Bought maybe 2 weeks ago for a good price, solid bones but an electrical nightmare. Dead end wires, loose connectors, unsafe crimps, the whole 9 yards. Slowly cleaning it up before the true rebuild.

Details unknown for the most part:

Vortec 350 ci motor
TH350 with a Hurst His n Hers kit
True dual exhaust
Edelbrock 4bbl carb
3.73 gears and positraction for fun

Get to do some work on the car in an air conditioned high bay.

Hello! Glad to finally have a valid reason to join this sub! I’ve wanted an El Camino since I was a kid. Used to just be fascinated by them. This one is honestly “newer” than I’d like, but I suppose that has its advantages. Runs and drives great, has a Gen I 350 and a TH350 in it. 4 barrel carb. Starts right up every time. Getting a little fuel starve in heavy acceleration, but I think I can fix that. Interior needs to be restored, it’s all there, just showing its age.

It’s the story of how I got it that I think is the best part. Having wanted one for a long time, I periodically look at facebook marketplace ads for them, and eventually talk myself out of the expense. But this ad caught my attention.

Little backstory, I used to be a landscaper, but when I moved to Texas I decided I just couldn’t do that anymore in this heat. So I sold off all my equipment with the exception of my brand new Wright Stander B commercial mower. Figured if I ever lost my job or something, I could always mow lawns till I found something else.

I tell you this because after seeing this ad on Facebook, at the very bottom he wrote that he was starting a landscaping company and was willing to trade for a stander mower. Given my commercial mower is overkill for my lawn, and at this point I’m in no danger of losing my job, I figured “what the hell” and shot him a message with a pic of the mower. The next day he drove the car to me, we did a straight trade, and bam, childhood dream achieved.

Anyway, excited to be here, looking forward to seeing what everyone’s up to and sharing my own journey. Only had it a week and I’ve done several repairs and some reconditioning myself.

If anyone happens to read this far, the only major glaring issue I have is the car doesn’t have AC. It has most of the components, missing the compressor and condenser. And some interior ducting for the lap vent, and drivers vent. Going to attempt to cobble it together, glad summer in Texas is almost over. Been looking into ads from people parting theirs out. But if I can’t fix it by the end of spring, I might brake down and get a vintage air kit.

Any idea why my gauge lights aren’t working? Bulbs are all good, the 5 amp fuse was blown so I put a new one in and now my floor lights work, everything else works fine except the gauge lights.

I need some opinions on what kind of wheel tire set up I should get for my car. I want something a little mean looking but also still classy. I’m open to ideas just want some opinions.

I’ll eventually throw a 350 in my stock 1986 Elco. which rear ends are you all running? I’ve read the stock 7.5 inch will not hold up well.

Hello all my brother just picked this mullet up and it’s kind of a wiring nightmare between stuff floating around in the engine bay and live wires from old speakers in under carpet looking for advice on how to strip nonsense out.

Also those I’m assuming trans cooler line kept arching on the ford style stand alone starter solenoid so that’s going to move or we might just remove it and hook up to the new starter that’s on it.

Lastly we wanted to clean up the engine bay so how much of the AC components can come out before i get to a place for no return

Thanks in advance

Had to drag out my old crusader replica sword for this lol

1978 Chevy El Camino - Engine: 305 62,000 original miles Garage kept Florida car from '78 to 2018 then it was brought north and mostly kept in a garage so there is next to no rust and all the chrome is amazingly almost pit free for being almost 50 years old. All that said, the car hasn't been started in over 2 years so I opted to rent a tow dolly, why the drive shaft is in bed, and bring her home rather than try to start her up and drive it home.. Here is my question to the community. I plan on changing all filters and fluids along with a complete tune up before attempting to start the car. I know the fuel tank needs drained before as well but the biggest question I have is for after the basics like tune-up, fluids/filters, hoses, belts, thermostat and brakes taken care. What is the next best step?.. I would like to get it undercoated and have what little rust there is fixed but I haven't a clue about the best starting point. I'm sure all the bushings throughout the undercarriage and front end parts are dried up and will need replaced. I want to do a nice job with the restoration since she's in such good shape now so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Somebody please take this home.

https://www.a-gc.com/vehicles/2820/1987-chevrolet-el-camino

Genuine Cleetus McFarland Mullet starter kit.

GM Performance 6.2l LS3 crate engine, Holley Terminator X EFI, 4 wheel Wilwood disc brakes, new interior, new black paint, new glass, new wheels and tires. Dyno sheet.

Just got this bad boy about a week ago. It’s my first classic? car and have noticed that there seems to be a lot of play in the wheel, I haven’t had time to really look into it yet but I was wondering if any of you guys have experienced any similar problems and what you did to fix it. Thanks.

