Topic: El Camino / Caballero

[seanbarney41]

kind of a toss up here stateside, Dave...parts here in the states are cheap, lots of junkyard stuff...Hawaii(sp?), geez, I have no idea

[dave500]

itll have low comp dished pistons and that sort of stuff,i forgot dimi is in hawahii,get it rebuilt as a short motor and source some old double hump heads or similar,,its all getting old now and been refurbished a few times though?like you find heads planed too far etc once youve got them?

[seanbarney41]

camel hump heads are scarce even here...much later model vortex heads were the real bang for the buck for a while, now it seems even those are used up, plenty of reasonable aftermarket castings that make excellent power...really though, I should shut the f up in this thread, cuz all my info is outdated.  I gave up messin' with cars years ago when gas got too expensive.  Thank god I got a cb750 that easily keeps up with any of my faster cars and still gets 42mpg.   ...but you can still find small block chevy parts in the trash around here.

[dave500]

makes a crate motor look better,,im all for the old gear but if you cant find it and want to get away from that pollution controlled guzzer gutless engine stuff?

[Dimitri13]

If I do upgrade the engine, I'll likely do a 383 stroker, new heads, and a cam.

Right now I'm currently looking into upgrading my wheels though. The fenders are flared and the stock 15x7 or 8s look awkward in there. Trying to figure out if a set of corvette 15x10 (and 8 fronts) rally wheels will fit. If not I'll likely get a set of 15x10s with a different backspacing, and keep the stock 7 or 8s in the front. Not too expensive

[dave500]

can you get an exchange stroker?

[Dimitri13]

I'm sure I could, but I'd like to keep it numbers matching.

[starsnbars89]

Right now I'm currently looking into upgrading my wheels though. The fenders are flared and the stock 15x7 or 8s look awkward in there. Trying to figure out if a set of corvette 15x10 (and 8 fronts) rally wheels will fit. If not I'll likely get a set of 15x10s with a different backspacing, and keep the stock 7 or 8s in the front. Not too expensive

Any and all Corvette wheels should fit as far as bolt pattern, spacing, and center bore. I found this nifty little chart.

http://www.roadkillcustoms.com/hot-rods-rat-rods/Wheel-Bolt-Pattern-Cross-Reference-Database.asp?Makes=CHEVROLET%2FGMC&Models=EL+CAMINO%2C+CABALLERO#Matches

[Dimitri13]

It's the clearance to the frame and suspension I'm worried about. From my research though, with a 5.5" backspace, it should have enough clearance to comfortably clear the frame and suspension. If not, I can just jack the rear up with the factory air shocks

[Stev-o]

Some period correct Cragers would look cool....

[Damfino]

Some period correct Cragers would look cool....

Still love the old Cragar SS....

[Stev-o]

Yes, exactly like that!   Sweet and bass boat metal flake pair to boot

[Dimitri13]

I do like Cragars, but this family will always be a Corvette family, so Corvette Rallye wheels it is. Plus it came from the factory with them.

[Stev-o]

I do like Cragars, but this family will always be a Corvette family, so Corvette Rallye wheels it is. Plus it came from the factory with them.

In like the Rallye wheels too, that will look good with some nice meats!

[Dimitri13]

Definitely. 15x10 with a 275/50R15 in the back, 15x7s with 235s on the front.

Getting a set of Hooker headers from amazon with free shipping, hell yeah. Gonna go down to the local shop and have them fab me up an exhaust with some Flowmaster 40s. It's way too expensive to get a kit shipped out here, all the sites will only do 2nd day air for em.

[Stev-o]

Amazon sells Hookers?  That's awesome!

[dave500]

the flowmasters might drone in the cabin?theyll be roudy without a second resonator,youll get away with lukey super turbo if you can get them there?

[Retro Rocket]

Definitely. 15x10 with a 305/50R15 in the back, 15x8s with 255s on the front.

Fixed that for you...    If i can fit similar sizes under the wheel arches of our smaller Aussie V8's then you should be able to fit better sized tires on that pickup....   IMO 15x7's are far too small for the front of that car...

[Dimitri13]

I have to check when it gets here, but I'm fairly certain they're 15x7s on the front, and either 15x7 or 15x8 on the rear. I *may* buy a set of Corvette Rallye wheels off craigslist, 15x8 and 15x10 for $100 more than it would cost to get two new 15x10s for the rear.

[Dimitri13]

Picking it up in less than three hours! In my fit of happiness for the deal I got, I completely forgot to check ANY fluid. All I know is that it didn't leak after sitting for two hours. So I will be bringing all the necessary fluids, along with some tools and a jack.

Can't wait to get this thing here!

[Dimitri13]

So I've had this thing for a little less than a week. Someone pulled the trigger on 15x10s for theirs, and they fit with plenty of room to spare.



I checked, and there are 15x8s with 255s all around. I still think I can get away with 235s on the 8s, and I might bump it up to 295s in the rear. Still have to order the 15x10s.

But that really isn't the issue. Since it's my first time with non-SOHC4 carbs, I had one helluva time rebuilding these. Not sure I did it right. Well, pretty sure I didn't do it right. Well, FIRST it was a timing issue. Was so bad it backfired and sounded like a gunshot. Guess that was my issue with the missing during acceleration under load. So now I have to work out the kinks in the carb.

Also, while trying to bleed the brakes, I found my master cylinder was clogged and the bore was leaking. The rebuild kit is as much as a new master cylinder, so that's what I got. While undoing the hard line from the cylinder, it was so rusty that it just broke. Now I have to get a line and make it myself. After that, I'll probably be rebuilding the calipers, and I have to get a rounded off bleeder screw out.

Anyway, this thing is like two steps forward and two steps back, so I named the project "Paula."



If you wanna take a look at the rest of the pictures:

http://imgur.com/a/cZF9f

[Stev-o]

Looks good. What tires are you looking at? Period correct Mickey Thompsons would be cool.

Carb and brake issues are to be expected on a project car.

[seanbarney41]

What carb? ...Quadrajet?  them things are a pain in the ass to rebuild, also one of the touchiest to tune, not as touchy as sohc4 carbs though

[Dimitri13]

Well because I live in Hawaii and in-stock inventory and shipping are big deals, I have to go with Amazon with their free super saver shipping.

I can only find BFGoodrich Radial T/As in 245/60 and 275/60, but I can find Cooper Cobra GTs in 255/60 and 295/50. So either choice I have to compromise. Either the brand I want but not in the right size, the size I want but not in the right brand.

I know Cobra GTs are basically the same as Radial T/As, but the Radials are the standard.

Yes, it's a Quadrajet, and knowing that is very comforting when I don't know anything about car carbs

[dave500]

the early pre smog qjets are fine,its once they have the smog solenoid on the needles etc they become hard to set up,all the channel restrictions are different etc aswell as non adjustable idle circuit,i like them,no gaskets below fuel level,dont over tighten the top air horn,see how sloppy the throttle shafts are.