I have been wondering if some of you out there have made any modifications to your El Caminos that are out of the ordinary. Most of us have stock or slightly modified cars (different engines, trans maybe a change to the bed surface). Has anyone done anything wild to their ride?

ChevyFanAttic has done a number on his
Give that man a welder and something to cut metal with and stand back.

I installed seats out of a 98 Sebring, They have the seat belt shoulder harness built into the seat itself. Relocated to gas tank to the smugglers box to allow a 2nd set of mufflers where that gas tank goes. A mini tub with the rear frame notched out and way too much horsepower.

Does that count.

Ron we must have been typing at the same time.

You always were faster at finishing then me. :D

I installed seats out of a 98 Sebring, They have the seat belt shoulder harness built into the seat itself. Relocated to gas tank to the smugglers box to allow a 2nd set of mufflers where that gas tank goes. A mini tub with the rear frame notched out and way too much horsepower.

Does that count.

NOPE .......... sound perfectly normal to me :thumbsup:

I installed seats out of a 98 Sebring, They have the seat belt shoulder harness built into the seat itself. Relocated to gas tank to the smugglers box to allow a 2nd set of mufflers where that gas tank goes. A mini tub with the rear frame notched out and way too much horsepower.

Does that count.

Let's break this down....

seats...Sebring? Ok, wierd
gas tank relocation...wierd but interesting with more mufflers
mini-tub/notch...cool, but nothing wierd about that
way too much horsepower...Sorry but I am forced to throw the BS flag here:) I checked my El Camino handbook in the horsepower section and there is NO SUCH THING!! All it mentioned was "more = better"

Coincidently though I have similar mods, replacement seats (Kirkey not Sebring), monkey bars (roll cage), relocated fuel tank (cell in bed), notched frame/mini-tubs, and of course, enhanced horspower...

R/ Dave

Let's break this down....

seats...Sebring? Ok, wierd
gas tank relocation...wierd but interesting with more mufflers
mini-tub/notch...cool, but nothing wierd about that
way too much horsepower...Sorry but I am forced to throw the BS flag here:) I checked my El Camino handbook in the horsepower section and there is NO SUCH THING!! All it mentioned was "more = better"

Coincidently though I have similar mods, replacement seats (Kirkey not Sebring), monkey bars (roll cage), relocated fuel tank (cell in bed), notched frame/mini-tubs, and of course, enhanced horspower...

R/ Dave

Hey Dave remember me,
I still have those pics. They were my starting point for the mini tub.
Agreed more is better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:yes:

See I told ya Mike ........ perfectly normal l:)

for an El Camino guy !!! :D

I was thinking more like a "theme car" or something off the hook like the guy who put the V-8 in the bed of his El Camino.

There was pic floating around the net of a black El Key with the motor in the bed. It had zommies and looked killer. It was black and looked bad a$$.

There was pic floating around the net of a black El Key with the motor in the bed. It had zommies and looked killer. It was black and looked bad a$$.

Hey Mike................... just a little more cutting an welding ;) ROFLMAO !!! J/K Buddy :thumbsup:

hey Mike................... Just A Little More Cutting An Welding ;) Roflmao !!! J/k Buddy :thumbsup:

Roflmao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Dave remember me,
I still have those pics. They were my starting point for the mini tub.
Agreed more is better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:yes:

You bet I remember ya, that's why i jumped in and posted. That was some killer work you had going on. I don't get to check in too often but when you gonna have yours on the road?

Hey Bee, we do have a theme, just not like you were expecting. Ours is the SPEED theme:)

15037

You speed guys hi jacked my thread! Maybe this is a good comprimise!

15037

You speed guys hi jacked my thread! Maybe this is a good comprimise!

That car is wicked.:hurray:

I wonder what he had under the hood? Good place for a large cooler of ice and beverages!

You bet I remember ya, that's why i jumped in and posted. That was some killer work you had going on. I don't get to check in too often but when you gonna have yours on the road?

Hey Bee, we do have a theme, just not like you were expecting. Ours is the SPEED theme:)



Its true I do have the sac to cut up a car,,, truth be told my welding and metal fab skills are smaller than the sac.
I never stopped working on it. The progress is painstakingly slow, but I am happy with all that has been accomplished.
I started on the tubing part first because I think thats the hardest part. I did it super bitchen and flanged every piece with Plug welds so it could come apart if it ever got wrecked. That really slowed things down. It would be way easy just to butt weld it all together.
At this point I am looking forward to the frame part. It should be a snap.
I also got side tracked when I found out all my global west front suspension was a pile of crap.
I called Mark at SC&C. Got the AFX Tall stuff and upgraded to 14 " rotors and 6 piston calipers. That set me back a lot of money and cant give the old stuff away.

