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.

Buyer's guide for 3rd gen El Camino?

I have been busy doing something else than my El Camino and I run across this article by Motortrend.com the other night.

It's quite short and it's saying nothing. It is more like a short history story about 3rd generation El Camino. There aren't any tips to spot good deal or what is the current value of these magnificent cars... er, trucks?. Crucks.  It might be that this is just a victim of nowdays click-baiting-journalism. I clicked when I saw headline mentioned El Camino from my favorite years. Otherwise I would have not clicked and open in at all.

Yes, you might call this post as a click-baiting as well, but I don't do this for the money, but I don't mind if someone once in while helps me with reading my postings and maybe clicking some... if you know what I mean. With these rates that I'm getting clicks, I'm lucky if I ever hit payments threshold, ever.

I did a search to see if there is any good buyer's guide for 3rd gen. El Caminos. I came across this website and it struck me that how similiar those are. Actually later one is 1-on-1 copy from Motortrend.com article with some addtion at the end which make it worth a bit more. Which Motortrend.com should have wrote in the first place. Unless Motortrend.com's article is just a small  converted article from original paper version it's a kind of teaser for online viewers to buy that magazine and read the whole story it's just sad. But Motortrend's webarticle is published almost a year later when that article appeared in the paper version.

Oh, well. Much about nothing. And back to the garage.

The Caminofication.

The Caminofication. New word to me. There are plenty of cars that has gone through that and I have already posted one or two posts about it. I came a cross this term in this roadandtrack.com article about this Range Rover that had been converted to SUT from SUV. And I have to say, I would never ever need it, but I kind of want it. It's cool looking and functionality is... well.

Garaged.

Yesterday I drove to the garage and settled in the spot. It's a bit of tight spot but few back and forth movement, it was in the spot. First thing was to disconnect battery for the winter. Basically that was it. As I have a problem with the water seeping on passanger side of the car, both back and front of the seat, I opened both windows so that it would evaporate before I start to take interior a part.

Hibernation.

 

Garage spot.

So, I got a spot on a garage for this winter. It's close to home, warm and rent is below average around here.

Shelves were empty but those are now filled with dashes, vents, exterior trim, interior stuff and all the small things I might need during long dark night. I just can't wait to go in to the garage and start working on something. Just about anything!

Social Media.

I have been posting a lot of small things on Facebook and haven't been posting here much. It is just that easy to post something on Facebook.

But, I have been driving round and round. A lot.

Garage for the Winter!

Has been awhile. Okay that starter finally gave up on end of the driving season, couple of weeks ago and I bought a new one. Should have done that a long time ago. Tomorrow I get keys to garage where my El Camino is going to hibernate during this winter and best part is that it is close to my home! Last winter I had a warm garage that was about 40 km away and out of public transportation and since we don't have any other car... This is only six bus stops away and it's warm and there are six other American cars so there a plenty of help and know how around. Can't wait for getting my hands dirty! YAY... I guess I'll be posting more on my progress to this thread! Sorry no pictures yet...

Mud on the bed.

Keilaniemi.

Thursday drive next to Nokia headquarter.

Yearly inspection 2013

Took her out of the garage yesterday and went inspection station. 8 minor faults. Since our system allowes 3 minor faults, but no more I didn't get passed. The inspector was novice, since he had to ask from a older inspector should he write up this and that, and what not. Okay, I knew there are few issues but didn't expect that much. I got permit to drive her home and I started fixing these issues and 7 out of 8 are now fixed and I went back. Now I got passed. Same time I finally fixed my AC blower motor switch, which has been sitting in my locker for good year now. I guess I should wash her now...?

Open roads here we come!

Spring is here!

Okay. I haven't been quite hardworking with this blog in the past. I try to be more active in posting and what's happening. I just visited El Camino where it has been hibernating past winter. Althought this winter was quite low snow and mostly no snow, I didn't take it for daily use. Not until April. There aren't any shows, cruisings or gatherings where I would go with it. And I need to get it yearly inspection first. There are few things that need addressing too and after I have taken it out of the garage there is no point putting it back there for few weeks, so I'll wait till time is right. Sorry I forgot to take a new picture so you'll have settle for one I got when I put her in the garage.

Keeping on the road.

