66 El Camino - Project CaMEANo

[USAFquez]

It's been over 2 months since the last post...

[Mr. Anderson]

And unfortunately, also that long since I've touched it. Spend the vast majority of my free time helping a friend get his car ready for a car show that was this past weekend. And the rest of my free time was spent putting air shocks on and getting started on a black interior for my Olds. I'm helping to bring back the '70's :D

Also despite some hassles, I have the move still coming up in a couple weeks (was suppose to be moving now...grr!)

So I'm closer to being back at it, but not yet!

[gearheads78]

So I am cruising through C/L and a familiar car popped up today. Man I wish you were going to be able to finish this.

[Mr. Anderson]

I still could....haven't had much interest. Don't need to sell it but wouldn't mind a pile of cash and a nicer, newer daily driver either. If I still have it after I finish my model T, it'll get finished.

[Mr. Anderson]

I haven't been able to unload this yet and since nobody wants to pay big money for a project despite how far along it is...I decided to throw some more parts at it. Other than wiring and plugging a few holes, radiator hoses and belts, the engine is ready to fire. Swapped out the upper control arms for some that actually will work....cheap Global West knockoffs, but it's about all I could afford. I did swap the Afco ball joints into them though, so theres that. Also did some work to the sway bar mounting brackets to get them to bolt onto the frame (as many have had to do with the Hotchkis front bar). Got two of three power steering hoses assembled but the teflon lined pressure hose and it's fittings didn't want to cooperate with me and I stripped the threads on both fittings. Installed the front brake hoses and most of the lines, still need to tie the master cylinder into the front then re-bleed.

It will be the end of the month before I have any more finances freed up to put back into it, but another $200-$300 and I am confident that I'll be driving this thing up and down my street.

Ultimate plan is still to sell, but I'm going to get it all in one color (just primer/sealer though), get everything assembled and wired, and drive it around for a while first.

[Mr. Anderson]

Between yesterday and today I finished up the wiring for the engine. Got an alternator belt on it after trying three other sizes. Ran the line for the oil pressure gauge. Plugged the oil passage and water ports I wasn't going to use. Got the engine primed and stabbed the distributor. Around 11:30, she popped at me on the first turn of the key. After fixing a couple fuel leaks, it fired right up. Needs tuning still, timing adjusted, a couple leaks attended to but she's running!

http://youtu.be/UsBhglrGRsI

Also re-did some of the brake lines and re-bled the master cylinder. Should get the brakes bled this week some time. Need to finish the fuel tank too, get it installed and actual fuel lines made. Then make battery cables (I just have the battery setting next to the starter now) and get that wrapped up. Getting closer...

[Yelcamino]

Who knows, you might not want to get rid of it once you start cruising it around town!

[srh3trinity]

Sounds like forward progress. I like the real builds around here that have some blood and sweat invested along with progressive thinking and ingenuity. I am glad you are getting it moving under it's own power.

[Motown 454]

Congratulation's on the first start up. It had to feel great.

[chunger]

Congrats on the fire up! Also, a big thumbs up for another guy with a beard around here

[Mr. Anderson]

I'm not necessarily pro-beard, more anti-shaving :D

Got the water pump back on, it was leaking. Then painted the inside of the fenders and a little around the edges so I could bolt them on. Got the inner and outer fenders assembled this morning (with a little "modification" to the drivers side to clear my clutch master cylinder, oops) and put on the car. They lined up really well, still need some miscellaneous bolts, but this should be the last time they are bolted on the car. Going to try and get some more paint work done on the front fascia pieces and assemble that puzzle now.

[bmbrzmn101]

Eric, this is an amazing elky mod. I read from page 1 and really love what you accomplished with your mods. I have a 67 Elky that I have owned for the last 31 years and she will be going under the knife for the second time soon. Just trying to enjoy driving her before she gets put down for awhile. This thread has been a starting point inspiration for me.

Thanks, Chris

[Mr. Anderson]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSCIs...ature=youtu.be

[craigs73]

looking good....... glad to see your back on the elky.....so any time line on the project? or like me when ever you get time to do anything lol

[Mr. Anderson]

Thanks Craig. Timeline....nothing set in stone. But I was looking at when I posted the pictures of bringing it home on facebook earlier today, and saw that I picked her up December 20th 2009. I didn't realize I've been working on this thing for 3 years! Maybe by the 20th of next month it can be officially "on the road." Hmm....

I reassembled the grill, what a pain! Rivets and bolts...the reproduction grill did not fit very well. Painted it and the headlight bezels the same charcoal color as the wheels, everything else in black. Heavily inspired by (ok, stolen from) Herb. Put it on the car this morning and man does it look good! Also pictured are the closeout panels from Undercover Innovations. Tomorrow I'll remove the front bumper brackets from the old bumper, clean them up and paint them, and as soon as the new hardware shows up I'll get it on the car. Can't wait to see what it looks like with a full face.

[sr73bu]

keep plugging away Eric! I've always been a fan of this build!...

btw, Another anti-shaver here... been 4 months since i've shaved...LOL


-Sean

[srh3trinity]

The grill looks nice.

[Mr. Anderson]

Thanks guys!

Got the bumper brackets cleaned up and painted last night and made a hardware run. The chrome/dome bolts showed up in the mail yesterday too. So today, the bumper went on. Pushed it outside and set the hood in place for a visual. Man I love the look of this car!

[srh3trinity]

The dimensions look so much better than stock. I may be in the minority on this, but if you could find an old Chevelle wagon and cut the top off for the basis of the shell, it would be an amazing sport wagon.

[Mr. Anderson]

Thanks! I had a similar thought the other day. Maybe someone else can tackle the wagon version though :D

Here's a shot more to the side and one from the rear that help show those proportions off a little more.