Thanks for asking. I am sure it will be running just as gas has crested $6 a gallon.

I wonder what he had under the hood? Good place for a large cooler of ice and beverages!

Or to smuggle illegals. :)

ah come on we all know whats under the hood ........... a VW gas tank & a NOS bottle !!

oh & the spare tire :D

I also got side tracked when I found out all my global west front suspension was a pile of crap.
I called Mark at SC&C. Got the AFX Tall stuff and upgraded to 14 " rotors and 6 piston calipers. That set me back a lot of money and cant give the old stuff away.

Thanks for asking. I am sure it will be running just as gas has crested $6 a gallon.

Ohhhhh ..... I'm not sure I've got the heart to tell him what its going to cost in tires & rims to clear those brakes :eek:

on the global west stuff ......... I'll see maybe .... I know someone who was looking to upgrade from stock .....

on the 6 dollar gas ..... you better wrench FASTER ........ or it will be $ 16.00 a gallon !!

I thought I might be a little weird when I put seats from a Triumph TR-250 in my Elco, but you know they're really light for a dual purpose car and very comfortable. The bench that came out was really heavy. The TR seats weigh just a few pounds each.
So, I'm wierd, but I'm comfy.

On the other hand, I'm making final plans to channel the body down around the frame by leaving the floor intact, sectioning the firewall and bedwall, separating the floor and bed from the quarters and main body structure, and get some drop, and lose some cowl height. The tops of the fenders would be a lot closer to the valve covers, a lá 2nd gen Camaros. All this without flattening headers anymore when I drive it. I thought I'd leave the glass height stock (no chopping the roof, it's not intended to be a custom car). The whole point is to keep good ground clearance and full suspension travel while having a pretty nose-down stance '66 for less wind resistance, a good wheelwell fill, etc.

I'm trying to build roll-up windows for my fiberglass doors (yet to be installed). Already have a pin-on 'glass tailgate and hood. My idea is to use Malibu wing window structures for their more slender look, and a frameless Malibu-style window.

Behind the disgusting Urban Camo primer job, the result of sitting in a guy's driveway without moving for 2 decades, is a completely new car. All that is left of the original car is the body shell, some glass, and the frame rails and front trim.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/aero80/elcosidesend.jpg

Eric

Ohhhhh ..... I'm not sure I've got the heart to tell him what its going to cost in tires & rims to clear those brakes :eek:

on the global west stuff ......... I'll see maybe .... I know someone who was looking to upgrade from stock .....

on the 6 dollar gas ..... you better wrench FASTER ........ or it will be $ 16.00 a gallon !!

oh ya I forgot, not to mention the new rims and rubber.:sad:

Mark the stuff I have would work fine on a b body.
I listed the stuff on e bay with a 60% discount and did not get one bite.
I have the press in style upper a arms with the del alums, B body spindels, 13 inch slotted and cad plated rotors as well as some huge Willwood 4 piston calipers. I also threw in two new moog b body tie rod ends.

Not too radical, but, I made a 1" square tubing support frame and piano hinged the Smuggler's Box cover then rigged it with 2 - 30 lb.each, gas struts and a remote latch I can open it with from behind the driver's seat.

When I get the painting done, I'll coat the inside of the smugglers box with Rhino liner and move the battery to the box. It'll still have enough room for a tool box and other contraband too. It's kind of neat to just pull the lever and watch the cover rise by itself.

OLDED,

Do you have any construction pix of your tube frame and hinge and cable release that you can post?

I have my battery and other electronics in the smuggler box, and have replaced the steel bed panel with aluminum, but it gets old unbolting it all the time to keep the batt and cables clean.

Eric

Yes Olded... Please send us some pics, as that is exactly what I want to do with mine. I have been playing with it and really do not even know where to start to make the smugglers compartment more user freindly. I have wondered if I could use a kit for shaving the door handles, but what you have described sounds more realistic. I would really appreciate a couple pics if you are able to show us. Thanks again Justin

I'll try to post a few pics of it in a day or so. I've never posted direct to this site. I can send pics to your emails and maybe some one can post them here - if I can't get it to work. I'll take a quick video of the lid operating, for full effect.

I am about to take the car to the painter in a week or so and am kind of thrashing to have all the details done so he can finish it for me. This 6 month project is now 4 years old and into a second engine without ever driving it with the first one.

Not sure where the thread went to, but this is a follow up on the smuggler's box project I mentioned for my 65 Elky..

