Projects 59 El Camino.. Build Pics

My 59 has the same dash trim.

Here's another motivation picture, I had to pick up a 32 for a friend last year.

 

And so you don't feel so bad abut the rust in yours, my rockers were really rough

 

I am curious to know, if the dash trim is factory. The work that's been done on the car in the past is shoddy. I can't imagine "they" put it on.. but a lot can happen in fifty years time.
Thats the only way a Ford looks good in a Chevy. Cool picture!

 

I would like to put in a new one piece floorboard someday. I should've done it to begin with. Not ever selling the Elco anyways.. not really worried about the resale value.

 

Right on..Thanks for that number, too. Found what I was looking for.

 

I know where there is a 28 not too awfully far from you, PM me if you are interested in details.

 

no on the dash trim, the shiney stuff was impala only. the elcos were bottom of the line trim wise, only had the strip that had the lettering in it. i have an original dealer brochure for the '60 elco/sedan delivery.

 

Did they ever make 59 El Caminos with the Biscayne trim? I could have sworn the one my friend sold, didn't have the stainless trim around the drip rail on the roof. The body moldings were only on the front fender & door!? He sold the El Camino before we ever started working on it. So I don't remember the specifics, it's been quite a long time ago.

 

all the elcos had the same trim, just different interior/exterior colors. the only difference was the grill emblem and tailgate emblems depending on motor selection. not 100% on the '59s but on the '60s the 6 cyl had just a badge on the tail gate and the V-8s had a badge and a chrome V.

 

Doesn't look too bad under the fin mlgds. I finally removed all the screws holding the bed mldgs on.


Probably my least favorite thing to do.. drilling out stripped, old & broken screws & bolts. UhhG!

This shows the size difference between the El Camino/Wagon & the Pass Car taillights

So far so good, under the rear window mldgs. Nothing is really standing out, on the under side, of the back of the roof.

The little bit of rust in the "mini package tray" I still need to take care of. I'll do it, Friday! Tomorrow, I have to go run around, Southern California. Over a 140 mile circle, to drop off some moldings in Santa Ana, p/u some qtr pnls in Fullerton, rtn some parts in Orange & buy a dash mldg in Fullerton. Not in that particular order, either!

 

Stripped the dash down today.. parts wise anyways. I used the drill & hogged out the old lock cylinder, in the ignition switch. I did it as carefull as possible, since it's not something thats reproduced.


I saved 5 lbs. disasssembling the radios back half. The push buttons still work.. but it's just there for looks.


Took this pic to remember which cable goes to which control.


Yesterday I worked on the center cap for Dads front wheels.(pictured earlier in the thread) Need to order the round stock material, and finish up the designing on MasterCam. The part will have to be indexed, in order to tap a couple holes in the backside of the cap to keep it attached. These pics show the progression of my first ever design work.




Someday I'll make something of myself..

 

Today I cut off the rear section of a '58 frame, that was under a '58 Biscayne parts car I had. The front frame rails on the parts car were cut already.. it had a half-assed tilt front end when I got it ($400.00 90% complete..I was happy) So that '58 parts car it's still contributing. I spent a real good part of the day, grinding and cutting welds apart on the 58's & 9's frame rails. I guess 59' are known for the rear frame piece rusting away like this one did


Driver side was not a good look on the side rail, so I had to cut it off with the Sawzall & Die Grinder.


59's on the left, 58 is the same size & dimension. The ends differ, for the two different bumper mounting types. 58's all by itself! I will take more pics tomorrow of the difference in the rear frame rails.


Psngr side here took the longest to remove the factory welds on everything. I'm going to have use the 58's side support brackets, also. I only have one 59 bracket, so I centered the 58 & 59 together, vice gripped it & oblonged the holes to match. Not in the pics here, though.

Tomorrow will feel more productive, after I've welded everything together. A little more grinding an it's go time


Glad it's staying light out longer, the sunset after 5:30 today.

 

The 58's on the top, and the new reproduction piece on the bottom, is 59. The open end on the 58 faces forward, like you see here & the 59's open side, faces to the back. I welded the left rear frame rail on today, but I didn't take pictures. I will in the morning. I have the new rear piece held in with vise grips. Triple check everything in the morning & burn it in! I will take pics tomorrow. I have to cut out some steel tomorrow also, to reinforce both sides of the butt weld, on the left lwr frame rail.

 

I used a come along, to pull in the side frame rails, square. Then I clamped it down & welded it.

The rear piece welded in.. EeewwWW, exciting I know!

