Aren't most of the El Camino parts (except the body ones of course) interchangeable with the chevelles of the same years? Things like rear ends, dashes, steering columns, etc.
67ss said
Aug 16, 2010
Yes most of that stuff is the same.
bowtie said
Aug 17, 2010
There's a few things that are still unique, but yeah for the most part the mechanicals are interchangeable. Same with Monte Carlo's for that matter.
OscarZ said
Aug 17, 2010
Thanks guys. Just wanted to confirm before going to look at a rusty barn find 72 El Camino.
bwild70ss396 said
Aug 20, 2010
Here I thought the question was going to be how cool a El Camino was over a Chevelle!
67ss said
Aug 20, 2010
Ok so you are leaving us hanging here. Did you find an elcamino with a 402 in it and 12 bolt to swap into your chevelle or what?
OscarZ said
Aug 20, 2010
I haven't looked at it yet. Waiting to hear back on it. It's buried in the corner and it will take a little work to make it accessible. My friend saw it and he could see the tailgate and one side. It is an SS but the guy is sure it is a 350. He doesn't remember if it has buckets or a bench. It's buried under 20 plus years of dust. I already have a 12 bolt in my car
but it never hurts to have a spare :)
dashboard said
Aug 20, 2010
Say it's not so, your not going to part out an El Camino for a Chevelle.
Interiors are the same except doors. Glass, doors, and fenders are different, Elky driveshaft longer. Lots of other little stuff, gas tank, frame.....
OscarZ said
Aug 20, 2010
Kevin,
It's supposed to be too far gone rust wise and is only good for parts. That's the opinion of the owner and my friend who saw it. My friend owns a custom restoration shop so I trust his opinion. There are some items besides the dash I would be interested in depending how it is optioned. Until I hear back that the guy has dug it out for me to look at and I get to go see it I won't know much. I figured if I wasn't interested I could get some pics and maybe Jamie or someone else in the club might be.
OscarZ said
May 9, 2011
Finally got a chance to look at the El Camino. It's all there and a small block SS but its very rusty. Dark green, black vinyl top and black bucket interior with stapler shifter. All the parts I would be interested in are there. Made him an offer. He was going to check with another guy who's wanted it for years but has never came up with the cash. I'll let you guys know if I end up getting it. I offered him much less than the other guy but I don't think that guy would ever truly pony up or he would have by now. Hope the seller doesn't waste any more time waiting for that guy.
-- Edited by OscarZ on Monday 9th of May 2011 04:44:43 PM
John D said
May 9, 2011
Just show up with "Benjamins" in-hand and convince him.
Chris R said
May 9, 2011
Make sure you get pictures before moving anything. People love to see that kind of stuff. Most mechanical parts and interior parts are the same as chevelle.
Derek69SS said
May 10, 2011
Dashes may be different... they were in '69, not sure about 70-72.
Coupes & converts had astro-ventilation, El Caminos did not (because they still had vent-windows).
OscarZ said
May 10, 2011
I hope the dash is the same because that is one of the pieces I would be interested in.
OscarZ said
May 21, 2011
Went and picked up the barn find parts car El Camino SS today with Jamie's help. Too bad it was so dang rusty because it was all there. Only an H code 350 so no 12 bolt but the SS hood is one of the nicest used ones I've seen. Seats are good cores with nice headrests. Center console and shifter are nice. Dash is nice. Don't think it has been cut up but the silver around the radio doesn't continue around the bottom like it does in my 71 sweepeer dash? It was an early 72 so it doesn't have the seat belt warning light and will look correct in my 71. 5 SS wheels including the spare. Had the original warranty pamphlet with protect-o-plate with the date of delivery being 9/30/71. It was bought at the Frederic Auto Co. in Frederic WI by someone who lived in Danbury. Sequoia Green with black vinyl top and interior. Motor is all stock with original parts and stickers. Seats are already out and hood is off. Didn't find a build sheet under the seats or carpeting or on top of the glove box. So rusty guessing even if one is on the gas tank it would be ruined. Maybe I will come across one somewhere else?
