Projects 59 El Camino.. Build Pics

Mine are way better than that, I'm happy to say but they still needed repair, rust holes, broken tabs, etc. They had bondoed mine right to the quarters.

 

So far all the valances I've come across, are quite expensive. I was supposed to work on the valance today.. Mowed the lawn & washed the 7 instead. I'm going to Tuxies, tonight. Well what used to be Tuxies, anyways. It's a mexican restaurant, now.

 

I seen a couple people I knew, but nobody who knew me..

Thought I would throw in a pic of the 56 dash, in my 57.









Sorry about the finger..




I would love to build one of these old Jags..

Like your favorite pair jeans.

My favorite Torq Thrusts, The crowsfoot. I had this style Americans, on my 57 Wagon.


I liked this Bel Air post.. My 58 Biscayne has the same trim around the windows, Chevy made it look like it's a hardtop.



When I was taking this picture, there was a guy saying someone wanted the sign. I hope they don't take it down.

 

No biggie, they are wheels, easy to change if needed/wanted. I know several guys that have more than one set of wheels for their car to run depending on their mood at the time. a set of wheels can totally change the look of a car. as long as he doesn't put those ugly stamped steel chrome ten hole trailer wheels on it he shouldn't catch too much grief.

 

well thats upsetting.

 

I know, but it s so easy to change the wheels.

 

I had a lead on clean 59 El Camino. But I just found out, the son of the original owner bought it, after finally coming in contact with it. Being that they're 50 yrs old now, or maybe just the fact I have one.. There seems to be a lot of buzzing about Elco's & 59's in general.

 

Yep, they seemed to be 'taking off' right now in popularity. Love to have one too. Nice looking ride's at the cruise night.

 

I was at Gazelle Machining, all day today. Being that these caps, are my project, I've come to realize what is involved with the whole thing. It was a bummer when my camera batteries when completly dead. Hopefully, tomorrow I will be able to get back up there and take more pics of what I missed, when cutting the first piece. It takes the longest to do the prototype(piece No.1) The second is a snap once everything is indexed in. The toolpath to cut the spokes was the the biggest hang up tonight.

Here's a before picture..


This is the first of two pairs, of soft jaws to hold the aluminum while the backside is being cut. But the second pair of soft jaws, I thought they were very interesting.(but my camera was very dead, by then.)



Set up is just experience, you can't learn all that in some school. The set up refers to your technique for holding the part being cut. More later..

 

Thank you for the info. I hope mine work.. I actually don't know where mine came from, or what they came off. I seen them in the yard one day when I was younger, and just kinda claimed 'em & stored 'em. I need to check to see if the length will work.

That reminds me of a time, when I was a young teenager. A friend of mines Dad was having problems, using the wrong tool to fix his plumbing problem he was having under the bathroom sink. (surprised he any tools, to be honest) So I mentioned my Uncle was a plumber, and had a big pipe wrench, I could go home & get it. From under the sink all I heard was, "Fishbeck, it doesn't matter how big your dick is, when you're tryna fuck a mosquito!" I don't know, apply it how you may!

 

Well, I checked the Bel Air qtr mldgs I had straightened & polished already, to the Elco and ........ Bel Air of course, and they're atleast 1.5" longer than the qtrs. So I'm going to put Impala mldgs on the side of this thing. Eff it, I think it will look good. Something different, anyways. Not the first to do it, either.

I blocked the dash one last time, today. I installed the rear body mounts also. Still removing rust from the parts. Nothing worth pics really. But I did get back up to Gazelle Machining, to see the last chamfer cut on the center caps for Pops. Perfect gift for his birthday, at the end of this month. Arrow shows where the last cut was made. Which cut down the soft jaws even more, making it less material to hold in the vise.

This shows how little material there was to hold the cap in the soft jaws


This picture shows the aluminum blocks(soft jaws) bolted to vise. They have been cut to the O.D of the cap.

The bolts that hold the cap, will come thru from the back. Next the wheel needs to be clamped down & indexed. Then mill thru so the bolts have access to the cap.

I still have to tap these holes by hand. Eric didn't have a short enough tap to use the CNC.

From nothing to something, so cool to be learning this.
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o214/ainfinite/CIMG0160-1.jpg
Here it is.. you're seeing them before Pops even sees them.

I am going to have to "highly" polish the cast aluminum wheels & seal them, just to match the color of the ctr caps.

 

Banged out a few today, felt good to get some aggression out... hahaha
I have been soaking these front splash pans for a long time now. They still need attention, but they are a little straighter than when I started.


I hammered most of those dents out on the ground.(my neighbors love me..really they don't tho'!) The force is strong with this one.. I am a jedi, just like my father.


Just keep banging & tappin'.. you'll get there



The driverside wasn't as bad.. or something like that.


I'm getting close to have all the parts derusted, so I can bust out the sand blaster & finish cleaning this stuff up. I had fun today, ordered more of the parts I need to continue also.

"ANYBODY HAVE ANY 2DR IMPALA SIDE BODY MOLDINGS THEY WOULD LIKE TO SELL?!"

 

I just got back from the chrome shop. Dropped off the upper t/gate mldg to be straightened, along with the wind wing frames & wiper bezel pieces to be plated. I am amazed how cheap it is.. an it's not anything to do with superior plating, either. I go Friday to drop off more & pick up my stuff. I found a tool sale going on Friday, by the chrome shop also. 20% off a new Makita 3.5A DieGrinder for $84. Not bad!

