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The El Camino got some love over the winter. The hydroboost I modified from an Astro van unit was OK but I never liked how I had to weld the brake rod and it was used with an unknown past. It did work and felt good so I ended up ordering a unit from a custom builder of such things and that took 8 months to get. Well they shipped it to the wrong address but it made it after all and now it needs to go on the car.
I'm trying to find a good budget set of front control arms to help with some of the steering geometry issues that G bodies have. I found a set from Speedway, but apparently they don't make lowers anymore.
Had some issues over the winter that kept me out of the garage, and it was stupid cold for us pacific NW folks that are babies about the cold. I made a big push getting the Fiero trans back together and I'm almost ready to start reassembling it. What a nightmare building this transmission is, its not necessarily hard stuff, its just super weird and stressful to do everything just perfect. All the components to the left are rebuild and ready. You can see the old and new 4th gear shaft as well as the upgraded input shaft. This transmission was in bad shape.
Jessica
Got the car out and about the other weekend, and it got quite a lot of attention at cars and coffee. All but one guy had good things to say about it. One guy said it had a sleeper look, and when I said "yeah except the cowl hood, spoilers, and the noise" He changed his mind and said it had a more "eff you up" kind of look haha. The only annoyed guy was mad it wasn't stock, wasn't shiny, and didn't believe it was a 78 because the mirrors and front end were from a later year. I finally had to just tell him I obviously don't care if it is original, after he opened the door to look for the sticker. He was going on about the tire pressure sticker, and sticker that says what year the door is and I must have taken the door off another car, and that I removed the sticker when I ruined it with the paint. It made me remember why I stopped going to car shows haha
I also got the 4T65e together after lots and lots of confusion and setbacks.
Now its time to just cross my fingers and hope the thing works. I did all the checks I could with it apart, and all the pieces are new so I am slightly optimistic it'll work. Not sure on when I'll pull the cradle and swap it, but it should be soon. I'm also cruising right along with all the body work for the little gremlin and I hope to get it painted this summer.
I also picked up another project, but I'll be posting about it on a new thread going forward. The thread I'm going to use the LQ4 I had originally intended to go in the El Camino in this with some 706 heads, and I'm going to do a 4L80e because I still have a pretty good working core from the SS (just need to swap it to 2wd). I'm leaning towards an S10 frame because this thing is rough and just starting over with newer suspension and steering and a non rusty crusty frame is like a cheat code in my mind.
It has a door, its just off in the picture because it was easier to move on and off the trailer with it off (and it came uninstalled when I got the car).
Got around to picking out a set of "budget" wheels for the El Camino. I wasn't exactly a fan of the black steelies, they were OK but you can't really see black wheels well and they completely hid the brakes.
So I went with a set of 17x8 Ridler 606 wheels with gray centers and machined diamond lip. I'm running 245s ont he front and 275s on the rear. I did put a 1/2" spacer on the rear to give me a little more clearance with the frame.
All in all I'm happy with them, but I need new lug nuts before I can actually mount them and put the car on the ground again.
The weather is finally starting to get better here (although it is raining for the next few days). So I'm getting back on the Fiero paint. The engine and trans are back on the cradle and ready to be installed. The only things left are sorting the brakes and modifying the long tube headers to fit. I also got my donor chassis for the '54 and its almost completely stripped and sold off. I got a frame for free after selling all the body parts, plus the floors are in good shape, so I'll be using the bed floor for the back of the car, and the cab for parts of the front.
Not totally on topic but I need to get back to working on the El Camino, although it has been pretty driveable and I've been having fun with it this summer.
I have been trying to get this Fiero painted and all back together. This is the first time I've painted a base/clear metallic and its been a steep learning curve.
I would like to paint the El Camino someday and I figured the best way to practice is with the Fiero. I also have some parts on the Silverado that need paint, and the dually will need paint when I take its wrap off.
Anyways, this was what the Fiero looked like as I was taking the wrap off, and this is it with parts basically hanging off it. I'm going to have to sand and polish it, but I'm actually really happy with the results.
I'm also getting a lot further along with its brake upgrade, but I stopped working on it do the paint while I had the weather to do it.
Jessica
Budget or not, those wheels look good! I never did like ALL black wheels. Combined with the tire, it just looks like a big black space in the fender! I DO like black centers with polished caps lugs, and outer rims. You need the contrast.
Good progress on your myriad projects!
Be honest here. Did you buy it just because the wheels match the Fiero?
Originally Posted by 78_elky
I also picked up another project, but I'll be posting about it on a new thread going forward. The thread I'm going to use the LQ4 I had originally intended to go in the El Camino in this with some 706 heads, and I'm going to do a 4L80e because I still have a pretty good working core from the SS (just need to swap it to 2wd). I'm leaning towards an S10 frame because this thing is rough and just starting over with newer suspension and steering and a non rusty crusty frame is like a cheat code in my mind.
It has a door, its just off in the picture because it was easier to move on and off the trailer with it off (and it came uninstalled when I got the car).
Budget or not, those wheels look good! I never did like ALL black wheels. Combined with the tire, it just looks like a big black space in the fender! I DO like black centers with polished caps lugs, and outer rims. You need the contrast.
Good progress on your myriad projects!
Exactly how I feel about black wheels! They also look even worse in pictures than in real life too, just a void where the wheels should be.
I'm very glad to get rid of those rollers.
Jessica
01-10-2023, 01:59 PM
They were mostly rusty black when I got the car. 