64 ElCamino Progress
June 1998 –
Present
Polygraphite -Suspension kit, brakes & front swaybar (1 ¼”)
Hedman -Headers
Holley -Intake and carb
Edelbrock -Valve covers, air cleaner
Flowmaster -Mufflers
Accel -Sparkplug wires, coil
Gabriel -Shocks
Grant -Steering wheel
Sun -Tach
Addco -Rear sway bar (1”)
Ram -Clutch
Air Lift -Air bags
Dupont -Paint – Ford bright Tangerine Orange
Herculiner -“Paint-in” Bed Liner
B.F.Goodrich -Tires
Hooker -Exhaust tips w/resonators
Jensen -CD/Radio – speakers
CustomAutoSound -Kick panels w/speakers
PH7 Technology -Fire Ade 2000 extinguisher
“Guesstimate” of Labor ************************************************************
Rebuild took 3 years. Worked on it about 1 out of 3 weeks. About 12 hours during weeks worked. = 624 hours, or 16 full workweeks. @ $10/hr = $6240
Documented costs *****************************************************************
$9000 actually spent including vehicle purchase, parts, supplies, & incidentals. $1000 parts sold from original purchase of car and parts, net spent = $8000
$8000 parts + $6000 labor = $14,000 – woah! Did I want to know that????
Years 1998 and
1999
***************************************************************
New rear wheel (“repair’) bearings and seals
Patched and painted gas tank
New sending unit
New differential gasket, pinion seal, and oil
New wheel cylinders, Brake shoes, springs, rebuilt the master cylinder
New front wheel bearings and seals
One used rear brake drum - turned
Repaired floorpans with fiberglass, sealed seams
Painted undercarriage & interior w/POR 15
Straightened rear frame crossmember – (just below bumper)
Painted A-Frames and front framerails
New balljoints,Polygraphite a-frame bushings, tie rod ends
New heavy duty Polygraphite front sway bar
New transmission seals input & output
Had flywheel turned.
New Clutch, pressure plate & bearing (11 inch).
Clutch linkage rebuilt, modified, and installed
Modified shifter linkage to work (heat and bend)
New speedometer cable
Installed engine/trans assembly
New Hedman headers installed
New exhaust system and Flowmasters installed, extra hangers added
Installed radiator support & radiator
New trans mount
Painted driveshaft, new universal joints, installed
New universal 8mm spark plug wire set fabricated and installed
Starter -Drill/tap new hole in block for offset mount - lg. flywheel
Edelbrock tall valve covers installed w/new gaskets
New Gabriel shocks front and rear
Nissan bucket seats installed - oak adapters fabricated
Air bags installed inside rear springs, air lines and gauge added
Holley street dominator intake installed.
Major cleaning of PCV canister under manifold.
Carter WCFB 4 barrel carb. rebuilt & installed, - - - - removed & sold.
New Holley 600 CFM, vacuum secondary carb. Installed.
New carb linkage fabricated.
Oil filter conversion installed to eliminate canister filter
New power steering bracket, fabricated idler bracket,modified ret. hose.
Edelbrock air cleaner installed with riser spacer to clear cables/lines.
Inner fenders,& fenders cleaned, painted w/POR 15.
Front clip installed, and aligned.
"Rebuilt " steering column, installed Grant wooden steering wheel
Battery box modified to fit, and hold down from horse shed modified .
Labeled and repaired dash wiring harness.
Installed oil pressure, and temp. gauges.
Cut hole in hood for air cleaner..
Installed parking brake cable.
Installed additional fuel filter and connected gas tank / fill neck..
Removed 5 lbs. of Bondo..(guessed weight)
Had driveshaft shortened ½ inch.
Purchased left quarter “patch” panel.(almost full length) (put on filler sand it off)
Cut into Left rear quarter – found lots of messed up bodywork – rebuilt door
jamb area and inner bodywork. Patched door latch bolt and removed giant
aluminum spacers.Manufactured inner panel patch for behind wheel opening. Made patch piece for rear left roof post. (put on filler sand it off)
Reshape and rework entire left quarter.(Widened wheelwell) (put on filler sand it off)
Rebuilt door hinge detents on “spare” hinges that came with car.