 

I'm waiting on my valances to come in that I bought on ebay, all it said was that they 'needed work' but they're so hard to come by you don't have much choice.
Dennie overr at Southeast Chevys told me that repro valances will be available soon.
I found lots of lovely rust under my bed moldings, I fixed one side already, it was all pretty simple.
I'm waiting patiently for your next development, Jay.

 

Today I carefully removed the dash trim off the glovebox door. Now I'm soaking the door in vinegar. I don't see any cancer holes so far, an I used the wire wheel to remove all the loose rust. Once its clean, I'll get it ready for paint. I need to have the body & dash painted, where the rubber holds the front & back glass, before I put the glass in.
I just got back from the J&J Upholstery.. got my 2yds for the headliner. If I didn't have a pattern in the past, I would deal w/ Acme Auto Headliners in Long Beach. Now they don't deal w/ the public anymore(like I'm Joe Shlept the midget or somethin')haha. So now I am going through Wandas Upholstery. Pluggin along..

 

I want to R&R the lower quarters, but the weather keeps threatening rain. I went & bought the butt welding clamp set from HB. So thats whats next, really. There is a thread "severe bondo abuse" I was influenced to buy the butt-weld clamps instead of ordering clecos. If I find clecos at Pomona Swap Meet this weekend, I'll buy em.

 

I pulled out the inner fender wells to strip 'em down. Dad surprised me by taking the initiative, wanting to hammer & dolly out a few dents. It was either a hint I need to hurry up, or he just wanted to work with me. Probably both..

I bought a paint & rust stripper from Home Depot. It's twice as thick, so it keeps its shape with the extra integrity. I did both Inner fenders & its 1/3 worn. The 3M stripper wheel works in the hard to reach area.



They're still needing some more time put in.. but it will have to be tomorrow. I'm on my way to pick up & drop off more Chrome pieces. More to come tomorrow..

 

I'm still working on the inner fenders, but the heater duct & glove box look good. I'm pleased with them.


I am debating what color to paint everything under the hood.. All White? The fire wall is definetly going white, the color of the car. Black inner fender wells & heater pieces like the factory did? I think I going to go with everything white.. we'll see!

 

I saw go ahead and use white for everything...................... at least I won't be the one trying to keep it clean.

 

I was thinking about things & I'm not hiding all the wires or hoses etc..
Stock is the easiest, if not the laziest choice. White firewall, black everything else.

 

I wish I coulda done this with my dad, noe it's too late, we weren't like each other at all, you are very lucky, I wish I can have this relationship going with my son, he's only eight but he helps me out a lot. He went with me to our club meeting yesterday, 200 miles just me and him in our 54 Chevy, what a great day.
Fine work, keep it going.

 

My Dad wouldn't let me do much but blocksand & watch when I was younger. So when I do something, I surprise myself. Like how did I know that. So the more your son sees whatever you're doing, the more he will grow. My Dad is my bestfriend.. his twin brother is a whole 'nother story.

I put some SEM rust seal on the inner fenders. Waiting the 12hrs it requires to dry, then I will primer them tomorrow.


I been buying 2dr Impala mldgs, as I find them. Whiskey Runner came through with an almost complete set. Of course I will put together & use, the best of the lot. After I measure it all out, I am going to replace the quarters. I can't wait to get 'em out of the way. The rest seems all down hill, but I've been wrong before.

 

All accesible rust has been busted, covered in metal prep surfacer & awaiting primer. Forgot to take pics of all the heater parts, but I will before I prime them.



Wednesday my chrome work should be done again. Pick up & deliver, over & over again. Gone are the days when fuel cost wasn't a big issue. I'm glad this thing is mine. Otherwise, I would have to make it worth my time & gas.

 

Too cool. Wanda does some great stuff. I'm sure it'll look great. How are his prices?

 

Acme Auto Headlining in Long Beach, Ca. is actually sewing my material together.(I don't have a pattern, and they do) They used to deal with the public, but no more retail now.. So I had to go through Wanda as the middleman. Gotta do what I gotta do, to get it done.

 

Laid some primer down earlier.. I also sprayed the glovebox using the black primer, so I can use it as a guide when blocking out the lt. grey primer. Code red when you see the black show up.


Thought I would throw in a pic of the newest addition to the family.. that 56 210 was Gary Maroneys(The one with the most amazing 55 Chevy Stock Car on the street)

It's getting cloudy, now. I wanted to lay down some black paint.
Thought I would take one last pic of the 57 Roadster.. before it's stripped down & cut up into a couch. No it's not a shame, no it's not for sale & it's worth more in pieces.
I'm glad its going to be gone.. It never should've been built, it was a 4dr H.T.. which are but ugly anyways!

 

JJ did you buy Gary's car?

 

Yep, Joe did. 8K no motor or trans. Very original car.. no rust! I say it's a pretty good investment. I was against it at first.. but thats just cos there's three 56 post jobbys here now. Like money in the bank!

 

Cool!I'm sure Joe could find something around there to put in it and get it running.

 

I removed the inner structure from the front header panel, to gain access to the dents I couldn't get to..


I have to tack weld a few spots, before I can succesfully continue reshaping the header. Attempting to move one thing, and something else ends up tweeking out of shape. My Dads input is graciously soaking in.