Projects 59 El Camino.. Build Pics

I couldn't figure out a latch, so I copped out & decided on the whole 'Pimp my ride' way of doing it. Where the t/lite hsing is going to mate to the body, has me wondering what I'm going to do there, also. It's going to have to slide a bit when its closing up, if I don't hold it even with the body. Headaches, yeah - Me Too!

 

Hey good thinking mang, you could just cut the entire thing to within a quarter inch of the edge and have the whole shebang slide in and out out, drawer slides with a windshield wiper motor might work.

Hey, how about doing both sides and have them hooked up to a special "BACK OFF" switch that you engage along with your brake lights to give tailgaters a message?

 

Keep practicing. Try cutting your parts a little big, and grinding them to the perfect shape. You are doing a kick ass job; can't wait to see it every time this thread pops up. Thanks for all the pictures; we can use these ideas for other projects. I like your problem-solving skills.

 

You first.. double everything you make & I'll atleast pay shipping C.O.D Hahaha Go Nads!

 

Talking to Dad, about my episode with the cutting torch. I should've had more oxy pressure. Next time I'll have to watch what he sets the pressure to. I won't forget after that. HotTurkeys 32 Coupe build, inspired me to start a build thread. I joined the msg brd, a little before he finished the Coupe. Thanks for the good words.. Jay

 

I never throw away, the used small ones. They get into smaller places I dont want to sand. And the smaller ones, work really well, in the pnuematic die grinders..


I also finished bonding the bolt to the inner gear. The outer gear is still removable, but it feels bonded to me. Everything moves with bearings, so as long as I LocTite the nut on the arm, to the bolt.. I should be Okay!



I had to go to the bank a little earlier, an I seen this 60 parked there. I think it's the same pink one I seen, late last year.




I noticed his filler neck, too







I just seen the fur on the back self.. it's the same car!

 

My Dad showed me a picture of a bell crank, the one Mr Gasket makes.. He thought I could use one on the t/lite project. I said, 'I already have one'.. the one I was going to use on my 8 stack Enderle Injector. I figured out a better way to actuate the throttle. Which meant that, my bell crank was just lying in the, 'Going to Pomona Swap Meet' boxes. So a light bulb went off, an I ran and retrieved the thing.



Once I'm finished with the bell crank, it won't look much like it does now.



Sorry for the blurry pic.. I made the base plate, to where it bolts in and out. It will make future repairs easier. The wiring harness runs underneath there. A little work now, will make life easier later. I will weld in the brackets, in the morning.



I finally got around to digging out the original, 2.5" collector Ram horn.



The Speedway China piece, needs some porting. But I only ended paying 40 bucks for it, cos I had some credit on Paypal, which I applied towards it. Nice!



I don't know if the original, has been ported out. But I have some work to do, to make them a little more similiar, to each other.

 

That's Marky from the Shifter's El Camino.

 

Wow, it's a small world! Is he on the Msg Brd?

I had to rethink the mounting, of the baseplate. It was one issue after another. I am definetly, not in the clear, though.





Welded the nut on the end of the arm..









Look, Ma.. No Shoelaces!





So now I'll figure out how much of an angle there needs to be, in order to miss the body, when it opens. Then I'll make a stop, for a light spring to pull it to.

 

JJ I'm not sure if he still works there, I used to see him working at Muellers?

 

In my club we have someone that had two of them ..59 elks and I had always wanted to see one done with a 59 buick front clip on it and I even named it for him " El Kabong"....I thought it would make a great Kustom!!!! anyone good with photo shoping to make one up?..Let me know if you do....

 

I've seen a picture of that already done, with the Buick Frt End. I seen a 59 El Camino with a complete interior from a 64 Cadillac. The Front Bench, Door Panels, Complete Dash & Steering Column. I liked it.. since I do enjoy, 63-64 Cad Coupes & Convertibles.

 

It's amazing how many people, come & go at Muellers.(He will build you a car, anyway you want..As long as it's the way 'he' builds them.)

 

Appreciating my 5 day weather forecast.. That's for sure! Things I've learned from Eric, at Gazelle Machining, helped me a lot today. I need to get back up there.. been awhile.

I started in on the filler neck, after lunch.











When the arms outer pivot moves, too far either way before making it out past the pigtail slot, it becomes an issue.. So I am going to have to make, guides.(I'm imagining something like the rails on the sides of a go cart track at the kiddy park) More pics tomorrow, for sure!