Year 2000:
*********************************************************************
Installed new ignition switch and key lock cylinder – key matching to doors.
Glove compartment diff key.
Made and installed radio delete switch panel with 4 lighted switches.
Rerouted gas line, fuel pump to carb, moved filter away from headers.
Used truck brake line for fuel line as it had correct fittings.
Cut/ installed right side patch panel over wheel well. (put on filler sand it off)
Reshaped and reworked entire right rear quarter. (Widened wheelwell)
Had windshield installed by Clear Vue glass company. Right after 20 inch snow
Installed cigarette lighter.
Installed ash tray. [got it from Carl Brune – Hillsborough]
Added ground strap, body to battery.
Lots of “Rage” body filler (5 gallons) and 18” hand sander to shape it. (all of both rear quarters) – lots of work all done by hand without power tools. (put on filler sand it off)
Rebuilt & Installed door hinges (each side at a different time)
New glovebox Lock and chrome trim strip.
New rear light harness.
Tailgate; Sanded, smoothed “window crank” indent, body filled, and primed.
Cut out rusted-thru corner of tailgate, fabricated new corner & welded it in.
Body filled quarter panels to fit taillights. (Phew, lotta work) (put on filler sand it off)
Welded & Filled rear window lower corners – painted with POR-15.
Installed new (Repro) inside door levers.
Got new repro outside door handles at Charlotte auto fair.
Installed old rear window.
Removed dried sealer from “smuggler’s well” below bed, POR-15, apply seam sealer.
Fab, POR-15, install front right filler panel below battery.
Changed ammeter out for voltmeter.
Welded 20 trim holes shut in sides of fenders.
Chemically stripped hood and fenders.
Welded support ring into hood cutout, installed hood insulation.
Filled over welded holes and small dents on front clip. (put on filler sand it off)
NOW THE CAR IS TOTALLY IN PRIMER!!!!! LOOKIN GOOOOOOD
Installed A-arm seals.
Aligned front clip, hood & fenders
Install Rear;
“ElCamino” side badges
Taillight harness and taillights
C-H-E-V-R-O-L-E-T letters on tailgate
Tailgate latch mechanisms, hinge seals, and stop arms
Install;
Hood to cowl seal and windshield washer nozzles
Outside door handles, locks
Vent window assemblies w/new gaskets
Door bumpers, window fuzzies, run channel stripping,
Door gaskets – (made doors very VERY TIGHT) (give em a month)
Adjust passenger door to align with latch pin – needed due to gasket install
Side window actuating assemblies, in-door run channel extension
Side windows, (repair one window frame with bondo) door panels (Repair one door panel with fiberglass to reduce bulge), window crank & lever
C-H-E-V-R-O-L-E-T letters on hood
Outside side mirrors –
New style blue Chevy symbol on tailgate.
MMMMMMMMM lookin good !
Seal opening left by hackers around gas filler compartment - w/stainless
Seal openings and cracks around wheel wells – seam sealer caulk
Install trim strips around/over wheel humps in bed
Some body filler on wheel humps – better but not perfect [I plan to use it so not making em show quality]
Scrape / sand bed area entirely – ugh – back hurt for a week.
Prime bed and top of wheelwells w/rustoleum.
Install New Chrome Bumpers – (from Tri-City plating - @ Charlotte show)
Install Front Spoiler from 69 Camaro– fabricate welded spoiler frame.
Install radio antenna.
Install license plate brackets, frames, bumpers, front plate, rear lights.
Paint bottoms of doors with black rustoleum – painter missed these.
Install “reinforcing washers” in front fenders – undercoat wheelwells.
Install roof insulation and 3rd brake light wire.
Fabricate stainless heat shield for front pass. side brake line.
Install new vent window levers.
Install new turn signal switch and lever.
Install new backup switch and wiring.
Remove fuse block and clean contacts.
Get seats recovered. – James Carnell - Butner
Install sound insulation and carpet, door sill plates.
Install seatbelts, shifter boot, and seats.
