Projects Update on my '59 El Camino...

With Kennedy's help, I made a little progress on my '59 this weekend. I had previously decided to s**** the '59 frame because it had been hit hard in the front left leaving the framerail in a hell of a mess. I pulled the ch***is out of a '60 Impala, rebuilt the front suspension, installed a 305/700R4, and swapped the body. With the front cap back on & a swap meet hood installed, it's looking more like a car again.

Next on the list of things to do include installing an alternator & starter, radiator, rear suspension bushings and axle bearings, brakes, & wiring. Hopefully I can drive it next spring.

JH

The TPI will be replaced with a Performer intake & Q-Jet carb.

 

Looking good ....got my gas tank back in and lines ran Saturday.drove it to the local high school stadium down the street and gave a few test laps...of course the local policia came by... no hood,no tag,no insurance ......but he was cool and told to get my *** home ....

 

Looks good! Is that a Safari wagon in the background of your pic?

 

Glad to hear your's is running PhatBaby. Wish mine was that far along. How about some update pics?!?!?!?

Roll Low, you looking for a Safari? I can hook you up.

JH

 

Very cool indeed

 

Jim, saw that you had it for sale for awhile. Glad you decided to keep it. Looks as if it is coming together fine. Not much progress on mine, still collecting some needed parts and working on other projects. Also, still trying to figure out those ACC codes since we last talked. I'll finish the car before I figure all of them out, I guess. Really doesn't make much difference, just like solving puzzles.

 

STOP! STOP RIGHT THERE. get it running and drive the **** out of it!! i promise you it will be the most fun car you'll have! sent you a p.m.

 

The heater delete is cool!!

 

Neato.. I need to get on those brkts for you! Haven't forgot, just been preoccupied! Nurses are my weakness..

 

Thanks guys! Yeah, I'm SO GLAD it didn't sell. I love this damn thing.

The plan is to make it run & call it done. As we were dropping the body on the new ch***is a friend asked what my plans were for the body. My answer was short - "Bolt it down."

Another friend stopped by a few days ago with a fan shroud, alternator, starter, steering box, power steering pump, steering column, hoses, belts, etc.... that all came off his running '61. The original fuel tank is crusty and has a few pin holes but I'm hoping I can save it. About all I still need is a radiator, a Performer intake, and a Q-Jet carburetor.

J.Fishbeck, no rush, just don't forget me... I know how it goes. I got distracted by a nurse for 8 years one time.

JH

 

Try and get some pics over the weekend....my windshield came in today on our order from our warehouse ....we still got 22 of those things in our PGW warehouse in Ohio(formaly PPG) green tint band ....the number if anyone is looking is a DW586 for a El Camino,wagon 2 or 4 door ,and a 2 or 4 door sedan....hardtop is different

 

Is it a heater delete or the standard heater? I can't see the photo clear enough on my computer.

It's coming along nicely Jim. Hopefully regular updates will continue along with J.Fishbeck, Toner283, Nads and Woodpecker.

My car will be done on Saturday. The fuel injection runs as smoothly as an electronic system.........Mike

 

Nope. It has a heater.

 

I thought it looked like my standard heater.The tinted gl*** looks nice, as do the dog dish caps. Best of luck Jim.......................Mike

 

It's Looking man , glad to see your making some progress on it .

 

a-ha.... Didn't know they were still doing that in 59. Anyone know what year they quit offering a standard heater in gm cars? I get a kick outta this kind of thing,I wonder if they actually saved any money with two different kinds of heaters. You think the would of almost spent more money with two differnet kinds of tooling? Sorry for the high jack!!! Glad you didn't sell the car looks like it's comin along nicely!!!!

 

If the heater doesn't work (which I'm sure it doesn't) I'll probably end up pulling it out & installing a converted Arvin or something similar. I need two tinted door gl***es and one more '55/'56 15" Chevy wheel. The caps are all rough but they fit the car - & only set me back $10.

Thanks man! I look forward to your updates. There is some impressive stuff happening on that wagon.

JH

 

Aney new progress getting done on the elky?????????????????????????????

 

No progress really other than collecting a few parts.

I have a rear suspension rebuild kit, driveshaft bearing, new rear brakes, a new wiring kit and a set of 15" & 17" American Salt Flat wheels. It got slotted disc brakes and dropped spindles too. I also found a pair of rear bumper steps for it. One is a little rough and the other is NOS.

I'm hoping to get back on it this spring/summer and get it back to Knoxville before Fall. Maybe I can tinker on it over the winter and drive in 2013?

JH

 

How bad is the interior?

 

Pretty bad.



I got a good gauge set for it...



I picked up a clock and horn ****on for it at Charlotte last year...



JH

 

What are your plans for the interior? We're it mine, I think I'd recover the set, clean everything else thoroughly, and call it a day!

 

Sounds like a plan. I probably won't go to the trouble to recover the seat though.

JH