-- Edited by OscarZ on Saturday 21st of May 2011 04:42:20 PM
-- Edited by OscarZ on Saturday 4th of June 2011 05:38:30 AM
Lost in the 60s said
May 21, 2011
The link to your Hub Garage wants a log in...
What's TOO rusty ?? I don't see anything other than surface. You ever see the pics of my GTO ?? Now THAT'S too rusty, but some dang fool STILL replaced the frame, complete floor and rockers.
OscarZ said
May 21, 2011
Quarters, bed floor, door bottoms are all rusted bad. Sorry about the link. Hoped it would work. My garage name is Entropy Garage might be able to check it out that way.
Chris R said
May 21, 2011
Nice find. How is the frame? Is that rusted out and junk too?
Lost in the 60s said
May 21, 2011
OscarZ wrote:
Quarters, bed floor, door bottoms are all rusted bad. Sorry about the link. Hoped it would work. My garage name is Entropy Garage might be able to check it out that way.
The Garage wants a password too...
Shoot Mike, doors are a bolt on replacement. Bed floor and quarters might have to come from a good donor, I'm not familiar with what's available for a 'Camino. Like Chris said, if the frame is good and it's all original it may be worth saving. I know you didn't buy it for that, but if you got it cheap enough, clean it up and throw it on ebay to see if you can make a decent profit and buy the parts you need and have money left over.
Derek69SS said
May 21, 2011
If it was a bigblock car, it might be worth saving but a smallblock SS el camino just isn't worth enough to bring back from the dead like that... look at how cheap Brad sold his documented '70 SS396 el camino. I love el caminos, but they're worth about half as much as a comparable Chevelle coupe when finished.
Good find though! Lots of good stuff on it.
OscarZ said
May 28, 2011
Spent 5 hours taking parts off the El Camino today. Reminded me how much I dislike wrenching on rusty cars. Made some good progress. Main things left are the dash, shifter and the seat and shifter mounting brackets. Do have one question. Do the plastic covers over the lap belts that retract just pop off somehow?
Lost in the 60s said
May 28, 2011
Yes, the covers pop off. I can't remember if they snap on the ends or sides, but if you look close, you should see where to pry out gently on the cover to release it.
Gotta love rust fasteners....
OscarZ said
May 28, 2011
The front bumper did me in. Used my jack handle to get more leverage and got it off but it was a struggle. I'm sure I'll be feeling it when fishing tomorrow morning.
Chris R said
May 29, 2011
An inpact is almost a necessity for stripping apart a rusty car.
Lost in the 60s said
May 29, 2011
Chris R wrote:
An inpact is almost a necessity for stripping apart a rusty car.
I LOVE my plasma for bumper bracket bolts. It's so much more controllable than a torch that all it cuts is the nut.
A cheap 4.5 grinder with a cut off blade helps too. I sometimes cut off the extra threads beyond the nut and then you don't need to fight that rust. Only the threads left in the nut to get it off.
OscarZ said
May 29, 2011
I have to drill/cut out the brackets for the bucket seats and center console to mount them in my car. It would be nice to have such things for that.
Lost in the 60s said
May 29, 2011
OscarZ wrote:
I have to drill/cut out the brackets for the bucket seats and center console to mount them in my car. It would be nice to have such things for that.
$20 for a grinder at Northern and they come with some discs. If it doesn't have a cut off blade, they are only another couple bucks. That tool will save you much time and frustration. Just don't get your hand in the blade......it removes meat faster than a speeding bullet.
OscarZ said
Jun 3, 2011
Dismantled the El Camino a little more today. Took a few more pics. I'm going to need a tetanus shot before I'm done...::
Lost in the 60s said
Jun 4, 2011
Yeah, OK, you might be right about it being a little too far gone to save.....::
dashboard said
Jun 4, 2011
Mike, check your PMs
Dave Seitz said
Jun 4, 2011
Jamie had said you guys had some fun out there and he went back for more on his own. He did pick up another car to work on in his spare time like he has any.