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll try to post a few pics of it in a day or so. I've never posted direct to this site. I can send pics to your emails and maybe some one can post them here - if I can't get it to work. I'll take a quick video of the lid operating, for full effect. This is now actually smuggler's box in reality.

I am about to take the car to the painter in a week or so and am kind of thrashing to have all the details done so he can finish it for me. This 6 month project is now 4 years old and into a second engine without ever driving it with the first one.
__________________
OLDED
*65 Elky, White w/Aqua, 408 BBC - 12 bolt 3:31 w/LockRight, Power discs, Bench Seat - in slow process.
*59 Vette, 270 hp,283 w/ 2-4's,Muncie M21, 4:11 pos, Frost Blue/White/Frost Blue Int., 2 tops.
* 06 Black Harley Street Bob, SE ll's
*27 Baja -454 w/ Weiand blower
Marietta, GA - Peach State Chevelle & H.O.G. member
*.

Are you modifying the car to create a hidden compartment? If so, you might want to stop and rethink your actions. I know the Elk's have a hidden compartment from the factory, but if you modify it with a cover or door to conceal it more, you could be heading for trouble. A lot of states frown on hidden compartments. Some will even seize your car on the stop if they find a hidden compartment. If it's a space left by the factory, your ok. But if you modified it in any way say good buy to your car forever.

I am not creating anything except an easy access to the existing area built into my ElCamino. It is my car and I'll basically do what I darn well please to it.

OLDED,
I will be happy to post any pictures you have that you would like to share. Just send me a mail and they can be on by tonight.

Eric

I am not creating anything except an easy access to the existing area built into my ElCamino. It is my car and I'll basically do what I darn well please to it.


Relax! Don't bite my head off for pointing out that what you did could be viewed as a bad thing in the eyes of law enforcement. I was just giving you a friendly heads up. I read your post and as you stated you created a smugglers box. I was letting you know that the creation of a concealed compartment in a motor vehicle is grounds for seizure. Since you didn't post a picture and didn't explain what you did, I drew a conclusion on the title "Smugglers Box". Now if your making it like a glove box, where it is obvious it's a commonly used storage area, no problems. But if it's hidden, well, good luck to you.

My thoughts on the smuggler's box in the Post 9/11 World:

Bronco 3738's message is based upon the changing landscape of the 4th Amendment (search and seizure) and the newly developing increased regulatory power of the state through its control of vehicle use and registration.

The 4th Amendment has been taking a lot of hits since the 1970s, but current law does not prevent you from using features built into your car. It also does not prohibit the construction of lawful features by an owner for lawful purposes. While the smuggler's box may be used to conceal unlawful materials, so may a typical car trunk, console, and glove compartment. All these are subject to search/seizure under conditions which become broader and broader as time goes by, but even so, it certainly would be inaccurate to suggest that you may not use your trunk or console for storage.

Furthermore, you are not prevented, for example, from constructing a secret compartment for hiding spare keys to your car for use in the event of loss.

Also, under legal argument, as a defense you would be able to show that not only are you using a feature of your vehicle that was a product of the manufacturer's intentional design, but you have actually made it MORE accessible than before for any lawful search (it now need not be unbolted with tools and over a dozen bolts).

The state would have to show that you have intent to commit a crime, not likely to be provable without further evidence, such as the presence of residue or contraband, or evidence of the smuggler's box being used as part of a conspiracy, and a "substantial step" had been taken to include the box in the conspirator's plans.

The police are not always free to search the smuggler's box. Under many conditions, the police may only search areas that are within reasonable reach of the driver, which the box is not, since it is on the outside of the vehicle.

Any search of your property, person, etc involves your 4th Amendment rights. If you are arrested, you are "seized".


On the other hand:

Statutory law, i.e. law passed by a legislative body as compared to common law (precedential law), is generally what is known as "strict liability"... An example is a speed limit: if it is 45 and you are going 46, you are guilty of violating the law whether you intended to do so or not.
A state may pass a law requiring that the smuggler's box remain sealed, and this has nothing to do with 4th Amendment searches and your rights under federal law. In this case, it is up to the individual to discover the law in his or her state. The phrase "ignorance of the law is no excuse" comes from strict liability principles of statutory regulation.

On the other other hand:

Criminal law principles require two components for conviction: Intent, and Act. These are known as "mens rea" and "actus reus". The state must prove both to prosecute an Elco owner for any crime associated with the smuggler's box. For example, in 1943 the cops went into a home of a guy they didn't like and pulled him outside. He was drunk. He was then charged with being drunk in public. Here you can see that although there was the Act, he was in fact outside in public and he was drunk, there was no intent- he had intended to remain inside. This famous case went to the Supreme Court and established your right to innocently use your smuggler's box. Remember, though, this paragraph is talking about criminal law, not statutory regulation of motor vehicle use by a legislative body.

