My new 68 El Camino project
 

I wanted something with a little more cool factor for those times when I need to haul something. The F150 just wasn't doing it for me, so I am selling it. It has been very reliable, but hey, its still a ferd.

Just bought a 68 El Camino, originally Grecian Green, black interior, 307 pg, factory air (needs at least a compressor, but most parts are there) and ps.

Has had at least one color change, and is currently flat black. Very rust free body, with slight damage to rf fender. Still in shock as to how little rust there is.

Still has the power glide with a 69 or 70 vintage 350 two barrel. Only missing two small pieces of trim, but the rest has been pulled to prep for paint. Needs weather strip. Runs and drives, but I plan to trailer it home. Short term plan is:

Get rid of the hideous red window tint.

Re-install original steering wheel (came with the car).

Replace leaking pg with 200r4

Get engine in good running order. Will wait and see if it needs a rebuild.

Go through the brakes and front end.

Get the body cleaned up and paint flat black.

Install some used tires and wheels (think I have some located).

Install a trailer hitch, and it will be my utility vehicle for now.


I don't haul much heavy stuff. When I do, I can use my Studebaker farm truck. For hauling cars, I can use this to pull my car hauler trailer. I will need to wire it so the trailer brakes work.

Long term will probably go back with the Grecian Green paint. Not worried about being Purdy right now.

Re: My new 68 El Camino project
 

Nice hauler [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Re: My new 68 El Camino project
 

looks pretty straight...

currently working on a 70 El Camino my dad gave my son.....

power windows
ac
350
th350
power disc

kinda growing on me.....

Re: My new 68 El Camino project
 

Great project car and will look great when you get it all fixed up.

Re: My new 68 El Camino project
 

Big fan of El Caminos here, and '68 is a great year with their &quot;off&quot; center (horizontally at least) grill.

Should be cool when it's done, esp when you go back to Grecian Green (great color).

Re: My new 68 El Camino project
 

Lynn -- AWESOME start ... now get to it. TAZ

Re: My new 68 El Camino project
 

Going to get it this morning.
Don't expect any updates for awhile. All I am doing is gathering parts until Oct.

We have a ton of work to do before Sept 18, when my daughter is getting married at the wedding chapel across the street, with the reception at our house.

Re: My new 68 El Camino project
 

$$$ First things first $$$

Re: My new 68 El Camino project
 

OK, I know I said I wasn't going to do any work on the El Camino (btw, that's Spanish for THE camino) until Oct.

But, I found a set of VINTAGE Centerline wheels with the screw on caps with tires that I could NOT pass up.

These babies are dull, but not a scratch on them. 15 x 8 in front 15 x 10 in rear with the correct offsets.

So, I had to put on the hijackers and see what it looked like with these tires and wheels on it.

Re: My new 68 El Camino project
 

Lynn,
U-Haul can build you a class-III hitch for it. They don't list it as currently available, but they will build it from their old specs. I just installed one on my '69 ELC and it fits perfectly. Comes with all the hardware and powder coated.

Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: My new 68 El Camino project
 

Thanks Verne. I may check it out.
So, we are El Camino brothers. I didn't even know you had a 69. Kind of late model for you, isn't it, with that fancy column mounted ignition switch and the reverse interlock?

Re: My new 68 El Camino project
 

Yeah, I consider it a &quot;modern&quot; car. All the modern conveniences including A/C. The hitch is really tucked under the bumper and doesn't &quot;announce&quot; itself or wait to bruise your shin.
Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...er_hitch_3.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...er_hitch_5.jpg

Re: My new 68 El Camino project
 

Very nice Verne.
Did you convert the a/c to 134a refrigerant?

Saw a really good thread over at Team Chevelle where a guy used a 69 Camaro plate holder and put the receiver behind the plate, completely out of sight. Of course you had to pull down the plate to use it, so I am guessing some law enforcement would frown on that.

Re: My new 68 El Camino project
 

Can I join the fray? Here's my 138 car I purchased last November. Factory color was Butternut Yellow w/ the Black Vinyl roof.
http://i61.tinypic.com/2mplpfq.jpg

Re: My new 68 El Camino project
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lynn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Very nice Verne.
Did you convert the a/c to 134a refrigerant?
</div></div>

Yes I did. I sent the original hoses to that outfit in FL and they fitted the original fittings (replated) to the new hoses. They did a great job. I didn't need to do anything to the compressor. I was surprised how well it cools, but then the passenger compartment is half the size of a car.....

The heater will roast you out!

Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

PS: One thing that really surprised me about the ELC was when I put it in the same garage along side my '62 Impala. They're both the SAME length even though the ELC is based on a mid-sized car!

