I’ll throw mine in, it gives me a good excuse to get some current pictures LOL.
1983 El Camino W/78 Monte Carlo nose and doors
507 Cubic Inch Cadillac
Th400
Ford 9"
From the time I decided to build this, the intent was always that it would be my daily driver/shop truck. I needed something I could throw 1000 pounds of engine and transmission in, haul building supplies, tow the motorcycle trailer with, take parts to the swap meet in etc etc.
It has done all that and more including a 4000 mile vacation back to Illinois (and it quite possibly will do that trip again in a couple of months). I’m usually in it at least 6 days a week and over the last 1 ½ years I’ve put about 14,000 miles on it. Of course in Arizona, we don’t have salt on the roads to worry about but it has been in snow and gets driven in the rain when we have any. Because it’s a daily driver I just keep normal insurance on it.
I left the 1973 500 Cadillac close to stock when I rebuilt it, mostly to help keep the gas mileage reasonably decent (the last time I checked it was getting between 14 and 16 on the highway at 75 with the AC on). Of course even stock it still puts out 500 Ft Lbs of torque at 22-2500 RPM (and I always have the option of modifying it down the road). The engine is hooked up to a TH400 and a 9” with 2.75 gears.
The bed liner has a few scars and stains on it now from some of the stuff I’ve thrown back there, and there are a couple of minor scratches on the body from normal use, but it was never intended as a show car. I do have a soft tonneau cover I can put on for cruise nights or long trips.
I added a lot of options when I built it, 6 way power drivers seat, tilt column, Cruise control, F41 Suspension and bracing, delayed wipers, and of course AC, and this is actually about the most comfortable vehicle I have for long trips.
1983 El Camino W/78 Monte Carlo nose and doors
507 Cubic Inch Cadillac
Th400
Ford 9"
From the time I decided to build this, the intent was always that it would be my daily driver/shop truck. I needed something I could throw 1000 pounds of engine and transmission in, haul building supplies, tow the motorcycle trailer with, take parts to the swap meet in etc etc.
It has done all that and more including a 4000 mile vacation back to Illinois (and it quite possibly will do that trip again in a couple of months). I’m usually in it at least 6 days a week and over the last 1 ½ years I’ve put about 14,000 miles on it. Of course in Arizona, we don’t have salt on the roads to worry about but it has been in snow and gets driven in the rain when we have any. Because it’s a daily driver I just keep normal insurance on it.
I left the 1973 500 Cadillac close to stock when I rebuilt it, mostly to help keep the gas mileage reasonably decent (the last time I checked it was getting between 14 and 16 on the highway at 75 with the AC on). Of course even stock it still puts out 500 Ft Lbs of torque at 22-2500 RPM (and I always have the option of modifying it down the road). The engine is hooked up to a TH400 and a 9” with 2.75 gears.
The bed liner has a few scars and stains on it now from some of the stuff I’ve thrown back there, and there are a couple of minor scratches on the body from normal use, but it was never intended as a show car. I do have a soft tonneau cover I can put on for cruise nights or long trips.
I added a lot of options when I built it, 6 way power drivers seat, tilt column, Cruise control, F41 Suspension and bracing, delayed wipers, and of course AC, and this is actually about the most comfortable vehicle I have for long trips.