Make adapter –interior mirror; original 3 screws to new GM “slide on” type.
Install Interior mirror.
July 2001-REGISTER,
LICENSE AND INSURE !!!
Paint in Herculiner Bed liner including tailgate and “smugglers” compartment covers
Sandblast, prime and paint wheels gray.
Have front brake drum turned. [why didn’t I do that sooner?].
Install bed compartment covers.
Install Chrome trim; Windshield & Back window.
Install Wipers & new blades. – make sun reflection killers from non-slip tape.
Install stainless trim at front of doors. – 1+hour buffing to remove sandblast marks.
Install Hood Scoop –
laminate 2 layers ¼ in. plexiglass into one ½ in. sheet and cut 2 spacers.
“hi tech” bolts from Kar-Color – drill and tap hood.
Tires & Alignment – Tire King; BFG 245-60-14 Radial TA’s
--– aligned fine, no mods like offset bars or frame straighten
Adjust headlights – (Tire King and uncle Al.)
INSPECTION – woah, it’s legal !!
Polish and install bed/rear window trim.
Install exhaust tips – cut pipes, weld – MMM sounds better, keeps crud off bumper.
Repair and install grille surround trim. [make back pieces for hood lip trim with studs, crimp trim]
Connect voltmeter.
Add ground wire to dash unit –(this fixed problem with dash and interior lights, wipers, etc.)
Install burglar alarm, w/dash LED, ignition hookup etc.
Install door jamb switch, and interior light.
Install hood tamper switch.
Install spare tire, jack, tools, lug wrench.
Change carb jets from 66 (stock) to 64 to eliminate rich condition.(needs more work)
Change accel pump squirter from 25 to 28 , adjust lever to eliminate bog at accel.
Paint wheelwells, rockers etc. with matching auto enamel to cover primer and prevent rust.
Clean rocker moldings with scotchbrite and install with stainless screws.
Purchase and install chrome plastic armrest bases.
Make wood armrest “pads”.
Install new idler arm and center link – with grease fittings.
NOTE: have changed gas “pre”filter 4 times to catch rust residue from tank.
Modify / repair wing window latches – extra roll pin
Install pinchweld molding around doors
Oct 2001---
Remove / reinstall speedometer – sent for repair to Powl’s , Lancaster PA
Cool red hi-beam indicator !!
Build speaker boxes, Install 6X9 speakers and boxes
Install CD player
Install Custom Auto Sound - Kick Panels W/speakers
Make fire extinguisher bracket from Lexan
---Install Fire Ade 2000 extinguisher (PH7 technoligies)
Purchase 327 block, crank, rods, pistons
Purchase engine lift and Engine Stand
Install 8 bed tie downs (4 in-wall recessed, 4 floor/tailgate mount)
Cold Galvanize bottom of smugglers box cover (Zinc Paint)
New air cleaner stud with 3 inch tall air filter
Replace polygraphite bushing that fell out !!!!! Got replacement free.
Route PCV into valve cover instead of to back of block – idle dropped 200 RPM--???
Install LED 3rd brake light – wired to brake switch – no logic circuit
Install baffles in valve covers to stop oil drooling (these came with Edelbrock covers)
Install headliner & recover visors
Install wheel center caps.
Install new gas tank – orig. had “10 lbs” of crap in it. Two of 4 mounting bolts were
missing! - - It had clogged about ½ dozen filters – no wonder!
Drill oversize and re-tap front sway bar bolts – one had come out, bent the bracket !
Install wiper delay
Change valve cover gaskets
Elky Left to do:
April 2003
Console
- remake
Headliner
– sail panels
Windshield
Washer
Pinstripe
Hood
lock
Engine
Vibration
Front
brake line?
Power
valve?
Future:
327
engine
5
speed transmission
Disc
brakes
Air
conditioning
Posi
Rear - Powertrax
Mistakes – or would do it
different;
More prep before paint
redo others primer – don’t trust ANYTHING the other
guy did
?? maybe ? Spend more $$– posi rear conversion, disc
brakes
Maybe NOT use POR 14 – or be careful not to paint
over it without special prep work.
Change body mounts?