Hey everybody, just introducing our project to this community!
My dad bought this 1970 El Camino from one of our neighbors about 4 months ago, and we finally started working on it. Dad didn't want to do a frame off restoration, as this isn't going to be a show truck, but alas, our classic-car-owning-buddies convinced him otherwise [about the frame-off part anyway!].

His plans are to /install:
-Blast the entire body/frame
-New/fresh interior(tan color).
-All new braking system/suspension parts
-Rebuilt engine/trans(don't know what yet. Thinking Big Block)
-New wheels/tires. Trying to convince him of going 'classic car, modern wheel' style. like 17x7's up front 18x10's in back or something. :D We'll burn that bridge when we get to it though.

Heres some old pictures from when it was first brought over to the house-

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/2.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/3.jpg

As you can see, lots of rust on the lower panels and other places- this is gonna be fun.

Heres the worn out motor (SB 400)-

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/4.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/5.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/6.jpg

And the interior-

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/7.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/8.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/9.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/10.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/12.jpg

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Fast forward 4 months...

We've had the engine out for about 2 weeks now, and had some more time to play around with it.

Stripped the interior-

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/DSCN3099.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/DSCN3101.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/DSCN3098.jpg

Pulled all the firewall goodies off and all the wiring with it-

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/DSCN3095.jpg

Then we unbolted the body and started lifting-

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/DSCN3110.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/DSCN3112.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/DSCN3113.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/DSCN3114.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n110/ApmCrx/El%20Camino/DSCN3115.jpg

Now we're just gearing up to start sandblasting everything. We'll try and do some things ourselves, but theres a good company here in town thats VERY reasonably priced, that does great quality stuff.

And thats it for now. We're out there steady working on it, so I'll be updating as we go. Just wanted to share.

Suggestions welcomed!
-Andrew

Looks like you're off to a good start!:beers:

Heh, it's getting there!

Thank you for the pics..I hope i can do a body-off some day..

Great project, Andrew! I'm a bit partial to 1970 El Camino's.

Al

awesome! you guys are pretty fast, look slike a great start ! keep it up and keep us posted! :thumbsup:

Great job! Also great job with the pics. Please keep us up to date with your photos. Jb

Please keep us up to date with your photos. Jb

Will do!

Thanks everyone

Nice... and the frame looks like it has not been in an accident... from the pictures that I can see. That is good!

I'm about 2 months in front of where you guys are at this time....

It is fun and interesting. Looks like a great project!

'bear

:cool:

I'm about 2 months in front of where you guys are at this time....

It is fun and interesting. Looks like a great project!


Cool man. How far are you going with the resto? Street truck, show truck, race truck?

We've been having a lot of fun with it. This is our first restoration, and we're having a blast!
We'll rebuild the trans this week. Pics will come

Sorry - I mis-lead you - I have a '65 SS Chevelle = no Elky.

My point was that I am doing the same thing to the car as you are, just a bit ahead of you guys.

The car will look stock, with all the updated stuff like disc brakes and better suspension for handling.

Have you decided which direction you are planning to go?

'bear

Have you decided which direction you are planning to go?

'bear

Sorry I missed this post!

I think for now our plans are to just keep it simple. Clean resto, but nothing show-worthy. Mostly making it practical, safe and fun.
(Brakes/Suspension/Engine-Trans/Wheels/Bodywork/Paint/Interior)

I've been trying to find the time to get down to my relative thats gonna help us out with rebuilding the trans. I'll post up pictures when I do it(probably this weekend)

sweet dude!!!
i wont to see it dun >_<

Thanks for the photos! Always good to see someone doing what I am gearing up to do.My 70 is basically in the same shape as yours,except I am still in the planning/parts gathering stage. I plan to clone mine into an SS, new dash and big block. Anyway good luck, and keep the photos coming!:thumbsup:

Nice.Got one just like it.

Thanks guys.

We've recently talked with the guy that sold us the truck. He said he's got some motors laying around, so we'll probably be picking up one of them in the next few days.

He claims to have a 396 and a 427. We're hoping its the ladder.
We're going to do a near-stock rebuild, maybe throw a cam in it or something, then bolt-ons(long tubes/intake, etc...)

Quick Question: We're interested in doing a "painless wiring" system for our dash harness. Which company do most of you guys turn to for such a thing?

Also, I think we'd like to find an aftermarket dash to put in it, so we can put some new gauges in, new CD deck, etc. Again, which company is most common to go with?

Thanks everybody!
-Andrew

Andrew,
If you're going to go a custom dash, I think you'll have the most flexibility with the 'muscle-car' harness from Painless. I know many people complain about them not being 'painless', but with a basic understanding of car electrical, they're a great way to add things like electric fans, EFI, electric fuel pumps, power windows, door locks easily and safely. You will need to crimp or solder most of the ends to the wires, but everything is clearly labeled along the length of each wire. Be sure to save the old harness! You will need to salvage some of the connectors. If you are going to go more stock, there are complete 'plug-n-play' harnesses available from M&H at www.wiringharness.com.

Most people are going one of two directions on a custom dash.. One is to use a Covan dash insert - basically a fiberglass piece that you attach to the old dash after cutting a large chunk away. You then can mount custom gauges to that. The other way (which I did and lots of people here have done) is to fabricate a custom dash. It can be simply a cover or all the way to a complete dash assembly, depending on your ambition and energy.

Good luck with your project! I'm not sure I'd have the guts to tackle that much rust, but there is certainly a wealth of experienced folks in this forum that have seen there fair share of it and can help you get through the nasties!
Keep us posted!
-Bill
http://www.audiovisionps.com/ElCamino/DSCN0013crop.jpg

Cool man. Thats what I'm looking for.
We're good with electricity knowledge. I'm in school to become an A&P aircraft mechanic and thats one of the biggest things we focus on.

Thanks for the link and picture! We'll figure something out... sooner or later!
Updates coming soon... I promise!!