1969 El Camino

[grampasgirl]

My Grampa left me his beloved car.....it needs a lot of TLC in and out. I want to build it back to perfection in his honor and I want everything to be original. Where do I start?

[Torch]

Start with the mechanical stuff if you can't drive the car anywhere it won't be of much use to you.

Not sure which engine you have, probably a 307, 327, or 350, if the engine is having any problems (noises, leaks, etc.) start here without the engine the car is pretty much useless.

Once the engine is no longer having any problems change all of the car's fluids and grease all of the grease fittings you can find, the front wheel bearings will probably need re-greasing too, then take it on a long drive and see if the transmission, brakes, or steering are having any problems and get them corrected.

Once those are fixed its time to replace any damaged body parts, lights, bumpers, doors, windows, etc. once those are fixed its time to make the car look brand new again and that is the crossroads you find yourself at where you have to ask yourself if you want to keep the car stock looking or if you want to customize it.

[maxwedge]

Good advice, but I would have a pro look at the frame and floors before investing money in driveability issues.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

Good advice, but I would have a pro look at the frame and floors before investing money in driveability issues.

I agree. Elcos in excellent condition are fairly valuable, but it is very easy to spend much more money on the vehicle than it's worth. In such situations, its easier to sell it for parts (or just keep it for sentimental reasons) than to fix it.

Now, many people DO spend lots of money to fix cars for a hobby or for sentimentality. But often this is done because the owner does not have a plan.

So..... you should have a plan. Get the car checked-out. Figure out exactly what it needs. Write all jobs down.
Then figure out what work you can do and what needs to be done professionally. Put a dollar value to each job, in terms of parts and any professional labor required.
Add up all the costs, and compare it to the market value for the car, so you can see what you can afford.

BTW, fixing the mechanical parts, such as engine, transmission, brakes etc is relatively straightforward.
The EXPENSIVE jobs are paint and body work, especially rust repair. If the car is rust and dent-free then you are at a big advantage.

Also, try to post some pictures, of the car, interior, cargo box area, door frames, under the hood, underneath etc. You can post them here, but it may be easier to post them to a place like Photobucket and post a link here.

[Ol'Jim]

GG,
Has the El Camino been sitting for a long time? Inside or outside? Does it run/is it driveable? You will find lots of good help and advice on these boards. We just need a bit more detail on what you've got to start with. If it has sat for a long time, here is what i recommend: if it will start and drive, I'd begin by making sure the tires are inflated properly, and in good shape. Next - (Important!)- Check to make sure the brakes work! Then check the lights, particularly rear brake & turn indicators. Got fuel in the tank? If you have some fresh gas in a can for the mower, dump that in the tank. Check the oil to make sure it is full, (if you need to add any, use a lightweight viscosity like 5W30, as the old stuff is probably thickened up). Now you can leave the driveway! Drive it slowly on roads without much traffic, and test the brakes, listen for noises, etc. Check the gauges & lights on the dash for any indicated problems - get issues such as alternator/charging problems fixed before heading out. Don't go too far from home on this first trip, if it's been sitting for a long time. First stop might need to be a gas station, get some fresh fuel in there to help clean the varnish & other bad things out. Do NOT floor the gas, or accelerate hard, this is a nice, easy cruise. Once fully warmed-up, I would then get it home and change the oil & filter. Nothing will tear up an engine more quickly than low oil pressure, (caused by old, thick, dirty oil and a filter that is getting plugged-up).
Let us know more about your project! We'd like to hear details, and see pics!