Hidden trailer hitch
 

Well, I was bored this weekend (got the Studebaker truck running like a beast.. what a torque monstor with the Crane roller cam recommended by Eric. 350 engine using a NP 542 5 speed. So much freaking fun to drive. Got the dual carbs rebuilt on the Opel GT and waiting on the machine shop to bore & deck the block, clean up the head and balance the rotating assy.

So.. decided that even though Vern's trailer hitch looks pretty righteous, I wanted a hidden hitch. The wagons had the gas tank filler under the license plate, like a 69 Camaro.

Ialso wanted to beef up the frame a bit in the back as the last 2 feet or so are not boxed, and that doesn't work out well for towing heavy loads. You cannot see any part of the hitch (with the plate up) from the rear or the sides.

Here is the write up I did over at team chevelle. I rarely get on that site.

Used the Wagon fold down license plate holder.

Bought a combo weld on receiver on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170770768906...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT


Attached a pic, because the link will eventually die.

Used 1/4 inch plate steel for the ends, welded on a 4 inch 1/4 thich tube cut to 38" long.

Welded 1.5" angle iron inside the frame rails.

Gas tank is a really tight fit, but it does not hit anywhere, so no rubbing. If I were to do it over again, I would make the end plates about 1 inch shorter. It would make it easier to install the tank. Couldn't have done it without some help from my angel of a wife.

I will be installing a 7 way harness set up. My trailer has brakes, so I want all the help I can get.

Already installed cargo springs, air shockes, boxed the rear control arms and added frame stiffeners. The hitch set up partially boxes the rear frame rails, so everything is much stronger than before.

Added a quick steering box last weekend. I had it on my 69 Z at one time, and I believe I got that box off a 90's Trans Am WS6. Fortunately, I saved the metric hose set up from 20 years ago.

I also added 12 inch brakes to the front. Anyone who is interested can read the story here : http://www.camaros.net/forums/16-bra...e-upgrade.html

Still to go:
1. decide on a radio
2. install the rest of the factory air parts.
3. Paint eventually, but I have some other serious projects lined up in front of this one.

Love it!

Well, now I have a dumb question. I haven't messed with a brake controller (for the electric trailer brakes) since the 70's.

Have no controller right now, and need recommendations. I realize a lot of the later model (later than my 68 at least) trucks have integrated wiring already.

I looked at an Odyssey II that says it is pressure sensitive, but didn't see any reference to plumbing into the brake system. How can it be pressure sensitive without that?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VALLEY-ODYSS...1TCtAL&vxp=mtr

About the same cost is a Drawtite: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Activator-IV...RWdBM4&vxp=mtr

Any advice appreciated.

Lynn

What would work well?

Went with the drawtite.

Going to haul a pretty heavy load on Sat. if all works out.

Should be a high of 68 degrees in our area. Tranny is a 4L60E out of a Suburban.
Engine runs nice and cool on the highway, right at 180 degrees.

I know I should not leave it in OD with a full load.

Would you recommend a separate trans cooler plumbed in line with the radiator trans cooler?

Made one of the dumbest purchases of my life. The "heavy load" I was referring to was an old Hunter aligment lift. It wasn't the model I was thinking of when I put in a low ball bid. Sucker must weigh 5000 pounds. My trailer weighs almost 2k. So, my twin 3500 pound axles were at the max. On top of that, the load was not centered very well on the trailer, so had too much tongue weight, and only 90 psi in the air shocks.

Good news is the El Camino performed flawlessly on the 300 mile trip. I honestly think this little El Camino could haul a 9k load without issue with the tongue weight about 600 lbs and 180 or so in the shocks. Rock steady at 65 mph all the way home even with the 40 mph cross winds. I think all the mods helped (boxed lower control arms in the rear, bigger sway bars, front and rear, frame stiffeners as used on the later big block cars, and boxing the rear of the frame rails).

Had to get up at 5 a.m. and get it hauled back in time for a 1 pm appoinment yesterday. Real fun loading in the cold rain with 40 mph wind. You would think I would be old enough to learn by now.

Checked the oil level on the way home and it hadn't moved even a hair off the full mark. Towing is a great test to see if your rings seated. This is my first highway adventure since the engine build.

Only complaint is the fuel pump. I will start another thread on that issue.

I love it Lynn!

Took another road trip in the El Camino. First one since changing out the mechanical fuel pump for an electric.

