Front bumper off.

I have a better front bumper that came with the car from previous owner as he was starting to do restoration on this El Camino. I took me six years to finally change it. 

And at the same time I could install right kind of turning signal lights. It did came with amber lights as it was manufactured, but due to registration progress in Finland the company that handled whole thing from buying, shipping and registration in here had to change those lenses to clear to pass registration. It's illegal for car to have an amber lights pointing straight ahead that are constantly on as driving lights, turning signal can be amber of course, but because those act as dual purpose it had to be changed to get approved by registration.

 Thigh space and I needed flex head socket to reach out and of course it was really tight and I had to spray some CRC's rust/general lubrication on those bolts.

As the space was tight I could only loosen it less than tenth of the turn. So it took time and few impacts on my knuckles.

One down and three more to go. After all it wasn't that hard, just a bit of time, turning nut off a bit by bit.

Next step in my plan is to take of headlights, grille, hood, radiator, fenders, inner fenders and what else. I have a spare grille, which I have planned painting matte black and I think I am going to paint this one with body colour and black. And friend of mine has a spare cowl induction hood that is reserved to me.

One piece door window.

I've added a new item for my wish list:

I was searching for a vent window actuator and vent window seal for my El Camino and I founded this site selling a kit for 1968-1972 Chevy El Camino where you can get rid of the vent window altogether:

One piece door glass kit for 1968 - 1972 Chevy El Camino

"Includes: Kit includes tempered windows and installation parts for both driver and passenger side windows."

They don't have a much of selling points on their website, but cool thing is that they do have youtube channel where is a installing videos:

I got so side tracked while watching those videos that I made a #ElCamino youtube channel.

LED-headlights?

I've added a new item for my wish list:

I saw few weeks ago in a social media El Camino with cool looking headlights and someone already asked where did he bought them and what brand those are and answer was:

Vortex 5 1/4" LED-headlights

"Pinnacle Of Excellence
The XMC Headlight was engineered to deliver optimal road coverage. With additional LEDs that fill in the space between the vehicle and the peak of the beam, the XMC Headlight makes riding a safer experience for everyone on the road.

DOT Certified Driving Light
Take your Vision X XMC LED Headlight anywhere without worrying. Every part of the headlight has been approved and certified by the DOT in all states. There’s also E-MARK and ADR models available, just in case you are from another corner of the globe."

Those are made for motorcycle, but it has the same diameter as 1970 El Camino, so those could be installed in one.  I am not sure about how legal those are in Finland, but I have to definitely check that out are those legal.

Sliding rear window.

I've added a new item for my wish list:

After last winter rear window corners rust problems  I had rear window installed with dark film to reduce sunlight to entering the cabin, but at the moment I didn't thought it really through. As we are participating at cruises like Iso LänsiUusimaa Cruise, I shoot as we drive in both directions, forward and backward. And when I shoot backwards I either hang out from the window or shoot straight through rear window so that I can get shots like these:

Now I have tinted rear window and the problem is that shutter times are slower due reduced light coming through that film. Then I remembered that I saw somewhere over the internet a sliding rear window for 1968-1972 El Camino. I did a search and I found this:

Sliding rear window:
1968-1972 chevy el camino gmc sprint sliding rear window four panel with solar glass

"Product Description
* Specially Built for Classic Older Trucks
* Original Four-Panel Design Gives the Widest Possible Opening
* Fully Contoured Powder-Coated Aluminum Frame with Narrow Stiles and Tight-Sealing Weatherstrip.

The CRL Oldie Truck Slider is built to the same quality specifications as our Duo-Vent, the finest four-panel Truck Slider on the market. It's our attention to the details that makes the Oldie Slider so special. The state-of-the-art fully contoured, thin profile, powder-coated aluminum frames have narrow stiles for maximum rear view, and tight-sealing weatherstrips to protect the interior. Tempered safety glass and metal locking latches for cab security are features that make CRL Sliders stand out from any others."

So, with that I don't have a problem with reduced shutter times and no problems with reflections from the window as there is a opening where I can shoot! Plus strategically placing cooler at the front of the bed I can grab a cold beer!

edit: 29.3.2016 Sliding rear window part 2.

Hub caps?

I bought few months ago a few hub cabs for El Camino. Those are from 50's Chevrolet and not in a good shape. As I currently have just plain steel wheels with some red paint on them(from previous owner of the wheels) those match quite good on the habitus of El Camino. But I have been looking for a hub cabs since I bought these wheels.

These are physical in good shape but not in aesthetically. So, those need TLC and I need to figure how to attach them securely on the wheels.

Here is one inserted as mocked up how they look at wheels. Any suggestions how to attach these securely on the wheels? 

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!

too busy to write?

Well, I have few post halfway written but I haven't got the... time? mind? dedication? to finish them. Last post was way too long ago and I haven't done anything to the car either. Going away for couple of weekends don't help that either.

I've gathered here a few things that I thought I address this winter:

Tailgate has worn white stripe and moldings aren't in that good shape. Got brand new moldings with the car when I purchased it.

