Hi Eric,
Great project. I'm just beginning down that same road.
I live in Justin - just north of Texas Motor Speedway - and the truck is currently in Sacramento, CA. The floors need to be replaced and, my friend, who is keeping the truck until I get it transported, has the capability to do that so, I'll probably get that done there.
Just wondering where you got the floor pan for yours and what you thought of the quality? I haven't found anyone who supplies the full pan - like you used - for the El Camino so, I'm assuming you used a Chevelle floor. Also, since the El Camino version of the full pan only goes to the rear bulkhead, it will have to be cut in half in order to get it in the door. What do you think of labor/cost of going that route and re-welding the cut -vs- removing the rear bulkhead, as you did, and replacing the pan all the way back?
Thanks. I'm looking forward to following your progress. I'm going with a stock Corvette LS2 and s 4L65E transmission.
BTW, the National El Camino Owners (NECOA) is having their annual Texas gathering in Belton on May 30th. We've averaged about 100 El Camino in attendance over the past four years.
Hi Less,
The El Camino Store has the floorpan from the toe boards to the bed.
Link Quality was good I thought. It matched the parts we removed and only took a little massaging to get it to fit right. It is painted and the paint held up to protect it. It is not weld through primer though.
The two paths you identified are basically about labor. Either is not really difficult
1 Cutting the floor and installing it in 2 pieces
2 Removing the back of the cab and installing it as one piece
I think the deciding point should be if there is any rust in the "smuggler's trunk" behind the cab. Mine had a lot of rust on the sides as well as the bottom. It made more sense to remove the back of the cab to get at all the areas needing repair. If that area is in good shape on yours, then I'd try to limit how much you have to remove. Another area to check is the braces on the bottom of the floor. On mine, there were near perfect. If you have to replace any of yours, that might alter the plan a bit.
Progress has been slow since last fall due mainly to the weather. The body is progressing, but the driver's quarter has been a pain to get straight. The body man had to back track 1.5 months of work. The wheel opening transition to the quarter was pulled out too far and he had to sand it back to metal and apply some love with a body hammer. He has it shaped like the passenger side now and is back to smoothing. The dash, windshield channel, back window channel, roof, A-pillars, sail panels, passenger quarter, and rockers are done on both sides. Hard to tell much progress, but it is taking place. He is back on the driver's quarter and hopes to have that done this week or next. (He works on it in the evenings and weekends)
We will have to take a break in a month or so to do a final chassis, drivetrain, body fitment. The inside of the driver's rear wheel well was replaced, but a hole for the filler neck was missed. We need to get that done so I can finalize the gas tank location. I want to do a final check on firewall clearance and trans tunnel clearance and check the pinion angle on the diff.
Pending a successful outcome there, the body will continue and I will finish the fuel system. I will have the engine in place as well, so just waiting on the body.