Drove to a small town in Kansas to pick up a complete 3.31 12 bolt rear end. Not worried about numbers matching on this vehicle, but it is even dated correctly for my car. Probably don't need the upgrade from the 10 bolt, but may tow heavy loads from time to time, and will appreciate the peace of mind. Besides, I have some 11 inch backing plates, and plan to change out the rear brakes to 11 inch drums from a full size Chevy to match up better with my Cheap Big Brake upgrade that I already did on the front using modified original drum brake spindles, modified 69 and up brake caliper mounting brackets, Corvette rotors, Chevy truck calipers and pads. Not sure if I posted the link on that, but just in case I didn't: http://www.camaros.net/forums/16-bra...e-upgrade.html

I can gather parts and get the 12 bolt all done and ready to install. That way the car won't be "down" while I am doing the brake conversion.

Drove about 550 miles all together. Driving mostly 70 mph, achieved and overall mileage of 23.5 mpg. Better than I expected in an open bed carbed El Camino that is about as aerodynamic as a shoe box.

Specs
Engine:
350, .020 over, flat top pistons, decked block to achieve about .036 quench, 186 heads, with 1.94 valves and very little work. I don't remember the final number, but static cr is around 10.2. Crane hydraulic roller cam that makes torque starting at 1500 rpm (thanks Eric, for the cam) stock 68 Q-jet rebuilt by me on a stock 68 cast iron intake, and jetted down one size on the primaries. Has a cheapo Accell HEI distributor (came with the vehicle... uses stock GM coil, pick up and module) which I dialed in on my Sun distributor machine. 10 degrees initial, 36 total of mechanical and initial, all in by 3200 rpm, with an additional 10 to 12 degrees of vac, hooked to manifold vac. Normally use 89 octane. It will run on 87 without pinging if not pulling a load. So far, have been able to get 100% gas. Not sure how it would run on the ethanol stuff, and would rather not find out. Fuel pump, carb and lines are all supposed to be ethanol compliant.

Trans:
4l60E with a stand alone controller (.0696 OD, and converter programmed to lock up after 52 mph).

Rear:
3.36 10 bolt rear spinning 275 60 BFG tires on 10 inch vintage Centerlines.

Puts my rpm at 70 mph at 1973, right in the torque curve, which is why the good mileage. The 3.31 will only bring that down to 1939 rpm. Maybe I will speed up two mph just to keep it in the sweet spot.

Anyone need a complete, drum to drum 3.36 10 bolt out of a 68 El Camino? Would fit other A body cars as well, I believe from 68 - 72.

Lynn, neat project I would love a 69 Elky maybe Tibor can put one of those bellybutton LSA's in there fer ya that would really haul then!

Lynn,
I thought all El Caminos came with 12 bolt rears. No???

Verne

Nope. 307 PG El Caminos got the 10 bolt in 68.

So I guess the 12 bolt in my '69 350/300 is correct?

Verne

Yup.

Hi Lynn,

Love the truck, you are doing a great job making it reliable and perfect for towing:-)

Ryan

Thanks Ryan. Hope you and your son are still having fun with the Olds. I check your thread from time to time.

I am having lots of fun with the Olds... my son has learned that there are girls in the world and........ Hello...... he is in the loop but Snapchat is priority one:-)

Keep an eye on my thread, let me know if you have ideas or see me heading in the wrong direction!!

Ryan

Having a hard time finding the right backing plates for 11 inch rear drums.

Will start a new thread in "technical and restoration"

Found a great deal on a complete NOS, still in the box JacPac on ebay. There are several kits on ebay right now. You can do a search if you have never seen one of these. They are really slick.

The kit was marked as fitting a 1970 Chevy Pick up. I still don't know for sure what it is for. The only difference from one kit to the other is the actual air shocks. Since I already had Gabriel Hijackers, and am content with them, I bought it for the rest of the kit.

That means I have a pair of NOS rear air shocks (supposedly) for a 1970 Chevy PU that I will be selling. 67 to 72 should be the same. Need to verify fitment first.

Anyway, installation was very simple. The compressor runs off of engine vac. Mounted it on the inner fender. Didn't even need to drill holes for the controller under the dash. There were two holes that lined up perfectly just right of the steering column. Ran the pressure line with some wires that I had previously run for my trailer brakes under the carpent and sill plate. Pulled through the rear quarter opening along with the factory rear harness, so no danger of it getting hit by a stone. Used the existing pressure tubing in the Gabriels.

It works very well. It is awesome being able to change the pressure without looking for a place with compressed air. Besides, most travel stops with "free" air, only provide about 60 psi. If I pick up a load on the road, now I can adjust my pressure from the driver's seat. The compressor does make a little thumping noise when increasing the pressure. However, it stops as soon as the desired psi is reached, and makes no noise otherwise.