Here the butt weld is ground down, ready for reinforcements.

This shows the 58 corner reinforcements, welded in on the inside, and the inner support plate.

Otherside..

The frame is solid, now I can move on to the bodies needs.

 

I had the rear bumper on today, it fits nice. I have two, 1 pc rear bumpers. The rear bumper I'm going to use is straight, but had a little, fandangle welded to it. Maybe it was a "Okie" tow hitch.. I da' know!


After I ground it off, I seen the crack in the center of the bumper. Not sure if that was because they were pulling something w/ the bumper, or they welded it there to stop the separating.


The second rear bumper I have (not pictured).. its bottom edge is so wavy, you can surf on it. Yet it had every bracket on it, and surprisingly, only one of the inner brackets was bent. The bumper I'm using, had only one bracket on it..the one I needed!
Tomorrow, I'm grinding off the paint on the roof. A little Blue Lightening Rust Remover for the bad spots.

Then I have to slap file & dolly, were they stretched the roof panel when they stepped on it. There's a dent in the middle of the hood, the speaker grille in the dash & on the roof. You can follow the footsteps C.S.I style..

 

Rain for the next four days, so it looks like I'm not stripping the roof, anytime soon!

 

looks cool

 

Thanks.. appreciate it!

 

Looks cool! The rodder's journal had a mint green 59' el camino a few issues back. Had Supremes on it. More of a lowrider, but looked badass. Probably my favorite el camino.

 

I know of the one you're speaking of.. it's all over the net. A lot of time in that Elco. I would love to see it in person.

 

man your Elco is just too much like my old one! i had to crawl under my desk and rock in a fetal position for a minute or two as the memories came flooding back! (kidding, kinda!). My '59 was the only car I have ever owned that just flat defeated me. It looked pretty clean when I made that purchase decision, but getting it home revealed a floor made up entirely of old road signs and roofing tar. Pulled all that mess out and found inner rockers were bad, and surprise, the outers were bad too! Replaced all of that,and got to work on the quarters. Replaced everything from the beltline down there too. Found the rust in the rear frame rails, fixed that. Divider panel Ditto. I finally lost it when I pulled the trim around the roof and found the same rust you fixed on yours... done! Get this thing away from me! Sold it to another guy who had it up and running within six monthes. I still wish I had one though....

 

I have to get this done. There's two other projects I need to put my time to, plus a lake & salt racer in the works..

 

Here is some more motivation for you. My old 59 that I sold and it went to Sweden. 350/700R4, 605 P/S conversion, P/B with disc and dropped spindles with cut springs in front, just cut springs in rear. I should not have sold it........

My 59 also needed qtr panel patches, floorpans and the rear window and shelf repairs. I never finish painted it.

Also threw in a pic of my 60 El Camino that I had before the 59. Not as nice as the 59, but was still a fun car. Needed body work, but was not as rusted as the 59 was, I never did it. It sold and went to New Zealand.

 

Well I hope you don't plan on running that dash! That thing is horrible looking. I pay you twice the scrap metal price for it though...

 

Trade you for a 59-60 Pontiac or Cad dash, anyday! My daily 57 has a 56 dash in it. So that would be cool!

 

Between the earthquakes, rain & huge gusts of wind, I've managed to get a little done. The gas tank has been cleaned and painted a while ago. So today, I used a scotch brite pad & a paper towel, before I applied the 2 coats of Rust Seal. I will paint the tank to cover the Rust Seal on Wednesday. I just received the quote to straighten all the moldings, an anodize the the t/light bezels, after they straighten 'em. Wow.. is all I'm going to say!



The forecast is killing me.. says rain every other day. Not what'cha need, when doing body work outside!

 

Your work at saving this finned cruiser is to be commended, sir.

 

Thanks, but my motives are all self serving. Hahaha!

 

The inner fender wells are a pain in the butt. Unbolted, they still don't want to come out.

I wasn't able to get the vise grips in there to hold the nut, on the last bolt.

The Sawzall an a new blade, I was golden. I tried to be careful as not to damage the hood grilles "anymore" than they already are. I had to cut between the grille, the upper tie bar & the inner well itself. Takes a lot longer, when I'm trying not to cut up all the other pieces.

I have to figure out the Chinese puzzle, of getting the inner wells out. When I take the front end off the car, it seems to grow in size. (and so do the tempers) I have lots of work to do on the firewall.

 

4 gallons of vinegar an a big container. I'm interested to see how well it removes the exposed rust.