Do I really want to restore it?

Shelnutt2 · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:28 pm Post subject: Do I really want to restore it?

I currently own a 1978 El Camino with a 76 'vette 350 and 4 bbl. Holley. It is in pretty decent shape for being a daily driver and 30 years old. To be show worthy all it would need is a new paint job (mostly the bed) and a new interior. I'm not too happy with the performance though. I know, I've got the worst 350 every made in terms of performance, and my gas milage isn't that great either, ~10 mpg.

I've been looking and reading a lot and it seems like while I could simply fix my Camino up, why not just upgrade to a better generation? I'm thinking about getting a 454 big block, rebuilding it. Finding a 1970 chassis, and restoring the body, put in the 454 through in a manual turbo 400 tranny, then add all the SS decorations and paint job. Now all that sounds great but I've never done any work like this before.

I've read a lot, and I know there are some good books out there on rebuilding the chevy big blocks, and I have lots of tools, I just don't have the experience. Is this something that can be done with little engine experience? All I've learned has come from my '78 and my Haynes repair manual. There are other things, such as does it matter what year 454 I get? I know 1970 was the best year but when rebuilding with aftermarket parts doesn't the year still matter?

All the body work, paint job, I'll let pro's take care of that stuff, but the engine and transmission, I'd like to do myself. I'd like to install it myself.

Another thing is I have no clue how much time this would all take. If I started tomorrow, rebuilding a 454 how many man hours would it take?

Any of you that have from ground up restored an older El Camino, I'd love to hear your stories, and how long it took you all. To me while it seems like a lot of work, it doesn't seem that difficult. Rebuilding the 454, I can follow a book, and instructions with the aftermarket kits, along with help from you guys. I'm not sure if rebuilding a transmission would be worth it or just find one that is already rebuilt, many of those on-line. I'd just like opinions from people who have restored cars before.

Thanks

Elky 83 · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:57 pm Post subject:

If you are going to do a frame off restoration for show and have all the work done by someone else. Let me give you a tip. Buy one that someone else has already restored. You will save alot of money and have less head aches.
If you plan on doing most of the work yourself and enjoy working and taking pride in doing it yourself then go that way.
Most people never get the money they want after a frame off restoration.
But they do it for the love and pride of doing it.
Just my $.02
Mike
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DONE DEAL DONNY · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:48 pm Post subject:

I have to disagree on 70s being the best I think my 68 is, however when I had a 74 for 15+ years their were none better. Their all great when done right. (Details), it's all in the details.
I bought mine as being completely restored about 10 years ago, It needed paint & body work when I got it but someone did a good job in the resto. years ago.
It cost me a fair price to start with and I paid good for the paint job, but now the big parts are done. 396, 400 turbo with shift kit, 12 bolt 411 gears, and arrows instead of strips. From ground up it would have taken years to build this truck, Some cash, some time, and a whole lotta love, and I have something super nice.
So pick the one that turns you on. spend your money, and make it a passion not just a hobby and you'll end up with years of enjoyment and memories for a like time
Good Luck
Donny
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1968 El Camino S/S 396

El Corvino · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:45 am Post subject:

quit hating on the 5th gens Laugh

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daddiopop · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:59 am Post subject: Restore

Being an amatuer and having done a frame off and am doing another, this is what I would recomend.

1. Definetly pay someone to do the body if you want a show car.
2. It is going to cost you thousands of dollars, unless the car has already been mostly restored!
3. Having a bit of engine knowledge myself, I'd recommend buying a crate motor, or have a pro help you. I would not recommend rebuilding it by yourself with only some experience , been there done that, it is not worth the hassle, or money your going to spend when you screw up. And never touch a tranny, just pay to have it done. If you pay someone to build a motor it could be done in just a few days. If you do it it could take a few weeks. But installing yourself is not that difficult with the right tools.

Shelnutt2 · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:28 pm Post subject: Re: Restore

What would the advantages be to a crate motor over rebuilding an older one? Also if I decided to rebuild a 454, does the year matter, and does it mater if it's a truck vs car motor? I'm guessing the only thing the year matters if it was bored differently? I'll be replacing the heads and all so I think as long as it is a 4 bolt main the engine should be good right?

I figure I should go a head and buy a "How to Rebuild Your Big Block Chevy" book and read through it to see if that is actually what I want to do.

More or less right now I'm thinking that if I look around and find a engine by the end of August/September, I can start rebuilding it, and I figure I should give myself at least 2 months for the rebuild, once I get all the parts, knowing I'll make mistakes and things. After that and I order a tranny, then I find a body, mount the engine and tranny, at that time I figure I'll also isntall new water & fuel pumps, radiator and all the good stuff. Then once it's driving take it to the body shop to be fixed up..from there time for interior and all the SS trimmings, before it goes off to a pain job and hopefully before this time next year I'll have a fully restored beast.

I'm thinking as far as my budget goes,
$500 for the block
$1200 for rebuilding of the block
$700-800 for carb(s)
$1000 for tranny
$700 for all other parts
$2000 for chassis
$1500 for body work*
$1000 for paint job*
$1000 for interior(bench seat included), and SS trimmings

* = complete guess on the cost of those.

daddiopop · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject: Cost's

Try doubling that number (at least), if you want to "fully restore" it (which should include a frame off) and pay someone else to do the body work. There's usually quite a bit of rust on these unrestored elky's unless they happen to be a desert car.

theelcaminofactory · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject:

If you have little to no experience get some books and read...when your finished reading them...read them again...and again. Search for info on someone who has already dropped a big block in a 5th gen...the info is here. Double what you figured on what'll cost you to build a big block...unless your Irish and have a shamrock shoved in your back pocket or somewhere in that vicinity. If you don't know the different generations of big blocks available, don't buy anything until you do!!!

DONE DEAL DONNY · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject:

Take it from a man who just had his paint and body work done on a California car (no rust) you can double that figure your working with and that still is not complete custom, those start at around $10,000 easy.
I shopped hard before I spent my money, and I would tell you do the same. But don't think about everything at once, do a little at a time, if you do the math it don't add up to doing it, if you love what your doing, do it as you can!
Good Luck
Donny
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1968 El Camino S/S 396

464elky · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:52 am Post subject:

I agree with the above comments in that you will need to double your figures for the complete restoration. I finished ????? mine about a year ago and spent about double of your 9700 estimate and had no outside labor and already owned the engine. It is amazing how the money goes when you start getting suspension stuff, weatherstripping and etc.
I don't want to discourage you just prepare you for where you are headed. Go for it and you will enjoy the process (most of the time) and be proud of your efforts and the finished product.

edit: I forgot to mention that I am still spending on it. So the total just keeps growing. Read the bottom line of my signature.
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Another 3 to 9 years should finish it.

skinyfisher · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:10 pm Post subject:

The cost of a frame off is a bigger ticket than most think that have not made the trip. Most of the restoration is the same for a good driver /weekend show car untill you say PAINT this number varies from as low as 4k to 8k until you say show perfect or special, than the number can go from 10k to out of this world. Every body learns some where, but the better and more cost effective way is to start with a good quality car that is frame up with the other work having been done already or not in need unless you are buiding a high #2 or #1 car (#1 is a trailer queen). One more thing don not believe or trust anyone that says it "BOLTS RIGHT IN"

Neil you forgot about the cost to chrome that is $xxx,xxx.xx
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