whole lot about cars except the fact that I've always loved to drive them-fast. I've always loved classic american muscle cars but having grown up driving twisty mountain roads, I would much rather be hugging and sliding around corners than smashing the gas in staright line, anybody can do that in a strong enough car. it takes skill to navigate windy roads at high speeds, and its alot more fun! anyway after I bought my truck, I started looking around at what other people have been doing as far as restoring Chevelles and El Caminos and lo and behold Pro-Touring and G-Machines are all over the place! Man I have found a new passion in life and unfortunately I'm in college and have no money (at least not the big G's I'd like to have for it) but I plan on having this truck for a long time and making in it one bad ass G Machine.
I work at bike shop (pedal bikes), have been a mechanic for years and I know that if I were to restore a bike I would start with the frame, suspension, & all bearings, bushings etc. That's where I want to start with my truck. I haven't had too much time to look through all the threads and stuff but I feel like there's so much information out there I wouldn't know what to do with it anyway.
So... I'd like suggestions on what to do with the frame/ suspension. It seems to me like an entirely new chassis would make a significant improvement in handling and would make any other improvements able to perform to their maximum. I'm seeing individual suspension part upgrades for reasonable prices, or a pre-built bolt on chassis (say from Schwartz) for a good amount of change, or a full on custom fabrication for more than my life. Do the differences in prices reflect performance and is there a point that is just going overboard or is the only limitation money? I want my truck to be able to handle bumpy ass twisty roads, be able to hit the railroad tracks at 100 mph and not worry about my **** blowing apart when I land. If you bothered to read all that I'd really appreciate any tips thoughts anything you might have. Thanks again!
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/vbpicgallery.php?do=big&p=5740
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/vbpicgallery.php?do=big&p=5740
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/vbpicgallery.php?do=big&p=5742
I just bought this beauty about a month ago. I've driven a 96 chevy S-10 pickup for the last 7 years and crashed it unfortunately but it ended up being a good thing as insurance $ helped me finally own the truck I've dreamed about since before I was old enough to drive. It's rusted through and the AM stereo works but there's no speakers but those things don't really concern me. not yet anyway. The thing that matters is that the 350 V8 from a '78 Camaro runs like a champ and after puttin around in my 4-banger for so long, this thing is a blast to drive. I looked for quite a while for 2nd generation el camino with a 4spd in it that ran but hadn't already been restored. I finally found it in this rust bucket red '66 elco.
I don't know a whole lot about cars except the fact that I've always loved to drive them-fast. I've always loved classic american muscle cars but having grown up driving twisty mountain roads, I would much rather be hugging and sliding around corners than smashing the gas in staright line, anybody can do that in a strong enough car. it takes skill to navigate windy roads at high speeds, and its alot more fun! anyway after I bought my truck, I started looking around at what other people have been doing as far as restoring Chevelles and El Caminos and lo and behold Pro-Touring and G-Machines are all over the place! Man I have found a new passion in life and unfortunately I'm in college and have no money (at least not the big G's I'd like to have for it) but I plan on having this truck for a long time and making in it one bad ass G Machine.
I work at bike shop (pedal bikes), have been a mechanic for years and I know that if I were to restore a bike I would start with the frame, suspension, & all bearings, bushings etc. That's where I want to start with my truck. I haven't had too much time to look through all the threads and stuff but I feel like there's so much information out there I wouldn't know what to do with it anyway.
So... I'd like suggestions on what to do with the frame/ suspension. It seems to me like an entirely new chassis would make a significant improvement in handling and would make any other improvements able to perform to their maximum. I'm seeing individual suspension part upgrades for reasonable prices, or a pre-built bolt on chassis (say from Schwartz) for a good amount of change, or a full on custom fabrication for more than my life. Do the differences in prices reflect performance and is there a point that is just going overboard or is the only limitation money? I want my truck to be able to handle bumpy ass twisty roads, be able to hit the railroad tracks at 100 mph and not worry about my **** blowing apart when I land. If you bothered to read all that I'd really appreciate any tips thoughts anything you might have. Thanks again!
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/vbpicgallery.php?do=big&p=5740
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/vbpicgallery.php?do=big&p=5740
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/vbpicgallery.php?do=big&p=5742