Projects 59 El Camino.. Build Pics

Hey I noticed in some of your posts that you talk about it being windy and I saw that you live in San Bernardino. What part? I used to live behind Cal State and I know what your talking about when it gets windy. I was working in my garage at like mid-night with a friend and heard what sounded like a freight train comin' and then out of no where it was windy as shit. It was crazy, the sound of the wind coming through the canyons suddenly. Never heard anything like it before or since.

 

Yesterday, I couldn't spray any primer, it was so windy. It upset me so much, I had to get away from the car, for a while. I live by Valley College, on Mill St.(Where all the old cars are!)

 

Placed the rear bumper to get a better idea how everythings looking. Not good, hahaha.. Nothing is how it should be, the valances are beat up & the body needs work back there.

Trying to put a little work in on the rear valances, as I go along.


trimming it down to match the wgn/elky/sdn dlv Valance. Then I welded the lip back on. Ya gotta have lips!
I made the lip bigger than needed, then ground it down after.

Now I have to get all the tabs right. When i finish this piece, I will have saved/earned a 100 bucks. Thats the difference between what they wanted for this Impala piece, compared to the wgn/elky valance.

 

Had to run some errands this morning. When I came back, Dad had been taking the front sheetmetal apart. Glad to see him tinkerin' around a little.

a little straightening is in order.. these are the inner headlite "C's"


Header panel needs attention also..

A patch is definetly needed to fix the "UGLY" on the header!

 

This is what i started with... the one on the left is is Wgn/Elco, Right is Impala/Psngr car.

I made matching inside lips

Then I cut out surrounds, to make them equal at the opening. So now both holes are similiar in shape. If I had a shrinker/stretcher, I would have made the psngr car valance, look like the orig Elco's. You don't even see them, that's the kicker, really!

I don't know why I, but I still am amazed how many tools it takes sometimes!

 

I'm home from the Upholstery Shop, w/ samples in hand! Pic doesn't really show the colors well, but the accent color, insert material & carpet look good together. I plan on using the accent material where the multi colored block pattern seat fabric is on the Impala seat.


I plan on using the "4 door" Impala pattern. Then I have to use the '58 2dr front bench seat, I took out of my 58 biscayne, when I put in SuperSport buckets. The 58's runners, are not positioned as wide as the 59's provisions. But I will make it work with plate steel. That will be soon! Here's the idea, anyway.

What I was thinking for an armrest design.. something like the fin on the qtr pnls.

 

I thought this might give a better idea of the drip rail moldings. I couldn't take pics & do the work at the same time, so here's a pic I drew to illustrate some points. work with me people, cmon! haha

Use a screwdriver to carefully pry (pry is such a harsh word, lets say finesse) the lower outter drip rail moldings, where the upper inner door jamb meets the lower outter drip rail moldings. Now the lower outter molding(where the screwdriver is pointing) is going to fold in from the screwdriver, the trick is how much before you can work it off. The inner drip rail molding is simply pressed down in there. Problem is rust and whatever else is lurking under there, holds them from being easily removed. I used a specific tool on the inner drip rail moldings. I will photogragh & post pics tomorrow.

 

I've got a rusty header panel that has a good section to patch yours, if you want it you can have it for shipping cost. It's not off the car yet, you mights gotta wait.

 

I appreciate that. I think I might be able to make a pattern from the otherside, then transfer it to replace the ugly. What I do need, is the "lower rear, center valance", under the bumper. I got burned for $50 bucks, from "rustfreeimpalas". I sent him a money order & nothing. Never sent me the part. So look out for that guy, for sure. I've already informed Ryan. Anybody know where to go to paste bad HAMB'ers?

 

On my way to go buy paint, for the Elco. Sierra green on the interior steel pieces & wimbelton white(64 Ford) for the outside.

 

cool stuff man cant wait to see it in paint if you need any pinstriping let me know

 

Right on, I'll keep that in mind! Rain for the next couple days here, but soon after I'll be back at it.

 

On my way to pick up the moldings, I dropped off in Santa Ana. I'm amazed, there's still ten pieces to be straightened. Even more to buff & polish. Not as much chrome as the 57 & 58, tho'. But a lot more stainless for sure.

