It's been a while.

Old look.

We had a bit of tragic spring time and I haven't done anything to my El Camino since March. I even haven't been updating my facebook fan page and I got well over 1100 fans! Thank you all for that!

Yesterday I made a purchase that I have been waiting for a bit over year, I think, well at least an year. I'll post later sneak a peak of what I am planning on doing over next winter. I have come to conclusion that I won't be taking El Camino on the road on this year, or maybe for a quick yearly inspection to get it ready for next spring and driving season.

I also ordered for a first time from Rockauto.com for some steering components that I got a mentioned last year when I was at yearly inspection, didn't get rejection, but notice from the inspector that those are soon to be in dire need of replacement.

Oh, and I have also ordered that sliding rear window that I have been talking about on few of latest posts. Should arrive in August. So, I'll have that too to change, among other things.

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...

A little help from a friend

I have been a bit lazy and haven't got around to proceed on welding and fixing that rear window corners. My good friend got frustrated on my laziness and we drove El Camino to his garage and he welded those rear corners, painted window areas with rust preventing paint, tinted the glass, installed the glass and did few other minor things that I haven't done. So, it is ready for yearly inspection and hopeful nothing too bad has come so that it'll pass the inspection and we can drive around.

No bigger news this time. Keep calm and drive interesting cars!

Oh, yeah facebook page hit 700 likes last weekend!

Driving from my garage to friends garage.

My other ride.

New year and new tricks? Part one.

We have a saying in Finland that is roughly translated: "new year and new tricks". I was at the garage day before yesterday and photographing few things on my El Camino, those things that I have been thinking of addressing this winter. Those are minor things and don't really affect on daily driving, except for one issue: passenger floor mat is wet when raining, but that is that "usual" thing that happens for old El Caminos. Cause of the passenger side floor flooding is either passanger side front window and/or back window on the lower corner under the molding.

Other thing that has been on my to do list is changing the front bumber. It has two dents on that can be straighted out but since I got a straight one that came with the car when I bought it, there's no point to use time and energy on that old one.

And when changing that bumber I can put use those original yellow lenses on,  but there are some issues with that since in Finland you can't have constant yellow lights in front as a parking lights but of course you can have yellow turning signals, but as those are in the same housing that is the problem. I may have to install a switch to deactivate parking lights during inspection.

And while the bumber is off I could change the grille to black one. Straighten the chrome moldings too.

 I bought couple years ago a use grille from Ebay and the plan was to paint that with other colour and install that on and keep the original as original as possible or restore it at some point.

While doing minor cosmetic things I should address that hood misalignment too.

It has been that all this time. Over five years. No hurry with that one since the exterior isn't in the prime shape. It has that ratty muscle car fibe to it. Patina, that you can't paint on. Mismatch of colours.

El Camino's are getting old, there's no way around it. There are so many thing to mention that I need to make a sequel post to this.

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!

YAY, finally spring is here and I have taken Kelly out of the garage. Yearly inspection went as flowing water and clean papers and approved-stamp on it! So, this summer is all about cruising. 45€ for a stamp, it's now days quite normal price, but back in the days, it was around 80mk-100mk(13€-17€). Okay that was almost two decades ago, but still.

I have been ordering few things from the ebay, and seeking a garage where i can do little bit of restoration and such. As I did get her late in the summer, well in the autumn, and had very little time on the road, I am going to make this year count! I have been mapping what to do and in what order. Few things I need to do, before taking any longer trips is to replace door weather seals. Not as much as keeping the rain out, but keeping the wind out of the cabin. Second is to reconnect a heater hose's and ensure there is hot air blowing.

We were on a photoshoot last week, just days after I had pulled Kelly out of hibernation.



Photo: M. Ylhäinen www.ylhainen.com