Autonaut's cruck build

[autonaut]

Hi Guys.

Im having fun lurking around this forum so i have decided to make my own build thread.

Last year i bought a rusty beat up broken down non driving el camino destined for the wrecker.

So far i have managed to tear it apart, fix the rust, put in the stock engine, replace it with a 1975' L48 i rebuilt, fabricate a new exhaust and probably other stuff i have forgot by now.

Here are a few pics
When i went to see it

When it arrived at me and my dads shop

As always, the rust was much worse than anticipated.. This is the good side!

Some fixing

All lower panels were rotted out

Im no pro body restorer, neither is my dad. But we make do

Messy business doing bodywork!

Even the bumper was rotten

L48 out of a 1975 corvette we had lying around the shop

Picked up a set of used Performer RPM 64cc i rebuilt using new valves and springs

Comp Cams 1.5 full rocker rockers suplementing a Lunati cam with a broad curve 1500-5500rpm

This is were i spend most time. Like i said. We're no pros. So getting this right took me many many weekends.

Eventually i got it right with a little help from a good friend, and even managed to send it to the painter. Here i pick it up from the painter. The drive home was horrible. Rush hour, no lights, engine running like sh*t.

Shortly after i started putting it back together

Looking like a driveable car again

 

[autonaut]

Re: 1987 El Camino

The stock exhaust came with the car and bolted right up

I do love the sound of a V8 so i added hedman lontubes, bought an x pipe and som tubing and spent a day modifying the crossmember, cutting bending and welding the exhaust

Sadly the mufflers resonate too much, so i need to replace these or add more muffling somewhere

I use a 5 gas analyzer and this wideband sensor to dial in the quadrajet i rebuilt. Having spent several weekends trying to perfect it after having tried all tips and tricks, the car would still stall(go lean 18-20:1) during deceleration. Im waiting for a new HP kit from Cliff Ruggles to rebuild another one i have lying around.

Just a pic of when i put in the rebuilt engine. I will wait with engine pics as the engine compartment is still a bit messy

 

[autonaut]

Re: 1987 El Camino

Future plans:

Replace body bushings with urethane ones.

Replace all suspension rubber bushings

Make a new headliner. I did make one but the foam was too thick and it started sagging after a few weeks.

New Cunifer brake lines and fuel lines

Blazer brake upgrade

LS1 rear disc brakes

8.5 3:42. I have it in the shop, but it is worn and a non posi. So i bought a posi carrier and a full rebuild kit for the entire rear end.

36mm hollow sway bar up front

7/8th F41 rear sway bar

Jounce bars and various bracing

New Bilstein shocks and Moog springs. no more air shocks

New taillights

GP dash conversion

And other stuff i cant think of now

 

[t01blaze]

Re: 87 El Camino from rustbucket to..

Nice work.


Is that round canister a catalytic converter? Also, that is the most useful looking single post lift I have ever seen. It looks like you can actually get to the things in the middle of the car. All the ones I have ever worked with were flat, making transmission or exhaust work more difficult.

This is what I am used to seeing.

 

[autonaut]

Re: 87 El Camino from rustbucket to..

Thanks.

It's just a muffler there. The exaust was not original, but did take the original route under the car. There once have been a catalytic converter somewhere.

Yes thats a very good lift. We use it for the heavy cars (dodge rans 2500) and the like. The only thing it is not good for is changing transmissions and doing exhaust work. The transmission lift cant roll backwards due to the lift post depending on the car.

 

[autonaut]

Re: 87 El Camino from rustbucket to..

I had a day off today, so i decided to finally change the body bushings.

What a pain in the *ss.

2 bolts snapped. And trust me, im good at not snapping bolts. All cars here are rusted so i know what it feels like the moment before they break. That feeling you know.
2 bolts had the top nut come loose. Those that are caged of course. I had to cut my way through to them in my newly painted bed:/

I did not finish the job as i only had so much time, but tomorrow i will hopefully be able to get the rest done as well. Im more than halfway done though.