To do list part 1

Okay, this is kind of obvious that I need to make to do list. That one that I had on the right was from my previous El Camino, but actually describes pretty much what I need to do to this El Camino too, with lot's of more than that.

The windshield is one of the most notable from the outside, and El Camino wouldn't pass the inspection with this kind of windshield.

Then there are those headlights. All four. Although I bought two "angel eye" headlights, way way back and I don't know should I install them, but I need two more. These are 5 3/4" headlights and luckily I can buy them from my work.

Then I need to buy whole brake booster set up.

And under the body we need driveshaft. This was a bit of a surprise, or I didn't remember it missing.

And while we are under, we need also exhaust system. 

Wheels and tires of course. Those were just for the travelling from the seller to the shipping yard.

So, at least I need to get wheels and tires, driveshaft and brakes, so that I can take if off the garage and do something outdoors, like power washing and maybe some rust blasting. 

Well, I have started cleaning the cabin and took out garbage by hand, mostly, and then some vacuuming. 

Six bags of garbage. Well, at least it's a start. 

Been a while

Yeah, it's been awhile. The El Camino has sat in the garage for almost two months and I haven't done anything, except a bit of arranging the garage. I had the whole end of summer, whole autumn and start of the winter to sort it out, but...

At least it is in the warm garage now. Okay, it has been there, idling all alone the whole time, but I have been busy in life.

The El Camino spent three cold weeks in the Finnish winter weather, outside in the lot of the shipping company. One of the first things to do in the garage was to shovel the snow off the bed.

After a  few days of sitting in the warm garage, I took a look what I have actually bought.

It is a bit of dusty, but considering it has been sitting in the Nevada desert for quite awhile, it's no wonder.

I just love that cowl induction hood. And this is actually working one. Not just a bulge on the hood.

That front end is just... Fantastic!

Okay, I have started cleaning the interior, which I'll tell you more about in a future post and YouTube-channel video.

Till next time!

Finally at the destination

Yesterday was the day that my El Camino finally arrived at the garage. The container arrived a month ago to the Finland and it took a few days to reach to a shipping company lot in the Hämeenlinna. After that it took about 3-4 days to be customs clearance and after I had paid the customs fee and taxes, it was ready to pick up. Now, then it became a quite long wait to find one that could deliver my El Camino from Hämeenlinna to my home. 

When I found on trucking company that would do it, then it became trivial for trucking company to find the right date for pick-up and deliver it. Finally, we had a date, and yesterday I got the call from the trucking company that he has left my El Camino a nearby earth moving company lot, since he had used a trailer rig with a several other cars, he couldn't drive into my small yard. 

I was so excited that I had to take a video when I was coming home from work that I have my impression recorded at the first sighting..

Then I had to take my dog for a walk and of course we went straight back to the El Camino.

First things first. My inspector checking the undercarriage. 

The bed comes with some stuff. 

I guess that is one way to make sure the car goes straight, ish.

Oh, that's what my inspector was checking under the car.

After this I went to sauna and thought about how I get the El Camino that last quarter mile to home.

That would be slowest quarter mile time for this El Camino, ever.

YouTube Channel

 I've had this YouTube channel for ages and I did try to post my project videos, of the El Camino that owned back then. Now that I am the owner of a "new" El Camino, I thought that I resurrect this channel and try to keep it active. 

Now, I've got videos from my guy in the California about these two El Caminos that I wrote earlier, first one and the second one.

I bought the first one. The seller transported it from the Nevada to Los Angels, as he has some business to attend there. So, my El Camino is waiting at the shipping company's lot in LA harbour somewhere.

But back to the YouTube channel, I am publishing few short videos in a Bying Pants On-playlist from my guy as he scouted the El Caminos and after it was transported to the shipping company's lot in the LA harbour. 

Current ETA is around mid September, that the shipping container will arrive Finland and shipping company's lot in Hämeenlinna. 

Actually I did purchase the El Camino back in the May, but as I was busy with buying a house with garage did take my time and while being on vacation too. 

Please subscribe, if you like to keep up with the project!

Buying pants are on part 4

 So, this is the other El Camino at the lot in Nevada.

Also 1970 model year, but missing some parts.

Well, basically whole front end is backed in the bed, but at least hood is missing and the engine.

Some parts are in the bed, but still this might be too much work to get road worthy.

This is also "true SS 396" El Camino, but this doesn't have the title, the seller is waiting it to arrive from DMW.

Asking price is $5000, but still for in this condition, even if it is "true SS", it might be too much. For me anyways.

Bench seat, but round gauges is a good sign. 

Power windows! Well, that made this, as an interesting subject. Okay, the interior is a bit better condition in this one than the other one, but exterior is a bit more work in this one. I'm told that the seller made an offer $10,000 for both.

I don't really know. Both needs work, but I could get the other as spare parts car.

Although there is a 1971 El Camino for sale in Finland that is a project, just needs put together. For 4500€.

Now, I need to check that out, not as get that in driving condition, since it is 1971 model year, but if I could use it as a parts car for one of these?

I guess I need to take a road trip to check out that 1971 El Camino.

Buying pants are on part 3

 I found interesting listing through Facebook Marketplace and the only downside was that it was located in Nevada, quite a long way from the Los Angeles, where my guy is operating. But it was enough interesting that I send him to scout out the cars. Yes, cars. There were two 1970 El Caminos for sale.

