El Camino?

The footwell for the backseat is there for any of the g-bodies with a backseat (and therefore, the el camino).

However, I just re-searched and found that it is the El Camino with a longer wheelbase (NOT the wagon).

The wagon differs from the sedans only in body mount position.

Sorry for the confusion in my first post. My memory ain't the same as it was several beers ago.

Clem

ClemSparks wrote: My memory ain't the same as it was several beers ago. Clem

lol....

http://www3.sympatico.ca/conradlozier/

There's the frame section supplier guy. The page also shows a bit of the difference in frames.

Clem

Here's a G-body with a 600-hp Duramax in it. Might want to hit this guy up for some info.

Duramax Elky. I like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x2t6BK3E_0

If shipping wasn't so high.....

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HOLDEN-FX-FJ-UTE_W0QQitemZ250384507183QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Cars?hash=item250384507183&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Holden-Crewman-S-Ute_W0QQitemZ180328709931QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Cars?hash=item180328709931&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1946-Australian-ford-delux-coupe-ute-hotrod_W0QQitemZ270344366130QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Cars?hash=item270344366130&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/V8-WB-Holden-Ute_W0QQitemZ190290809768QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Cars?hash=item190290809768&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/48-anglia-coupe-ute-collector-project-ratrod-drag_W0QQitemZ330313634362QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Cars?hash=item330313634362&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

I do have a 4-bolt 350 and a TH400 sitting in my uncles barn...but I would probably keep it mostly stock. I just need something cheap and fun to replace my Accord that will haul a bike. Elky's have the lowest bed floor, for easy loading.

I'm headed back out to take another look at it.

Well, I went back out there with two intentions. I had spotted a Mazda 3 wagon there and a friend was looking for a new family hauler so we both went to check them out. Decided to check out the Mazda first, and that is where things went downhill.

We're looking the 3 over, and the salesman says, "Some people took it out this morning, said it rode real nice." The rotors were solid rust. We ask to take it out, salesman refuses to let us both take the car, one of us has to stay, "It's company policy." I take the car, my friend isn't very car savvy.

It vibrates...bad. Real bad. Shocks are weak too, rides almost as rough as my Civic on K-sports. I make it 3 miles to the interstate and as I'm getting on the E36 M3 hits the fan. At about 60mph the engine starts rattling like a con rod snapped, MIL starts flashing, looses all power. I barely make it to the next exit, and in the process of turning around it stalls out 3 times. I eventually make it back to the dealership, it is sputtering and clearly not running on all 4 by now and I park next to my car.

The salesman is waiting for me, and starts accusing me of 'beating on it'. I grab my scan tool to run the codes, I get Cyl 4 misfire, B1S2 HO2S ckt inactive, plus most of the readiness tests are incomplete. This basically means that they had reset the MIL prior to me driving it. The salesman continues to accuse me of damaging the car, and so my friend and leave.

Always bring a scan tool. Be weary if you happen to be shopping at DJ Auto in Cedar Rapids, IA.

My scan tool has done it's job, I often get asked to check out cars for friends before they purchase, about a year ago I was looking over an 01 Maxima. It had a slight hesitation and the tach did not work, no MIL. I checked the codes and pulled out a laundry list of transmission codes plus a crank position sensor code. How it ran, I have no idea. That dealership went out of business a short while later, but it seemed a little odd to me. I have heard stories of other dealers purposely disabling the MIL, so always be cautious.

I added a 1978 Caballero (GMC version of El Camino) to the fleet awhile back. It is an original 350/4spd car, but it has been thoroughly modded with a custom engineered suspension/steering using many custom brackets and circle track components and brakes. It also has a ZZ3 engine, remote oiling with cooler, circle track pan, quick ratio PS with cooler, huge radiator, electric fan, cool can, and other engine mods. It has close ratio muncie, with a line lock for the front brakes, a new Lakewood scatterproof bellhousing that I need to install, hurst shifter, and driveshaft loop. The brakes have an adjustable proportioning valve in the car. The rearend has a custom suspension as well with discs. The exhaust has ceramic hooker headers and is fully stainless with highflow cats and heim-joint hangers. The hood is harwood fiberglass and the front fenders are custom made fiberglass to fit larger wheels/tires. The battery is an optima that is mounted under the bed. The car also came with 20 wheels and slicks. Most of the wheels are bassett racing wheels but 2 of them are 3 piece 16x9.5 bogarts. The car runs awesome and the body is straight, but needs new paint. It was an Arizona car, so there is absolutely no rust. I got the car for a completely unbelievable price. One bad thing is that the door panels, glass, and window mechanisms were totally removed. So I bought a 1978 El Camino for $220 so I could just swap the windows and some of the interior pieces. I am still in the slow process of making it a quasi-rat rod that is more streetable. I just ordered a set of 245/45/17 RE01s and 17x8 wheels for it. Here is a pic from an autox this winter.

