[NEW] College Student looking to build Pro Touring El Camino

[F5_]

Hi Pro-Touring forums! I'm F5 from northeastern Illinois. I am currently a college student at American University in Washington D.C. and I have a 1985 Chevrolet El Camino SS Choo Choo Custom edition back home. My Dad and I performed an engine swap on it, pulling the smog 305 out for a 350 bored .020 over from a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS. In the process we ground away at most of the rust on the front end of the car and repainted the front end. The engine has an Edelbrook performer intake on it along with four-barrell Edelbrook carburetor sitting on a 2" spacer with a carb scoop. We are also putting 82" side pipes on it to replace the stock exhaust system. The only upgrades to the chassis have been as been a front and rear Belltech sway bar set and polyurethane bushings for the sway bar.



Bottom line is, I'm a poor young kid lusting after $1,500+ aftermarket performance everything kits. Obviously I can't afford these complete sets, so I'm turning to you guys for advise on what smaller things to invest in now until I can earn enough money to pay of the big things later. I've hear there are a lot of experts on here with some great advice so I can't wait to see what I will learn. Until then, I'm off to hit the books.

[BMR Sales]

Welcome! It has been quite a while since I've seen a Choo Choo SS El Camino.

[F5_]

Thank you BMR! Yeah I'm very lucky to have one. The Monte Carlo nose piece makes the whole package look just a bit less boxy.

[hotrodalex]

Welcome! I too am a broke college kid with an El Camino (1969)

[F5_]

Hey man awesome! Gotta love a third gen Elco... Where do you go to school? What stuff have you got on your car?

[hotrodalex]

Hey man awesome! Gotta love a third gen Elco... Where do you go to school? What stuff have you got on your car?

Going to BYU right now.

Car has a 350 with Edelbrock goodies, should be adding aluminum heads + cam + new exhaust this summer. Suspension wise it's got tubular control arms, lowered 2-3" up front, 1" or so in the back, Hellwig sway bars front and rear, tall ball joints, Monte Carlo SS steering box. Want to upgrade to rear discs this summer as well. Also been debating getting air bags for the rear to get the perfect ride height with and without a load in the bed (AKA moving to and from school)

[abdelillo]

Hey nothing wrong with your situation. But eventually you'll get there im slowy getting somewhere too im still in the rebuilding an engine for my truck "ute" lol. Praying you get the info necessary to get where u want in life with school and your cool sounding car/truck LOL. I love the way Elcos look I've never seen a choo choo one can u post a pic and enlighten me.

[TheJDMan]

I think your focus is all wrong. Concentrate on school. Later you will have time and money to work on your hobby.

[bergers59]

I don't really see anything wrong with working on the car now. As an engineering student, of course I'm busy and my car/motorcycle hardly gets worked on throughout the year but I have a few weekends I get to spend in the garage. I don't think life magically frees up(from my perspective) as it only seems to get busier with a full time job, home, and family. Also old guys apparently tend to get tired easier and spend fewer all nighters in the garage

[andrewb70]

Welcome!

There are numerous G-body build in the projects section. I suggest you read them and see what people have done in the past. We have numerous, excellent forum sponsors that offer g-body parts, from mild to wild.

Andrew

[lxg44]

Isn't this thread from 2014 or am I missing something here? I'm thinking the OP is done college and now the kids are keeping him from the build! lol

[andrewb70]

Oops...didn't even notice. Happens...

Andrew

[derekf]

Was a spammer that resurrected the thread.

Removed.

[lxg44]

Oops...didn't even notice. Happens...

Andrew

All good just trying to be funny. Hope you decide to keep the Cougar.

[F-Body International]

Keyboard warriors.

[Larry Callahan]

Spammers banned and removed.

Thread closed.