EL CAMINO 7 yrs, Still restoring!!

Motorenzo

n00b
Dec 2, 2024
1
10
3
79
Big Island, Hawaii & Arizona
A Big Howdy to all.
I’m still working (7 yrs. now) to restore my
81. It’s almost finished but as you guys know there’s always something else & probably expensive which has caused it to be put off.
I picked this one up in Las Vegas from a 80+ year old guy. One owner Camino.
He had used it up towing from L.A. to Bonneville for35 + yrs
a car trailer with various Salt cars, the bed full of tools, fuel, spares, etc.
Also used this Elkie as a push car at start area.
I leave it in Phoenix at my Son’s place and work on it when I am there as well as my main transport. I get back to the mainland once or twice a year for 6 weeks. I always accomplish some major project on each trip.
New warmed up 350, complete front suspension rebuild, cooling system complete replacement,
AC complete replacement.
transmission replacement with
high HP rebuilt 700R4 with
one wire lockup. 373 rear ratio.
New glass, new tailgate,
bed liner, new gages, new
steering and wheel, Centerline wheels, new tires, the list just goes on as those of you that have restored vehicles
know for sure.
I have done a number of others and built several custom motorcycles in my long life of
79 yrs. so far but this is my first G Body.
Next trip I plan to rebuild the complete rear suspension.
All bushings are worn out and clanking. I think I’ll box in and beef up everything and install a Hotchkis rear sway bar as well one in front. People say,
It’s really looking good, to which I gotta say, “It’s slowly coming along”!!
Anyway, by the time I am all used up, the Elkie should be finished and ready for another
45 years of cool looking service. Renzo in Kau, Hi.
 

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Welcome aboard, she's a beauty! It sounds like you have a lot of experience and knowledge to share, and I look forward to it as well as seeing more of your Camino.
 
Welcome aboard!
Very cool El Camino. It's nice to see that there's more old school geezers out there besides myself. 😛
Thanks for sharing the story of how you acquired the car.
 
I feel your pain. My 70 was bought in 2018 and its probably got 20 miles on it since I bought it and its always in a state of disassembly. Every little thing I touch thinking will be a small project becomes a full replacement. I too wanted to replace the rear brake lines on the rear end as I was working back there. Every fitting was rusted and rather than finding a cut off point, wound up all new lines to the front, new calipers and wheel cylinders.
 
You're in good shape. I've been doing mine for over 10 years, and I haven't fired the engine up yet 😏

Nice ride by the way!

Hutch
 

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