Thread: 84 El Camino (new project)

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Looks like it just needs a new oil pan. Quick fix.

Well it lives......the engine is in and it moves under its own power. I'm waiting a new center link and tires before I actually put it on the street for a test drive.

My big plans for having the body shop that did the work on my Dodge truck went up in smoke......they closed. Apparently over extended on new equipment over the last couple of years and the work dried up. I really hate seeing that but I guess it's getting common all over.

As I haven't had real good luck with other body shops and I'm gun shy after the Plymouth, it's plan B time. The only real body damage was the hood drivers door and tailgate. I found a perfect hood over the weekend and might have a line on a door and tailgate......I can do sand and paint

Did you get those '69 Maro door skins and quarter panels ordered yet, Mike??????

Dave if I had your skills I'd be tempted You can't tell when good body work has been done.....you can always tell when I have done body work

Well. I guess I can call this one almost done (still a bit of buffing to do on it). I'm pretty happy with the way it came out.

I've put almost 2500 miles on it since I got the engine in. Other than finding out the old radiator wasn't quite up to the AZ heat while runing the AC (cured with a new aluminum radiator and HD fan clutch) it runs great.

It spent the last week in the shop getting sanded and preped for paint. I cheated and changed out the hood and tailgate for ones that didn't need any body work) and managed to do a decent job on fixing the dent in the passneger door. The door woork would have probably taken a real body man about an hour, but I have at least 15 hours in it. Anyway it got shot earlier this week including spray in bedliner (in a blue tint).

It also became official today after I got all the trim back on........the wife claimed it ......so much for the big sale

Oh well, we talked it over and the 81 Firebird that had been her backup car will go on Craigs list next week and that money will go into the shop fund.

Mike that sure was a big diamond in the rough . Big change to it seeing it shot and out side painted . Really good looking car think I would have kept it also your wife made a good choice .

Looks really nice Mike!!!!! I'd say Mom has herself one very fine driver!!!!

Looks great. Nice paint and body work. With that vette engine should be a nice ride for your wife!

Very nice! Definately I can see why she claimed it. That powder blue has "Avon delivery vehicle" written all over it! Seriously, really nice job.

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Hey, looks like a lot of the chebbies I've seen that try to go fast!!!!! !

Almost sprayed the morning coffee all over the monitor on that one!

Mike P., NICE JOB! Sincerely, That looks terrific! What a difference.

The wife has been driving the El Camino a couple of weeks now and really likes it except (why is there always and except???????) she was not real wild about riding around with a weeks worth of groceries and Wallyworld "stuff" in the front seat with her

They make a pretty nice affordable tonneau cover for these but I really wanted something a little more secure and durable but unfortunately the fiberglass covers go for about $1100 plus shipping (which aint cheap either).

I figured I'd go ahead and try my hand at building one so that's pretty much how I spent the last 2 1/2 days. It's made in 2 sections, the rear hatch that lifts (4' long) and the front section which is stationary (about 2 1/2' long). I used 3/8" plywood with a 1" thin wall square tubing frame under it and covered it top and bottom with sprayon bed liner (with no texture and tinted a little lighter shade than the body).

The cover fits snugly in the back and covers the tailgate handle. It has a locking flush mounted latch in the cover that completely secures the bed when closed and locked.

It's not show quality but actually looks pretty decent and I have the option of covering it over with thin sheetmetal painted body color if I get tired of the textured look. All together I have a bit less in it than I would have in a vinyl cover and most importantly Donna’s happy with it.

Looks great Mike!!!! If you don't like the textured look, some thin padding with vinyl glued to it would probably look good, too!!!!

Nice fab job! It loks like it fits tight. Love it when your able to make something yourself, that will probably outlast something store bought!