 

I have been going over & over the t/light set up, in my head. I pounded the dents out of the divider panel. Just to get something done, today. My Uncles pressuring me to get this thing done. Squeezes the fun right out of things. Post Tramatic Stress Disorder is a bitch.

The pics don't really show, but the only dents left are behind the inner supports. That's why this things going off-white!



The divider panel had a big dent caving it in. All gone, with no oil canning!



With the highs, comes the lows. Life is very weird right now, to say the least.

 

I'm wrong again, I thought with how the pinch weld is welded closed on the fin-where the molding usually goes.. would be unique to the one car. But I seen Nadeems 'Watson Inspired' thread & that clears things up. The pink one belongs to his girlfriend, with the same body mods.

 

I had to cut & reshape the t/light hsing. In order to get it to open & tilt at the same time, the 90° edge had to be removed. The outer edge will tilt out first as it starts to open.. then as the spring pulls it to the stop,(pin in slot, which I'm working on now!) it will continue out on a slight angle as to miss the qtr pnl edge.











I also widened the pigtail provisions, where it was hanging up there, too.





It's starting to work together, jus' a lil' better.. not a little better, that would be one step up. Not there, yet. Grin!

 

JJ I stopped by your house yesterday around 10:30 am just to your progress and how you guys were doing.Nobody was home.

 

They were at Maroneys, an I was in my house at that time. Sorry, I missed you. See, I should've been outside working.. next time!

Taking longer than I anticipated, I finally have the slot & pin guide roughed out. It also acts like a support.. taking some of the weight of the t/lite, off the outer hinge.



The arrow points, to where the pins going.



Now, I need to order some springs from McMaster-Carr. Once I have it in my hot little hands, it will be easier to design.

 

No problem.I'll catch up with you next time.

 

I need to put t/lites on my 58 Chevy, couch. I would rather not put the originals or 59 Cad Bullets. I like the 59 Mercury T/Lites.. Those would be very cool!

 

Nice Job! Realy cool idea with the light..

 

Thank Woodpecker! He's the intellectual author, on that one. The main conspirator, of my most recent nightmares! His 59 Wagon is unbelievable. Check out his build, its cool. Also Nads thread 'Severe bondo abuse' on his chopped 59 El Camino

 

I needed some more room, between the original steering wheel & myself. So I sectioned the seat tracks to lower the bench seat a little.





Here's an after picture of the exhaust manifolds, with the dog ears cut off.

 

I really like how the seat sits in there. It was way too high before, that's for sure.



It felt good to actually sit in this thing & feel where the seats going to be. I like the big steering wheel now. I have another 59 steering wheel in better shape, that I will restore. I need a 59-60 horn-ring now.





The back piece of foam is just half assed on there. All the fabrication is just about coming to an end. The rest is just R & R.

 

I just bought some hood moldings, the tops & bottoms.(no dents & the bolts aren't broken) The same gentleman is also selling me the horn ring I need. He has a 59 Sedan Delivery he's building. It was really cool talking to him. There's something about 59 Chevys & all their owners I've met. Positive for sure!

I taped up some paint sticks, so I could get the angle in the ball park.



I had to quadruple lindy, check everything. Three different stores to get the 2" I.D petroleum hose & constant torque clamps. One place sold me that 1ft. of hose for $5. Saved 10 or more on that alone.. that paid for the gas right there !







There's two stubborn screws holding that side panel on still. I am going back to that, right now. Now I can make the mount for the electric window regulator, knowing where the filler tube is going to be. I still have issues with the t/light I have to figure out. It can't tilt in too much, because the t/lites bezels will hit. One thing after another.

 

I received my OD, T.V cable set up..plus the lock up stuff. Easier than having to make the old mr gasket set up on my 57' work. Once done with what they give you, the bracket doesn't even look the same.





I hadn't test fit the tank & the fuel line when I bent the line to fit. Nice surprise when everything fit nicely together.

 

I had a lead on a '348'.. I waited, too long. It's been junked! Win some, lose some

 

I sprayed everything you see in the pics, this morning.. I needed to get some paint laid down, before I get the motor and trans in.























I will weld this side bed-piece closed, tomorrow. Along with the gas door opening.
I need to try and get back on the t/light set up, tomorrow. I found a spring (and bought five.. four for spares) for the tilting of the t/light. Tomorrow I am going to dig out the '64 250hp 327. It's all standard, with a polished steel crank & all new bearings. I need to clean it up & paint it.

 

Coming along great, Jay. The frame up ft look's like new. The 327 is a great call. Kin I have a ride in it someday?