Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

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.

Here I thought the question was going to be how cool a El Camino was over a Chevelle!

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 :)

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.

Just show up with "Benjamins" in-hand and convince him.

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).

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

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.

OscarZ wrote:

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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.

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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.

 

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?

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 wrote:

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An inpact is almost a necessity for stripping apart a rusty car.

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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 wrote:

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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.

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$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.

 

Yeah, OK, you might be right about it being a little too far gone to save.....::

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.

wow! thats a rusty one!!! Good for parts though.

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: