I spent a little bit of time on the El Camino today. Installed the oil tube and dipstick, heater hoses and inner fender heater hose clamp, soldered and shrink sleeved a broken wire to the generator, installed various wiring harness clips, installed the re***embled wiper switch (after checking it worked with a multi-meter), and also the lower tailgate trim plate. After installing the dipstick tube and dipstick, I was able to check the oil level. It’s dry. Any recommendations on oil type (I’m ***uming 10W30 but standard, blend or synthetic?) and if I should use an additive? The engine was rebuilt, test run and then drained and stored.
So the car is coming along. I’ve got the engine ready to fire but will wait until I’m back south next time as I’ve got a rad up north I need to bring down. The engine was rebuilt, and I’m ***uming was break-in run as there’s carbon on the valves and the tops of the pistons, but I still want to do a break-in run on it just in case. I also had a nice surprise today. I was ***uming I would need to buy a new fuel tank as it appeared the mounting screws were snapped off in the tank for the sending unit as the holes were plugged. Turns out the tank is fine and has been coated with a tank sealer. What I thought were broken off mounting screws was just sealant that popped out with an awl.
Came back south after a short stay in Canada to make sure my kids hadn’t killed each other….. I have the engine bay pretty well ****oned up. I need to prime the engine and then it should be ready to start….. but the neighborhood where my father-in-law is gracious enough to let me use a garage bay may not appreciate a 20 minute run in with no exhaust, so I’ll need to buy and install an exhaust system (and a Tach) before I fire it up. Also polished and installed some trim. Every little bit helps. I need the molding clips for the airplanes and one tailgate and one rear fin trim……. and the p***enger side door molding if anyone can suggest a source. Thanks in advance. Allan
Engine is looking real good! I'm excited to get my 348 rebuilt to go into my 60. I also need rear fin trim, for the LH side. If you locate more than one, let me know! As far as the door trim, I have seen some on Instagram accounts for those guys who buy/sell/part out 59 and 60 chevys. I can take a look and try to get you contact info if you don't have social media. I really only use it to look at car stuff. Other than that, I think I've seen some on eBay.
This doesn't have the short piece to connect the quarter and door. But one of the pieces you're missing. https://www.ebay.com/itm/123365428121?hash=item1cb9270b99:g:8FMAAOSwk6dbmFfH
Here are the tailgate moldings. https://www.ebay.com/itm/184191802890?hash=item2ae2afde0a:g:VAAAAOSw6NNeWtKh
Ah, my mistake. I read that wrong. Have you checked with Ecklers, Cl***ic Industries or TruckandCarShop? I think it was Ecklers I was looking at last week that has lots of clips for the moldings. I don't know if they have everything you need, but they have a lot.
If you’ve got some, I’ll buy them from you! Tailgate trim clips Door trim clips Airplane clips ….. and the bed molding clips if you happen to have them. Thanks in advance! Allan
You are so lucky you have both of the rear fin trim pieces. I cannot for the life of me find a Lh side. And if, after you've got what you need, @1oldtimer has any left over, I'll take them.
I'm not sure how well that tank sealer plays with the gas available these days. We had a tank sealer applied to a tank we built for my brother's Willys. The fuel filter has been picking up whispy strands of red sealer ever since (he carries extra fuel filters at all times). Might have been poor application technique or degradation based on todays fuels. Oh yes, and I've enjoyed watching your build.
I'll look this weekend in the Elco parts cabinet for the can and see what I have, it's a mixture of '59 and '60 stuff. If I don't have them all look at the Auveco catalog. 19378 is a universal break away clip, might work for the airplanes. https://www.clipsandfasteners.com/ Outside chance, but still a VERY good source to remember: https://restorationstuff.com/
Some reading: https://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/248380/ Parts: https://panhandleautofastener.com/s...hevy-el-camino-body-side-moulding-clips-10pcs https://i5chevy.com/59-1959-chevy-bel-air-4-door-hardtop-sedan-side-molding-trim-clip-set-112pc/ https://bowtiecl***icparts.com/product/chevy-bed-molding-clip-set-complete-el-camino-1959-1960/ Here's for a '59: https://bowtiecl***icparts.com/product/chevy-complete-side-molding-clip-set-1959-el-camino/
I might have a line on that piece of trim for you. I’ll know tomorrow. The guy is dealing with tropical storm Claudette today. He’s going to check tomorrow. I’ll PM you with his contact info if he does. He’s a great guy. Edit: Are you talking about the rear fin trim that continues on from the tailgate trim or the thin trim on the upper fin?
Good info! Thanks! I’ll watch that. Until I have it running and driving, I really don’t want to shell out $400+ for a gas tank.
Actually, these are the clips I need for the airplanes. The photo I posted previously were shots of trim I have up north from a Biscayne.
Found the can, it’s a lot smaller then I remembered. Sorry, but the few clips I have look like they might be for ‘59 side trim (or my g/f old ‘61 Bel Air).....way too wide. My first 60 Elco didn’t have side trim left on it, so no clips to save before it went to the wrecking yard.
I got it to the point where it was ready to fire, and made oil pressure but could not start it up where it was stored without exhaust. I sold it last December to a fellow HAMB’er in New Mexico. He got it running, lowered, polished, and upholstered. It turned out really nice! I’ve replaced it with a ‘66 model year that I believe misses the HAMB cutoff by a year so I haven’t started a thread. Here’s a teaser though! Allan
I’ve actually got a thread going on there. Here it is if anyone is interested. https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/1966-hemi-belvedere-ii-project.251562/
The Jalopy Journal