Alleged it is true SS, but there is no way to verify this, unless there is somewhere hidden build sheet with the options. Although many things point in that direction.

This is a complete project car, no question about it, but the price is also in that range. Asking price is $6500.

Now, I know I thought about daily driver, then again if this is true SS El Camino, it would great project.

A lot of surface rust, but my guy tested all the usual spots with magnet and there isn't any bondo.

Okay, one of the easiest way to fake SS is to put emblem on the grille.

The engine is 396, which is one of those clues about being true SS. And the Cowl Induction seal for the carburetor.

Cowl Induction flap and domed hood, with the now faded SS-stripes. More clues.

Now, this is getting interesting, round gauges, which of course could have bought for non-SS El Camino, but steering wheel has a SS-emblem, center console, which means bucket seats.

"The Bucket Seats". Well, I haven't seen that kind of bucket seats as original, but then again, this is "True SS". 

I have been on my summer vacation whole this month and I had a lot of time to make this post, but enjoying first time whole month summer vacation, has made my mind go mañana. 

Okay, there is this thing that I looked at a house, a couple actually, but finally made an offer and the seller accepted it! So, I have done a lot of things for it and we make the final deal on few days. It's an old house with about 2000 m² (0,5 acre) plot, which has a separate garage. Of course.

Now, I'll be posting a new post soon, about that second El Camino that my guy also scouted in the same lot.

Enjoy the Summer!

Atrocity founded on the Facebook

Long time no post. I guess my interest went out of the garage as my El Camino. Well, now I am kind of missing that I sold my El Camino back in '17. There was reasons why I did it, but past is past and there is no reason to dwell in the past. At least it went to owner who took care and have been driving it ever since. Just last summer friend of mine hit me a message that she has seen my Ex-El Camino in a happening. I am glad.

Now, I do have a few shortcuts in my browser to search 3rd gen(LA Craigslisting) El Caminos(SF Craigslisting) for sale in USA. So, I am looking for a "new" El Camino, but I am between two choices, do I buy a 1970 again or should I buy 1969 model? As my first El Camino was 1972 and after that I had 1971. And the third was this 1970. So I could go for streak from 1972 to 1968, in where next would be that 1969.  I am kind of torn between the choices.

On second note why I started to write this posting is this:

I don't know what to make out of it? Why? Why not?

Matching Numbers

Matching Numbers engine block.

I think I posted about this in my Facebook fan page about few weeks ago, but now i got better image quality and with that statement I truely have a matching numbers El Camino. Althought it's just a 350 cid, 250 hp with 2 bbl and turbo 350, but it's still a numbers matching engine block. Original block!

T1022CNN stands for T = Tonowanda engine plant, 10 = October, 22 = 22nd day of the month and CNN = 1970, 350 cid, 250 hp, 2 bbl with TH350

I can't remember what website we did use it to decode it, but here are few links to decode your own small block Chevy:

http://chevellestuff.net/qd/index.htm
http://www.nastyz28.com/chevy-engine-code-stampings.php
http://www.1968ss.com/sbcsuffix.asp

Now putting that in perspective it gives me a two choices: Do I want to keep this engine, rebuild and make it more powerfull or put it aside and replace it with LSx-motor as I have planned a long time ago?

Now one thing before you cast your vote, I don't have the original heads anymore, those were broken back in 2009, crack between combustion chambers. Then again engine was 250 HP version so those heads were going to be replaced in some point.

What do you think? Keep it or replace it?

Hood off.

It's good to take off the hood when you are working on your cars engine compartment for a long time. Gives more surrounding light and easier access. Four bolts and it's off. It is possible to take off by yourself, but it's recommended that use an extra hand pair to keep it in place while unscrewing last two bolts. First you should mark where those hinges are at the hood so that when your putting back that same hood it's more easier when you can put it close to same position that it was.

Then you should take off any other thing from the hood, whether it be washer jets or cowl induction lines etc. When all is off then you should proceed to unscrew those bolts.

And when you are unscrewing those bolts start with those that are top end of the hinges. Those at the bottom will hold the hood in place as it rest on the hinges. If you take those bottom bolts first then hood will fall down as the pivot point is near the edge of those hinges and as the centre of mass is way beyond off that edge.

Trim tag decoding.

After 5 years I finally decoded the trim tag. It didn't take too long and too much effort to decode. I used chevellestuff.net to decode it, good information on there.

First I broke down what is what on the trim tag. Then I searched for paint code 63 63, which means a Desert sand for upper and lower part of the body, also know as a Saddle as sales name. I always thought it was an Autumn gold / Dark gold. But now I know. It's a Desert sand. After that I looked up TR 770 which is bench seat with an Antique Medium Saddle Coated fabric. Ok, I still have bench seat, but it's a black and blue. Which means it has been changed, so possibility for a build sheet inside bench seat is gone, if it ever was there.

What I didn't know was that in this trim tag is also time build date. It ain't exact date, but gives you month and week of that month. So, 10E translates to 10 = October and E = fifth week of the month. Sooooo, Kelly's birth date is at the same week as mine! Only a two years before!

In to the Garage, again.

It was about time. We had one big cruising ahead but as I was yesterday in our department's recreation day I heard some bad noise from the engine and I decided not to go ahead on Lakeside Cruising this year. I might been just loose rocker arm but I didn't wanted to risk left on the road miles away from the garage, so we didn't participate Lakeside Cruising this year and put El Camino on early winter hibernation and had a great time at the garage.