El Camino Project

[Stanley_9875]

So recently I've finally got myself a car I've always wanted... specifically a 1971 Chevy El Camino. I'm as much a fan of old muscle cars as I am certain imports, and I've got myself the project car I've always wanted





Now both my babies =^-^=



But with old cars you dont really know how long how many people had it, is where the problems come in. Upon further inspection after I bought the car that exterior looked really good for the year, same with the interior, I took a closer look at what I love to do... mechanical and electrical. Mechanically this thing "seemed" okay; she had a bit of an oil/trans/power steering (all or some) leak, the engine started and ran well, and the tach wasnt working (i thought to myself it just probably wasnt connected yet, since it had the super sport gauges, even though the car wasnt an SS). But looking around some more, turns out the engine is from a junkyard, seeing by the yellow writing on the heads of the 350 5.7L V8 motor... not a big deal... but there was an EGR (smog sh*t... thanks california) on it which a good friend of mine and a long time mechanic said it was probably a '75-'76 year motor... an engine mount bolt was missing, the water temperature gauge wasnt working, the oil leak was bigger than I thought, ect. So after finding the rear seal on the intake manifold blown out



Which was the cause of the oil leak, and some wires werent just disconnected, they were cut miles (over exaggerated) from their destination





(The one on the right is supposed to be connected to the water temperature sensor xP), ect ect., my dad and I just said we should pull out the motor and ill rebuild the whole thing (with his help of course, figured it could give me and my dad and my lover something to bond over and we could teach each other stuff [more me teaching and them learning though xD]... plus i cant pull out that motor by myself)

[Stanley_9875]

So now we've got the coolant drained, some hoses disconnected, (cheap a$$) valve covers removed, the radiator, fan, shroud, and some other stuff disconnected as we're starting the process of pulling the motor... in case you didnt know i went to school for auto mechanics, and one of the motors I pulled apart, put back together, and modified was a 350 small block during one of my courses =^-^=





Didnt have much time to whip out the camera during the pulling process cuz we pulled the engine and transmission and my hands were dirty and greasy as hell (love it) but now the motor and transmission's out



and inside the garage



Now got it on the engine stand and over this week and weekend I'll be tearing it apart









So i'll be continuing this weekend of taking the crankshaft, pistons and connecting rods out =^-^= my toolbox drawrs are getting full of labled baggies with bolts and parts xD What I want to do with this motor still not sure... was thinking of getting it bored, new pistons, upgraded camshaft... supercharger? =^-^= To be continued =^-^= Hey i bought this car as a project... so I'm not complaining at all the work :3

[applejuice]

There's a lot of work to do! But I'm certain that you'll love the fruits of your hard work.

[tm20]

you have a very nice car, you going to convert it to biofuel? btw please don't **** it up by putting 26"s on it and covering it in cool aid or skittles graphics -__-

[Stanley_9875]

good Lord no mate I dont do that stuff... mostly want to restore it and make her look pretty. Buffing up the motor, maybe transmission, but not that other stuff xD like to keep it simple yet effective. But no i dont do the whole 24" chrome wheels with air bags and **** like that

[Moco Loco]

That is quite a project, I guess you shouldn't have too many more complications though Good luck

[Stanley_9875]

eh probably not a sleeper... I like my muscle cars loud and demanding respect xD Loud to the point where they go like they sound... again a bigger camshaft with a respectable valve overlap will give it the sound like its going to stall out at idle, but give it the gas and she roars, plus a supercharger, aftermarket headers and straight exhaust with no mufflers? oh yea... xDDD

[Stanley_9875]

My Honda Accord doesnt look like much except for the Acura TL wheels, but she's got a 3.0L V6 motor with a short ram intake (might go with a cold air intake later) and DC Sport headers and Eibach sway bars... she sounds quiet like a regular Honda when I'm driving normal but go wide open throttle and she roars too xDDD

[iron_jones]

Sweet car.

[Stanley_9875]

Originally Posted by iron_jones

Sweet car.

Thanks friend =^-^=

[Human No More]

Nice car

Looks like a lot of work... should be an interesting project though. Good luck.

[Sight Unseen]

Woah, nice car. Also, impressive work you're doing there. I've always wanted to do something more than just fix stuff as it breaks but I wouldn't even know where to begin on a project of that scale. Please do post shots of the finished product.

Originally Posted by Stanley_9875

but there was an EGR (smog sh*t... thanks california

That was the latest thing to go out on my '99 Navigator (not my choice, I f***ing hate it) and it wouldn't idle because the EGR smothered the engine with exhaust. I ended up spending like $300 on a new EGR valve and DPFE sensor as both were hopelessly corroded. Then I discovered the wiring harness came out of its clip and was melted to the engine block, so I had to get a putty knife and scrape the burnt plastic off the engine block and wire a new (twenty conductor in some places) harness myself. Finding those connectors was a pain, and I discovered they put two resistors and a diode *in the harness*, so I had to do an autopsy on the old one to figure out the proper schematic. So yeah, I don't like EGR systems either.

[Stanley_9875]

Originally Posted by Human No More

Nice car

Looks like a lot of work... should be an interesting project though. Good luck.

Yea, like I said a lot of work is what I was going for though, something for me to restore and be proud of =^-^=

[tm20]

i just realized this is the car that the picador from GTA SA is based on get some shades, a compton hat and a jerry curl and you'll be Ryder XD

[Human No More]

...wow, it is. Completely missed that before