Front bumber was hit on the something and due to that drivers side signal light is pointing upwards a bit. Also got a new bumber too that came with the car.

Currently there is Nissan in the way, but I haven't got the time right now so...

Car came with bed side handle moldings and need to address those 3 holes times 6.

Hood isn't aligning right, but big surprise is that friend of mine has a Cowl Induction hood tucked away in his garage for me!

It's a bit crowded in the garage.

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.

1970 El Camino summer cruisin' video

Founded this on the net and I have been thinking of doing kind of same kind of video this year. Well this year's driving season is almost done and I haven't done almost none for the video. I mean I haven't shot any video at all. Although there is Lakeside Cruise on this Saturday I might try to shoot something.  And after that I shall be driving El Camino to the garage for the winter.

Enjoy!

Almost burned.

We have been cruising around and occasionally gasoline has smelled and I didn't think of it much since it was occasionally and I put it on the warm weather and such. On Wednesday it smelled a lot. We were driving to friends house to pick up some goods and as my wife picked up those goods, I checked fast for fuel gap at rear. It was a locked right and tight, so smell didn't come from there. Then I opened the hood and straight away I saw a small stream of gasoline shooting out from the hose in the air. Right in front of carburator. I quickly shut the engine and as the pressure was releaving the stream stopped. Old hose had cracked just after the clamp. I didn't have the spear gasoline hose with me so I did a quick-fix and moved clamp over the crack and tightened it really good. That did it and we went to local car parts store and I bought new gasoline hose.

So lesson to be learned is to keep checking under the hood that everything is good and doesn't show wear and tear.

Vacation time.

1968 Chevrolet El Camino SS. Photo by Miikka Antrell / Throwing Dices Photography

So, I have been on my summer vacation and I have stumbled on this:

http://blog.elcaminostore.com/

I have known Eckler's El Camino store a long time, but did't know they have a blog too. Well, it's quite new since oldest post is from end of the April this year. There are few articles but one of them might proven to be helpful. As my drivers side door is stuck and I have post pone buying a new door latch assembly. I really should buy them and change them, both sides as the passenger side is showing the same signs.

And we participated annual Forssa Pick-Nick at Forssa. That is one of the largerst, if not largest, single day car happening in Northern Europe. Last few years there weren't that many El Caminos around but this year there were quite few. I didn't have the time to shoot them all. Pictures can be found behind this link.

Other El Camino part IV, Pontiac Safari Sport

I stumbled on this awesome Pontiac Safari Sport custom at one of many El Camino facebook pages and got a short story from builder's son, Irvin. His dad build it over the years and wanted it to look like it came from the factory assembly line.

Even the dashboard looks like it belongs to El Camino.

It's nice to see that interior is also considered in this custom job.

GM's policy was to use same bodies and measurements it's easy to fit parts from same x-body style.

Irvin told me that his dad build this 13 years ago from parts and junk yard cars. His dad owned a body shop and but didn't build any custom himself. Well except this one. All parts are from 1978 to 1983 models except tail gate emblem which is from 2006 GTO.

I have to say that this looks like it really did came out of factory assembly line. It's great that G-bodies have so much interchangeable parts that you can make your own custom without too much cutting and welding sheet metal.

Photos by Irvin Arter. Jr.

The Caminofication, Malibu Edition.

So, a month ago I run in these pictures of a Chevrolet Malibu "customed" for Caminofication on facebook. First thing that comes to mind is redneck. No offence to the owner of this extraordinary Caminofication. 

And judging by these photos it's kind of okay Caminofication. It has best of both worlds, luxury of four doors, back seat and larger enough trunk to haul some of bigger stuff. Like one on the picture. Couldn't do if there were a trunk lid on the way, now can you?

Photo credit: Dustin Lee White

Oh, and check out my other blogs too:
Picture galleries of American car happenings in Finland
Same in Finnish
Roadscape photography
Everything from and between sky
Life @ Perkkaa, blog about life where I live
Instagram photos in a blog

Yearly Inspection 2014

Yes, 2014 yearly inspection. In Finland your inspection time is determined by last number on your license plate. As I have 9 as a last number my inspection time is between August and November. And as I didn't do my yearly inspection last autumn my El Camino wasn't eligible for driving since last December.

So first thing was to head to inspection after a little help from a friend. As it is old inspection engineer was kind of forgiving for few minor things that I'll be addressing before next yearly inspection which is, well you guessed, between next August and November. And this time I'll be doing it before I'll put El Camino in the garage for winter hibernation. Three minor issues was marked up and main problem is drivers side rear tail light. Blinker fluids are okay! ;) Driving lights works on and off. This issue has been around now for few years. Sometimes it works and then sometimes it doesn't. I am thinking of a problem in wiring in the middle of from switch and tail.

I was going to take a pictures of those three things, but haven't got around to shot those pictures, so here are some other pictures:

The Yearly Inspection passed.

Back at the parking lot.

Side shot Saturday.

Raining but I now I don't have to wash...