Wow. It has been a long time since last post. To fill the cap, here's the re-cap from last post:

Power steering, working. Driver's side door latch from inside stopped working, made quick fix. Fuel gauge working. Passanger side exhaust leaking. Installed roof insulation/noise cancelling. 50 k on odometer. Flat tire. Bought new set of tires on a 15" steel wheels. New battery, melted (-)-pole. Installed old battery. Starter broken, starter fixed from three different starter. Installed H4 lamps. Drived 1303 miles in 12 days on summer vacation. Fixed leaking vacuum hose. Finded whole inside lamp assembly from a swap. Quick fixed squeeky hood noises. Burnt AC/heater fan switch. Bought new AC/heater fan switch.

So, there has been something fixing going on but few new things come up to light. Well, everyone knows that old car is a working progress.

Cheers!

Starter broken?

Well, About two months ago we had a problem with a starter and problem was that when I started her up, starter wouldn't stop, even if I turn ignition off and took keys off. Starter still turned the engine. Only thing that I could do was to disconnect battery + terminal. Then I did try it again and she would start up nice and easy. But then we went to a mall and when we get back from the shops, she wouldn't start up at all. So I had to call a towing service. And I have to say that service was excellent and even the cheapest one, from half a dozen that I called through. So, What have I done to her, to make her roar the streets again? Sadly, nothing. I guess little troubles affect me such that I get depressed about it. Last year when she broke her water pump, it took me whole two weeks to change it, after I had the replacement part. Now it has been almost two months... and it's almost time to put her on her winter hibernation too...

Facebook

So, I have made a Facebook page for Kelly, my El Camino. And after yesterday we had over 25 people that likes it and that let's me have a username for it. Sadly all the obvious were taken, but I managed to get this: Camino70, which is easy to remember and to write. I think with the ease of use it will be main source to updating what's going on and so on. Although I prefer use and layout of this blogging.

Currently El Camino is sitting on the garage and waiting for a new starter motor, since I had a problem with it a week ago and yesterday it broke down finally.

Spark plugs?

So I bought a set of spark plugs for my 1970 350ci engine, but when I was middle of changing oil, I've found out that those didn't fit in to my heads. Then I remembered that back in 2009 autumn I had a problem with the heads. There was a tiny crack between cylinders 1 and 3. And the fix was back then just to buy used heads and install them on. So, now I have to find out what heads those are and buy new set of spark plugs to it.

43700 mile maintenance.

43700 miles on odometer. Last oil change was 7900 miles ago or two winters ago. It was about time either way. Jacking up front end. Growl underneath. Position oil gather little bit off set from oil pan plug. Use the force to open oil pan plug. Stand up. Wait. Jack up other side little bit more. Wait. Pick a hammer and screwdriver. Growl underneath again. Strike screwdriver throught the oil filter. Wait. Rotate CCW. Stand up again. Fill the new oil filter. Growl underneath again. Screw that CW to hand tight. Stand up again. Open hood. Open valve cover. Pour 4 liters fresh oil. Close valve cover. Close hood. Easily done.

Little upgrades goes...

...long way. So, I had a spare time today and in our hall has been sitting a "new" steering wheel. Finally I took out the old one, which was quite horrible one. After few minutes of remembering how this once again went, I had a old steering wheel out of the column. Then I thought that I could repair turn signal spring from left hand turn, so I had to dig deeper in the column. There was little fight when I was taking out steering wheel lock plate, since there is a tiny lock pin and it was tight. After that it was just taking all the items out and changing springs. Then putting all the things back in a backwards order. Then when I had to put back that steering wheel lock plate, I run in trouble. Since steering column is built so that it can flex a bit, as I was pinning that plate and pin back, whole column moved inwards, rendering my efforts useless. Well, I have a helper living near by and I gave him a call and as soon he cruised down the street with his scooter. Little push and I was able to put that pin and plate in place. Then I just put everything back and had few test runs to see if steering wheel was zero'd in. "New" steering wheel feels like the right one, even thought it is from same era Nova, where I have replaced Nova-sign from the middle section with a Chevrolet-sign that was from my very first El Camino. It took only two hours and I did it all on the street, since I don't have that garage yet. So here it is.

Waiting for the summer.

Well, two months has past now, that I put her on the garage. I have started the engine once a month, just to check that it will start and charge the battery a bit. Usually I let it idle for 15 minutes. Last time I checked air pressure from the tires and I found that on the driver's side front tire has deflated to half(1.03 bar/15 psi), all the rest are okay. Considering atmosphere temperature difference from time when I put her on the garage(10 °C/50 °F) and now(-10 °C/14 °F) is about 20/36 degrees.

It's just little over month away when I take her back on the road, if the weather is warmer and there aren't much snow on the ground anymore. First things that needed to be done is oil, oil filter and spark plug change. Maybe a wash too?