Chris R said
Jun 4, 2011
I talked to Jamie on the phone a few times since he helped you that day. He said it was too far gone to restore. Boy was he right.
bwild70ss396 said
Jun 4, 2011
wow! thats a rusty one!!! Good for parts though.
OscarZ said
Jun 5, 2011
I would have loved to find a nicer SS this complete but it was a good parts car for me and will make a good template for Jamie to reference in his restoration since it is unaltered other than the previous rust repair (not done very well as you can see) and repaint.
OscarZ said
Jul 3, 2011
The El Camino moved on to Jamie's today. Cut the last pieces out yesterday morning. I have my parts and a big pile of rust. Now to put them away until I'm ready to use them and start working on the Chevelle. A few last pics:
Chris R said
Jul 5, 2011
You should send the original pictures to the Cars-in-Barns website.
Aren't most of the El Camino parts (except the body ones of course) interchangeable with the chevelles of the same years? Things like rear ends, dashes, steering columns, etc.
Finally got a chance to look at the El Camino. It's all there and a small block SS but its very rusty. Dark green, black vinyl top and black bucket interior with stapler shifter. All the parts I would be interested in are there. Made him an offer. He was going to check with another guy who's wanted it for years but has never came up with the cash. I'll let you guys know if I end up getting it. I offered him much less than the other guy but I don't think that guy would ever truly pony up or he would have by now. Hope the seller doesn't waste any more time waiting for that guy.
-- Edited by OscarZ on Monday 9th of May 2011 04:44:43 PM
Make sure you get pictures before moving anything. People love to see that kind of stuff. Most mechanical parts and interior parts are the same as chevelle.
Coupes & converts had astro-ventilation, El Caminos did not (because they still had vent-windows).
Went and picked up the barn find parts car El Camino SS today with Jamie's help. Too bad it was so dang rusty because it was all there. Only an H code 350 so no 12 bolt but the SS hood is one of the nicest used ones I've seen. Seats are good cores with nice headrests. Center console and shifter are nice. Dash is nice. Don't think it has been cut up but the silver around the radio doesn't continue around the bottom like it does in my 71 sweepeer dash? It was an early 72 so it doesn't have the seat belt warning light and will look correct in my 71. 5 SS wheels including the spare. Had the original warranty pamphlet with protect-o-plate with the date of delivery being 9/30/71. It was bought at the Frederic Auto Co. in Frederic WI by someone who lived in Danbury. Sequoia Green with black vinyl top and interior. Motor is all stock with original parts and stickers. Seats are already out and hood is off. Didn't find a build sheet under the seats or carpeting or on top of the glove box. So rusty guessing even if one is on the gas tank it would be ruined. Maybe I will come across one somewhere else?
-- Edited by OscarZ on Saturday 21st of May 2011 04:42:20 PM
-- Edited by OscarZ on Saturday 4th of June 2011 05:38:30 AM
The link to your Hub Garage wants a log in...
What's TOO rusty ?? I don't see anything other than surface. You ever see the pics of my GTO ?? Now THAT'S too rusty, but some dang fool STILL replaced the frame, complete floor and rockers.
Quarters, bed floor, door bottoms are all rusted bad. Sorry about the link. Hoped it would work. My garage name is Entropy Garage might be able to check it out that way.
Nice find. How is the frame? Is that rusted out and junk too?
Good find though! Lots of good stuff on it.
Yes, the covers pop off. I can't remember if they snap on the ends or sides, but if you look close, you should see where to pry out gently on the cover to release it.
Gotta love rust fasteners....
An inpact is almost a necessity for stripping apart a rusty car.
Dismantled the El Camino a little more today. Took a few more pics. I'm going to need a tetanus shot before I'm done...::
Yeah, OK, you might be right about it being a little too far gone to save.....::
I talked to Jamie on the phone a few times since he helped you that day. He said it was too far gone to restore. Boy was he right.
The El Camino moved on to Jamie's today. Cut the last pieces out yesterday morning.
I have my parts and a big pile of rust. Now to put them away until I'm ready to use them and start working on the Chevelle. A few last pics:
You should send the original pictures to the Cars-in-Barns website.