Almost five months...

...since last post. Nothing special happened actually, well... we did tried to start the engine while we had our garage's chrismast party in december and it did ran, but not great and we checked the pressure in the cylinders and #1 was a bit more lower than rest but not catastrophical low. I am now battling with taking the engine out and disassembling it, get it cleaned, machined, assembling it back together or just paying running 305/307 engine and drop it in for the summer or two and taking my time with the original engine or coughing up 3k for some LS-family engines that are now kind of flooding our market in here.

A year ago there wasn't practically any engines for sale, but now this winter there has been plenty of LM7/L59/LM4 or LR4 engines for sale. And not too expensive too. Easy 300 horses under your hood. Right now this option is not valid since me and wife are still financially recovering our long sick leave we both had at the end of last year. And that is one reason nothing hasn't happenend in the garage. Now we both are better, thank you very much for asking.

Last weekend I went short trip to my home town to visit my mother and pick up some parts for the El Camino. Actually parts are from 1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, but those will fit.

Some dash wire harness.

 

Heater box.

 

Rear springs.

 

AC core.

Some AC vents for the dash.

 

Dash with round gauges!

And the guage cluster.

New year and new tricks? Part two.

As I wrote on part one that there are few things that I have been thinking of addressing this winter and after writing half way through on that post I noticed that I need second post to continue, to keep it light and not writing too long post. And plus I get "free post" as I split that originally planned long post in to pieces.

So, part one was mainly about exterior and this part two is about interior fixes. When I bought this El Camino it came with bed full of new or used parts and there was also used sweep dash.

I also bought an used one from Finland with kilometer per hour speedo, thinking of changing miles per hour speedo to it, but now I that am use to mph, I am not sure to whether to change it or not. At least it needs paint, desperately. And new lock on glove box.

Also I have been thinking of building a small console under dash to house few gauges and stuff. Since I have bench seat I can't do lengthy center console.


Sadly I haven't get back to garage to do what I have been mentioned above and earlier post.

You can see that A/C vent in the center of the dash? I installed it last summer. I've had it almost five years without it. 

Customize your gauge?

Customize your Autometer Gauge

"Custom gauges. That's what it's all about. The world’s finest performance instruments are now available to you in nearly infinite configurations. Limited only by your imagination; your dash can now display the same level of individuality as your ride – all with Auto Meter’s legendary quality and attention to detail."

Well, this thing brings whole customizing El Camino to a completely new level. Now that SS-dash comes to handy what I thought on a Dakota Digital Dash blog post, in a new way.  So does my budget for restoration gets deeper pockets. 

I guess I could add this to wishlist, even though I would never ever go for this product due higher cost. Well, never say never they say, but I still like that "factory" look and I could achieve it by getting that SS-dash and custom set of these from Auto Meter but too expensive to see if it works.

This wishlist thing is starting to get a bit out of hands. This is the third gauge product on my wishlist and price has been going up ever since that.

Factory tachometer?

1970 Non Gauge Tach With 6000 Rpm Red Line

 " This El Camino replacement tachometer has been manufactured to meet or exceed factory specifications and performance. You will find the fit, finish and function will work perfectly for your vehicle. You will also be pleased to know that the El Camino Store has sourced this tachometer among other possible parts as the best choice for your repair or restoration project."

I do have a clock for my gauge cluster but I haven't installed it yet. That spot is empty and I was thinking installing that clock on it. And I have planned on installing tachometer somewhere on my dash, but now I am thinking of installing it on that spot with this one.

Although I have this: Dakota Digital VHX Series Dash on my wishlist, I think it will take time before I can afford it, so this could be solution for meanwhile and it's not too expensive too.

Retro Sound.

1968-70 Chevrolet El Camino Model Two Radio

"RetroSound®'s Model Two is the most technologically-advanced radio ever made for your classic Chevrolet. This is the only Made-For-iPod® radio for your vintage El Camino, and also the only with built-in Bluetooth® connectivity for hands-free phone calls and wireless audio streaming. The Model Two features a new 32,000 color display to customize your radio to your El Camino's interior. Two USB ports for iPod®/iPhone® plus two standard auxiliary inputs are included. The Model Two has a built-in 25 watts x 4 channel power amplifier as well as front and rear RCA pre-outs, plus subwoofer output, to add external amplifiers. It mounts seamlessly into your Chevy thanks to RetroSound's patented InfiniMount adjustable bracket system."

I have an old radio/cassette player on dash but that doesn't work and I had speakers under dash pad, but I never really cared for the music that much on a car. Sweet sound of V8 has been all the music that we needed. Although sometimes it would be great to play Rock'n'Roll music but I don't want to cut out my dash to house a new modern radio/cassette player, but luckily there is this available as after market installation. It fits straight on the dash without cutting anything.

Then I need to think where to install speakers. I'm not installing them on a doors that's for sure. I am thinking on a small speakers on top of the dash pad and 2-way speakers behind seats. Either making a custom "floor mount" or building a wall in the back compartment. We'll have to see how this thing progress.

Dakota Digital Dash.

Dakota Digital VHX Series Dash

"The new VHX Systems fit directly into the stock instrument bezel of a 1970-72 Chevelle Malibu without modification, adding a wealth of features to this iconic vehicle.

Fully lit needles, backlit faces, and highly visible LCD message centers are a few of the things that you can see which set the VHX Series apart from yesterday’s traditional approach to instrumentation. A few of the features which you don’t normally see are the micro-controlled precision stepper motors, solid state sensors for unparalleled accuracy, and user-customizable display feedback, all supported by an unrivaled limited lifetime warranty which has become the standard for Dakota Digital instrumentation systems . Completely engineered and manufactured at our facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the VHX Series has completely revolutionized the instrumentation industry!"

Originally I was interested in SS-version with round gauges and that SS-dash, but then I had to have that SS-dash, but that would mean that I need to buy SS-dash, which starts from 300$, used. So when I saw that Dakota Digital made this a VHX Series Dash that would adapt straight to my sweep style dash, I was sold. And this one gives you those analog round gauges! This is by far top on my wishlist.