Just got my first one

400 Camino · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:29 pm Post subject: Just got my first one

Alright, well i was never really into El Camino's but my uncle's had one for years.. i recently stoped by and talked to a friend's dad and found out he had a '73 for sale, i just went to get it today, it's Black, with a 400.. quick as can be.. only paid $250 for it cause he wanted it gone, i'll post some pics in a few day's.. Can someone tell me how hard it is to swap out the dash skins? and where's a good place to pick one up at

PaPa Johns 77 · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:13 pm Post subject:

They make a shell to cover the cracked pad. Here is a post that shows the installation of the pad. I followed his method and mine turned out good! It starts on page three, just scroll down to find the pictures. It is covered over several pages. Good Luck! Cool

http://elcaminocentral.com/ftopic-10975-days0-orderasc-30.html
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"Still Just Truck'in"
"Johnny"
Bradley, Illinois

hemi57 · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:48 pm Post subject:

Alex, welcome to ECC and congratulations on getting your El Camino for what sounds like a steal.

Mate I am looking forward to seeing pics of your El Camino to see what 250 buys in your part of the world Laugh

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John (from Down Under)

'75 El Camino Classic ("EARLE")

400 Camino · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:27 am Post subject:

yea you'll be shocked when you see it.. i was at least.. got fairly good paint, has waves, but it's not in that bad of shape.. body's straight, no rust.. the engine smokes a bit, but was suposely rebuilt not too long ago, so when i get it down to my house i'll run some STP through it and see if that helps with the smoke, if that don't, i'll check the rings, and if worse comes to worse, i know a mechine shop down here that will help me out... it's got a new true duel 2 1/2 exhaust with 2 flowmaster 40 series mufflers.. and when i get another extra $150 i'm going to take off a new edlebrock intake and a rebuilt 4 barrel carb off his hands.. the thing already has quite a bit of power coming out of it, went from a dead stop to 70 in no time

Low75 · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:15 pm Post subject:

If the engine is smoking the first thing I would check for is an exhaust leak. Look around the manifolds and see if you can find any cracks, maybe replace the gaskets if they're worn out, and make sure all the bolts are torqued down...could be as simple as that.

Congrats on the purchase though, $250 is a hell of a deal. And welcome to ECC!
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1975 El Camino
http://elcaminocentral.com/gallery-album_album358.html

old_coot · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:32 am Post subject:

how does it smoke---if its just on startup , more than likely its valve guide seals, or the guides are worn and needs to be replaced but if it smokes all the time or just under heavy acceleration thats something deeper in the engine and usually means it needs a rebuild. A lot of folks have the rings and bearings replaced in the block and consider that a rebuild---not even close---so if you give us a little more detail about the smoke we can offer a lot better advise................Dan
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I don't think I have ever had a car that was "FINISHED"........unless it was totaled.

400 Camino · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject:

it was suposbely (sp?) rebuilt before it was put in the car, the guy i bought it from got it in a trade and swaped it in.. it didn't smoke at first when we started it.. then i got the rpm's up to get on it and it smoked pretty bad, then it just had a bit of smoke as we were going down the freeway..

in the pics it's up on the wheels stands cause we were changing the oil

hemi57 · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject:

Alex, that is a nice looking 4th gen. As I suspected, from what I can see it was a steal.

You have the same steering wheel that I fitted last week Poke Tounge

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John (from Down Under)

'75 El Camino Classic ("EARLE")

400 Camino · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 1:00 am Post subject:

haha, you can take that steering wheel, i'll more then likely put it on craigslist, i can't see the speedo for the life of me when i'm driving cause it gets in the way.. if it were a bit bigger it wouldn't be an issue, i'm glad i got this car for the price i did, never was into el camino's, but this thing i can tell i'm going to have fun with.. haul a few more friends then i can in my camaro.. i just gotta fix this dang smoking issue, it comes out really bad on the driver side exhaust, and somewhat on the passenger side.. i'm praying i don't need to rebuild it.. otherwise it might leave my hands very soon, unless i can scrape up the money somehow

hemi57 · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:00 am Post subject:

400 Camino · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 12:43 pm Post subject:

I got onto summit last night and looked around, and found my same exact style of wheel, and they had it in various dimaters, mine's pretty small, i'm guessing 12 in. at the most

and today i'm going to mess with it some more.. i had plans on taking it to a buddy's and maybe cover alot of ground. yesterday i changed the oil and drove it around for a bit.. then late last night, i went to drive it, and it died on me.. repeativly.. put more gas in it, still the same thing.. idk if it's just issues with warming up or what..