Can someone enlighten me on what's back there? I need a bit of clearance for some tall tires and eventual lowering of the rear.

The outside of the rear tire is rubbing a tiny bit on the inside of the rear quarter pannel. It looks to be a double thickness of metal like an inner fender. Is that all it is? Is it removable? Can I hammer it back away from the tire a bit? I really only need a tiny bit of clearance right now, but eventually will want more in case I load down the back with a trailer or "stuff" as George C would say.

The front innner fender has a similar problem. Both on the left side.

That leads me to my next question. This 72 El Camino was drag raced some and I'm wondeing if it's possible that the frame is tweaked. It dog tracks about 1".

The joys of new ownership..
Dan

Can someone help me out with the rear inner fender question?

the rear quarter panel is spot welded to the outer wheel house. Yes it is possible to "roll" the lip by cutting into it, and bending it upward and inward to gain perhaps an additional 1/2" to 3/4" of clearance. If it is only happening on one side, I would find out why, before under taking any surgery. What is your backspace on the wheels/rims you are using? Have a competent frame/chassis shop check out your frame for any discrepanies, there should be plenty in California.

Thanks newmexguy,

I'll explore the possiblities of frame issues. That is one thing I want right. The rear end was changed also, so it might be 'off'.

Dan

it sounded like you said it was rubbing in the wheel well, if its just the lip along the wheel opening, my camino was done like that (cut every inch or two or whatever, and bent back) and i would never do it like that, i would run a line half or 3/4 or whatever you think you need along the top area, id start with a half i think, and run a cut off wheel, or whatever you like to use the length of the top of the opening and if both lips are still present you can decide if you want to go further but, i would try to leave both lips long enough to where they still join up, and tack it at least as much as it was originally spot welded if you dont want to weld the whole thing, then i would seem seal it (if spot welded) ...i wish i could redo mine that way, whoever did it, one part i had to fix was at least 1/4 away from the wheel opening molding ...im with newmexguy on the have it checked, but it may be something you can do yourself, i think theres a few threads on "squaring a frame"...or "checking frame squareness"...racing puts alot of tress on everything and the better you hook up the more stress it suffers...one thing you might keep in mind, el camino frames are a couple inches longer than chevelles and factory boxed, which are a couple reasons why the often heard statement "el caminos are rearend light compared to chevelles" is a not really true

I may have to trim the lip at some point, but that's not where I'm rubbing. I put tall tires on it and it's hitting the inner wheel well about 4" up on the fender. (under heavy deflection). When I do, I'll consider your suggestion of cutting vs bending.

For now I've pushed the inner fender out a bit with a sissor jack. Took it for a ride last night and didn't hear any rubbing. Like I said it wasn't much. But
eventually I'll put larger tires on it and also lower it. The offset is not perfect, 17x8 with about 4 1/2 on the inside. I have a couple inches to play with on the inside when I change wheels.

Thanks for the replys.
Dan