CLASS RACER FORUM - '67 El Camino H/SA

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Re: '67 El Camino H/SA

Looks good. Very cool that you accomplished your goal.

Re: '67 El Camino H/SA

Those station wagon rear seat footwells work for more then just hidden storage. Good deal. Much better then through the window. IMHO.

Re: '67 El Camino H/SA

Worked Friday and today getting the headliner and glass installed (a first for me).

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...psdkma00jb.jpg

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...psuxzureiq.jpg

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...pslwc2a6gf.jpg

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps8zmtgedw.jpg

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...pssoqci2yt.jpg

Late this afternoon after finishing the glass I decided to lower the engine into place to see if I had a set of headers on hand that would work for me. It soon became apparent something was wrong...I could not get the motor mount bolts in/aligned to save my life. I have had the engine in the truck many times and could easily drop it in by myself with zero difficulties.

After about an hour of cussing and head scratching I spied something else I had not noticed since it returned home from the roll bar installation...the truck was leaning towards the driver side quiet a bit. Measurements revealed the driver side of the truck is about 3/4" lower than the passenger side. I can only guess at this point the welding/install of the roll bar has somehow caused this. I was able to loosen the engine frame mounts to finally get the motor mount bolts in, but that is a bandaide that does not address the real problem as it still has the lean. Not sure what to do at this point, but I know I won't satisfied with a vehicle heaved over to one side.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...psowpfmixz.jpg

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...psinglbcu1.jpg

Re: '67 El Camino H/SA

After much thought it looks like the least painful solution to evening out the body is to cut the floor pans around the bars on the driver-side and shim the body mounts an additional 3/4". Any other ideas?

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...pswxno7gqm.jpg

Re: '67 El Camino H/SA

Only one way to FIX it CORRECTLY. Take it to the best frame shop arou d Nasbville and have the straighten it. Tell them when they figure out exactly which bar needs to be cut- cut it. Then let the roll bar guy fix it. If you dont start with a straight car it wont ever be right.

Re: '67 El Camino H/SA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Painter (Post 516350)

You ever hear of or see a roll bar install that would draw one so bad you could not get the engine mounts to line up or cause the body to droop like that on one side? Marty said it was level and on jackstands with the suspension dropped when he welded. I put it on stands myself this morning...three stands support the vehicle with the fourth (passenger front) supporting nothing but air, but not a huge gap.

Re: '67 El Camino H/SA

I guess a level floor is worth its weight in concrete. If it was straight before, and bent now there is only one thing could have happened. At least you cound it now, should only have cut one bar. With two swing out bars he might not have to cut one, just cut or lengthen one of the swing outs.

Re: '67 El Camino H/SA

I hate to speculate where the problem lies, but here are two certain facts...

I've had a engine in and out of this vehicle numerous times for various reasons since I began this project last year and never once had any difficulty inserting motor mount bolts.

I don't recall ever putting a tape to it either before I began or during this project before the roll bar install. Considering all the time I have spent in and around this vehicle the past twelve months I find it hard to believe I would not have noticed a peculiar lean towards one side. Not one to rely on my oft feeble memory alone...I have a considerable amount of camera images that do not reveal any such lean.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...pspqdq7hbr.jpg

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...psoj6kczc0.jpg

Re: '67 El Camino H/SA

After a short session of wet sanding a portion of the hood yesterday I decided it would be best to do the entire vehicle.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...pshwxu79ay.jpg

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The speedometer cluster turned out nice.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...pssydjmn4o.jpg

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...pslpkgpaoi.jpg