Edit: well I changed the intermediate shaft and it made a little bit of a difference, I’m thinking I’ll get some new sway bar links and tie rods. But to be honest I think I just need to get use to the way it drives.

Edit2: just looked underneath and drivers side sway bar is gone and tierods are there just for decoration, so im gonna run to the parts store and change those out today, then get alignment sometime this next week.

For sale in Louisiana

1970 Chevrolet El Camino V8 – SS Tribute – 20K Miles

This is a non-factory SS El Camino that has been styled as an SS tribute, including SS emblems and SS stripes. I am being upfront about this so there is no confusion for the buyer.
Highlights:
1970 Chevrolet El Camino

V8 350 engine

Approximately 20,000 miles (verify whether this is actual/documented mileage or odometer reading before advertising it as actual miles)

Drives good

SS-style emblems

SS-style stripes

Great candidate for restoration/custom build

Needs:
Seat belts

Tail-light bulbs

Paint

Roof rust repair

General restoration/finishing

The vehicle is being sold as-is. It is a project vehicle that runs and drives and would make a great foundation for someone wanting to restore a classic El Camino or build an SS tribute.

For those not following along in the saga, some context:

Grandfather parked this thing 20 years ago because it was too expensive to drive back in 2006 when gas broke $3 a gallon and the old El Camino was only managing 6-8 mpg.

As of today after rebuilding the carb and distributor, replacing the plugs and wires, retuning everything from scratch, and doing an oil change for good measure, the old Mino is officially getting 12.8 mpg!!!

I'm super impressed with this tired old car. 12.8 is WAY better than expected considering its got the big ol' 350 that my grandfather built.

I know it's getting greedy, but I'd love to see it break 15 if I could, but I not sure that's really possible without replacing the TH350 and swapping out the rear end.

The fuel economy is now good enough that I can drive it without immediately going bankrupt!

It’s a v6 with a bad 3-speed auto transmission. are the transmissions easy to replace, are the v6’s any good?

Hello everyone. As quite a few of yall know, I got into a not at fault wreck in my 87 el camino a few months ago, and I have been posting updates. A few people have asked for another, so I’d figure I’d just post one!

My car is at Kieth Hodges shop in tyler texas (Absolutely amazing people) and it should be done in about a week!

I’m getting a new cowl hood, headliner and a full paint job. Paints already down on everything, and everything has been polished and made all pretty. I can’t wait to have my car back, I’ll attach a picture of how it sits. All it needs is a little reassembly and she’s back to being mine.

Anyone know where I can get a replacement badge for my 72 El Camino? This is the one still on but the other fell off last week while driving.

Finally made up a reproduction window sticker for my 87 SS. Did it all in MS paint. Really easy to do, good rainy / slow day project.

Only took 4 months but its here. Just about every option imaginable except bucket seats and center console. Happy for it to be an actual Z16 car so its incredibly rare 🥰

My wipers quit working and I thought before replacing the motor I would check the fuse first. When I took a look at the box I noticed a few things that looked odd. First, this green wire just hanging there. I haven't traced it back to anything, yet, but I was hoping someone might have an idea what it does. Second, I noticed there aren't any circuit breakers where the diagram shows there should be. Also, two of the fuses seem to be the incorrect size, 30 amps instead of 20. I plan on replacing all of the fuses according to the diagram, but I'm wondering if I should grab 2 circuit breakers for these empty slots. I apologize for the obvious questions and appreciate all feedback. Cheers!

I was just sitting here, and i thought, this old beater still looks pretty good! Bask in the flat blue peeliness

Title is self-explanatory. Specific options are:

1. 1st Gen (1959)
2. 1st Gen (1960)
3. 2nd Gen (1964-65)
4. 2nd Gen (1966-67)
5. 3rd Gen (1968-69)
6. 3rd Gen (1970)
7. 3rd Gen (1971-72)
8. 4th Gen (1973-75)
9. 4th Gen (1976-77)
10. 5th Gen (1978-81)*
11. 5th Gen (1982-87)

*lumped together due to fascia changes every year.

Long story short. Scooped up a barn find 86 for about 1000. Knew it was going to be a project.

took it to my trusted mechanic who would work on it in his spare time for a discount. Engine looked rough but he thought he would be able to get it running for less than 1000.

He called today and said it needs a whole rewire. Mice chewed through so much that he he would be crazy to try to fix it without gutting.

Do I throw in the towel and cut my losses and part it out (likely make a little bit)

Or do I pulled engine and try to start fresh. My thought was a crate motor and rewire it all.

The shell seems like it’s in pretty good shape. Needs a paint job or wrap obviously. Just feels like something I’ll end up spending 6-7K for it to be worth 5k