Eric

Ed around here in El Caminos if there is no posts to a thread in like 4 hours its removed. I know some Mod will correct me on this.
I dont know why they do that. Again a Mod will tell me why they do this.
However any threads about what color I should paint my motor or what kind of bolts should I use will stay indefinitely.

I'm curious about that too. I'd like to hear about other major Elco reconstructions, but I can't always read or post. sometimes for days at a time.

I was disappointed to see the Weird Elco thread was gone.

Eric

Thanks Eric, good points. What i was trying to point out is the creation of the concealed compartment is in itself a "substantial step" in smuggling, and could cause undue stress in a simple traffic stop. Not quoting law, telling from experience. Now from reading your post what I pictured when I read "smugglers box" may not be what he made. I not that familiar with Elky's.

Wow! I'm still waiting on pictures. :D

Hey Chuck what does happen to some of the post? Jb

If you guys see a post that interest you you should respond to the post. Even if you just put a period. Or for example if its a topic on power windows just type in a response like "power windows"
then you can search in your posts to find later.

I am mini tubing an elkey. It took weeks of weekends to get as far as I was and posted a bunch of pics. got a few responses and within 24 hours it was gone. needless to say it made me :mad:


Rant off.

I think its those "High Performance" guys who first hi jacked my post have now made it disapear. They like to pick on us guys with crate engines in our cars! I would love to see some photos of your smugglers box project, maybe even a video of it popping open!

I do agree that the 911 stuff changed alot of things, but if you only use it for your battery and some tools seems like it is pretty much the same as a trunk would be to a chevelle.

I guess you just change the title when you respond to a thread and change the name to the thread?? Seems like something that might need attention.

I guess you just change the title when you respond to a thread and change the name to the thread?? Seems like something that might need attention.
I don't think that's possible.
I also don't think we delete any threads, however I don't normally ever check this forum. :confused:

I don't think that's possible.
I also don't think we delete any threads, however I don't normally ever check this forum. :confused:

Dean, I am not crying foul here, But it is true, maybe they dont get deleted but they go somewhere.
In all the other forums a thread will stay there with or without activity. As more new threads are added it slowly will move down and will move on to page 2/ 3 etc.
Thats why there are only 3 to 5 threads in El Keys.
As a paying member ( I know I need to get my new one ) its kind of maddening.

OK, I think I see what might have happened.
Let me see IF I can fix it

{edit}
It looks like maybe this thread accidentally got merged with the one piece window ad.

I thought the same thing about the dissappearing threads then I saw that on the bottom it had a way to show all posts. maybe this could help. I also would be willing to post the smugglers box pics as I am in the process of doing it as we type. My e- mail is cheftrubee2@yahoo.com any way you look at it not using the smugglers compartment is a waste of good space and it sounds like with the gas shocks it will be a heck of a lot easier to open than removing six bolts.

Walking on the wild side appeals to me.
I built my Elco to travel across the United States and pick up a little money at famous race tracks around the country.
The interior is mostly metal, there is no radio or heater or fan, good amount of fiberglass and aluminum, etc.

This is the new 'glass tailgate as received from VFN. I am not using hinges or latches, it's a straight pin-on. Saves about 40 pounds overall with the latch/hinge delete.

You can see why the screen name is surfin' 66. The surf racks use pit pins and can be removed in 30-45 seconds.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/aero80/elcosurfcposter.jpg

I just saw this while surfing through craigslist. It is not mine, but I think it would be classified as Weird. http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/car/758093125.html

here is an ad for half of one lmao http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/pts/762920129.html

Yep, that's weird alright.

This one wins the prize, I think. It looks like the mess the French peasants had to clean up after the guillotine dropped.

I think this one would qualify as weird.

http://www.carnut.com/cgi-bin/02/_image.pl?/show/02/skat/kat151.jpg

OLDED,
I would still really like to see the pictures of how you rigged op your "bed compartment" (trying to be politically correct so as to not stir up the ignorant). I have been trying to figure out how to do mine for a long time now. If you have the time it would be a great help. Thanks.

65 El Co, Chef, I just emailed both of you a pic and a couple of video clips of the politically incorrect storage compartment. Unfortunately, I had not taken a pic of the latch assembly before I took the Elky to my painter last weekend.

Sorry OLDED, but I haven't received your e-mail. I will check again as I am really interested in it. If I cannot find it please send it again and I will post it. Thanks again chef