Dav....that is a sick nasty pic! Super bad ass lookin whip1 (love the beer can on the roof too lol )

procker wrote: Super bad ass lookin whip1

Sir, you are mistaken.. I dont see a whip anywhere in his picture.

this is a bad ass whip

Dav wrote: I added a 1978 Caballero (GMC version of El Camino) to the fleet awhile back. It is an original 350/4spd car, but it has been thoroughly modded with a custom engineered suspension/steering using many custom brackets and circle track components and brakes. It also has a ZZ3 engine, remote oiling with cooler, circle track pan, quick ratio PS with cooler, huge radiator, electric fan, cool can, and other engine mods. It has close ratio muncie, with a line lock for the front brakes, a new Lakewood scatterproof bellhousing that I need to install, hurst shifter, and driveshaft loop. The brakes have an adjustable proportioning valve in the car. The rearend has a custom suspension as well with discs.

Do you have any pics of the front suspension? I'm looking for some ideas.

That is the baddest Ute I've seen in a LONG time!

At least outside of Aussie land...

Wally wrote: Do you have any pics of the front suspension? I'm looking for some ideas.

This is only partially grassroots, but the front spindles from a B-body will go in there. They're taller and dramatically improve geometry. The downside is that it requires different UCAs, but all of GM's brakes from that era are more or less interchangable. Some 12" B-body brakes from the HD cars will be a nice addition if you can put up with the 5x5 pattern. If you want to keep the 5x4.75 pattern you can use any 11" brake or the 12" F-body WS6 rotors. They're the same casting as the B-body but drilled for the different pattern... but they're pricey.

I think Global West has some upper arm specifically for the B-body spinals.

ww wrote: At least outside of Aussie land...

Even inside of Aussie land, that's the most badass ute I've seen in a long time. It just looks ridiculously tough, and awesome.

Appleseed wrote: I think Global West has some upper arm specifically for the B-body spinals.

Yup... but expensive. cheap alternative is to figure out what you need and order it from Afco.

I have the Hotchkis arms, but one of my upper arm mounts cracked and was repaired. I want to replace the upper mounts and add jacking screws and widen the front end with 2nd gen Camaro lower arms.

Not to change the subject, but given your needs (something to haul a bike...bicycle, or motorcycle?), if you have a hard time finding a clean camino...think Subaru Brat!

Unfornately, they've all returned to the earth around me. Really, that's pretty much true of el caminos, in all practicality.

Wally wrote: I have the Hotchkis arms, but one of my upper arm mounts cracked and was repaired. I want to replace the upper mounts and add jacking screws and widen the front end with 2nd gen Camaro lower arms.

I did this. It isn't very sturdy looking, but its thick-wall tubing that I reinforced with a 1/8" steel cross piece. Don't laugh at my welds. Those are just off the shelf Afco UCAs with solid bushings.

ClemSparks wrote: if you have a hard time finding a clean camino...think Subaru Brat! Unfornately, they've all returned to the earth around me.

Except in Orofino Idaho. I've personally seen 12 running examples on the roads around there. I cannot count the dead/parked ones around. Lets just say lots.

curtis73 wrote:

Wally wrote: I have the Hotchkis arms, but one of my upper arm mounts cracked and was repaired. I want to replace the upper mounts and add jacking screws and widen the front end with 2nd gen Camaro lower arms.

I did this. It isn't very sturdy looking, but its thick-wall tubing that I reinforced with a 1/8" steel cross piece. Don't laugh at my welds. Those are just off the shelf Afco UCAs with solid bushings.

Thanks, the Afco arms are plenty strong, I just dont trust the mounts on my chassis after one pulled through. I'm thinking of using the solid plate ones that go with those arms.

Wally wrote:

Dav wrote: I added a 1978 Caballero (GMC version of El Camino) to the fleet awhile back. It is an original 350/4spd car, but it has been thoroughly modded with a custom engineered suspension/steering using many custom brackets and circle track components and brakes. It also has a ZZ3 engine, remote oiling with cooler, circle track pan, quick ratio PS with cooler, huge radiator, electric fan, cool can, and other engine mods. It has close ratio muncie, with a line lock for the front brakes, a new Lakewood scatterproof bellhousing that I need to install, hurst shifter, and driveshaft loop. The brakes have an adjustable proportioning valve in the car. The rearend has a custom suspension as well with discs.

Do you have any pics of the front suspension? I'm looking for some ideas.

I'll try to get some pics if I can ever get home from work before its dark... .

Wally wrote:

Dav wrote: I added a 1978 Caballero (GMC version of El Camino) to the fleet awhile back. It is an original 350/4spd car, but it has been thoroughly modded with a custom engineered suspension/steering using many custom brackets and circle track components and brakes. It also has a ZZ3 engine, remote oiling with cooler, circle track pan, quick ratio PS with cooler, huge radiator, electric fan, cool can, and other engine mods. It has close ratio muncie, with a line lock for the front brakes, a new Lakewood scatterproof bellhousing that I need to install, hurst shifter, and driveshaft loop. The brakes have an adjustable proportioning valve in the car. The rearend has a custom suspension as well with discs.

Do you have any pics of the front suspension? I'm looking for some ideas.

Here is a pic of the front suspension. It is mainly comprised of Coleman circle track parts--the spindle, and upper A-arm for example, and some custom parts, such as the billet pieces (on the bottom right and bottom left of the pic.)

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Nice shock tower fabrication!