 

Today the steering column from fellow HAMB'er, whisky runner showed up. Talk about stellar, all the way around. It will be nice, to be able to rebuild this column, all the while leaving the Elco, easily movable. The moldings from Sihilling Metal Polishing, are once again, absolutely beautiful. The upper thin dash trim moldings I had polished, have a lot of pits in the aluminum. I don't mind really, cos' it's 50 yrs worth of stories behind the patina. An it's shiny patina now!

 

Nick, the only thing I can think of, might be the lower column bearing might has given up? The bushing for the shifter tube might be on the fritz? I am replacing all that, the bushings and the upper & lower column bearings. The lower bearings aren't the greatest, but "The El Camino Store" sells a good ball bearing replacement for lower that i am going to pick up.

I shouldn't even post these.. terrible pics

I drilled out the two rivets, plus the one on the bottom


The felt was originally two pieces. When replacing it, do not make the replacement piece much longer than the end of the hole. I've had problems before.

Then bend up the tabs and remove the screw.


You dont have to remove that rivet to replace the windwing rubber, yet I did. I have the rivets.

I have them soaking in vinegar now. I removed all the stainless steel & old rubber. Marked everything also. Going to Gazelle Machining right now. Stopping first to pick up the green paint, I had mixed for the dash & moldings. Then dropping off a 327 sbc oil pan @ Kitchens. And finally arriving to Gazelles!

 

Went and picked up my Highland Poly Green paint. Matches perfect, I am very pleased with it. The off white & green paint are single stage, so I can polish the basecoat w/o needing a clearcoat. Then, once at Gazelles he indexed the lower hinge in, on the CNC. Using an end mill, Eric removed the broken bolt w/o getting close to the threads. Then yesterday, I spent 13 hours removing the original t/gate hinge pins. They still need a little more time in them, but having new pins will be a sigh of relief.

 

Looking good man, can't wait to see this thing in color.

 

That green will look great, what wheel's and tire's?

 

20 & 22 inch Intro Vistas, w/ Nitto Tires.

 

Thanks, it's been raining here. I look forward to getting back on this thing.
Wouldn't you say Off White, is about as Non-Color as you can get. But I figure this things so outlandish by itself, Wimbelton White will work. I am going to paint the inside/insert of the side moldings pure white. Just a little contrast to break this thing up. The gaps are going to need major attention, light colors really accentuate the gap. My Dad HATED gapping sheetmetal, I don't. Black hides gaps, but shows all imperfections. I'll take the gaps right now, thank you.

 

Oh no, not those wheels. It's your truck, but man those wheels are so right now, they'll be outdated in six months. Please don't be mad at my opinion.

 

Oh yes, those wheels..

 

I blocked out the dash and sprayed some lt.gray primer. There were spot that were bothering me on the firewall, that needed some block sanding. So in between the high wind gusts, I managed to get some primer on things.

You can see the dash in this pic.. but nothing exciting, really!

There's some felt on the selector door edge. The hardest part is figuring out what to replace it with.

The heater core doesnt show any signs of leaking, but I am going to replace the heater control valve.

 

Coming along nicely.

 

i've had three e/caminos---a 76 and two 80's---this thread makes me want a 59/60---looks good.

 

Good, I hope to influence a lot more people, too! They're out there, I know where there's a complete 59 elco. There's a guy who stops by here just too see the progress. He wants to build a 56 Chevy. So everytime he sees me going at it, I always ask him.. are you sure you wanna do this?! I'm lucky to have inherited all these tools, I don't know what he's gonna do!

 

Gracias Hombre.. I've said it before, but this car makes me cuss. But I like to cuss!

 

I have Bel Air moldings for the side body trim. Now my question is, are the El Camino moldings different? I'm not changing mine, but I am curious.

 

True 2 door Belair quarter moldings a tad bit longer than El Camino's. Same style though.

 

I stripped the Impala lwr valance, I overpaid for today.

Lower right hand corner shows where the bondo was holding this thing together. I have more time in this thing, then I'd like to admit. Holes everywhere, I'm going to be on the look out for a reasonably priced Elco valance, in the mean time.

I would get it down to a pin hole needing filled, hit it & blow a hole that starts me all over again. I became real familiar with the machines adjustments.

Tomorrow is another day, hopefully I can have it finished in a reasonable amount of time. However long I think it's gonna take, times three. Usually holds true for me!