Getting a free el camino

Discussion in 'The Bench' started by Donuts & Peelouts, Aug 13, 2019.

  1. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    Old timer I'm cool with. He just told me "pull the engine and trans out and its yours".

    I dont know the condition. I just seen it from far. Dont know the year either but I might be an 80's.

    Wife wasn't happy even tho it's free but that passed.

    Pictures coming this week.
     
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  2. Bill Nuttle

    Bill Nuttle Well-Known Member

    Free is always good. And 80’s elco’s seem to sell good in Cali
     
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  3. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    That's the plan Bill
     
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  4. John Stevens

    John Stevens Well-Known Member

    Have had (at least) one for years. Need to finish this one up so I can get back to driving it..... Screenshot_2019-08-14-06-07-30.png
     
  5. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    Is the elcamino frame stronger than a car frame?
     
  6. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    That's a nice elco. I'm digging that grill
     
  7. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    ‘78-87 are ‘fifth generation’ and are G bodies like the Regal. Frame is unique; it’s a longer wheelbase than any other G including the wagons. Frame is not boxed, so they’re kinda flexible, but a lot of mix and match factory parts along with aftermarket exist to reinforce or brace the frames and bodies. They’re very cool and useful (in my opinion).
    Patrick
     
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  8. quickstage1

    quickstage1 Well-Known Member

    I fixed an '87 up for my son, it was also free. My uncle gave it to him. I added a steel cowl hood, fixed some minor rust and painted it, rebuilt the suspension and got rid of the computer and went with a Holley 600, headers and dual exhaust. Runs great and looks good, my son loves it. Upgrading the 305 to a 350 this fall. You don't have to pay Buick prices for the parts either, that's a good thing.

    Ken
     

    Attached Files:

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  9. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    The cowl hood was done perfectly, not so huge like others.
     
  10. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    Buick prices lol. Oh nooo
     
  11. John Stevens

    John Stevens Well-Known Member

    Thanks, speaking of the cost of Buick parts. I believe I have less then $150.00 in the brand new grille & headlight bezels. Try that with Buick parts........ Though I did have to "sneak in" 1-Buick part. I grafted in a '79 Turbo Regal hood bulge. Screenshot_2019-08-14-09-25-22.png
     
  12. John Codman

    John Codman Platinum Level Contributor

    El Caminos are cool to look at, but IMO they combine the worst features of a sedan with the worst features of a pickup truck without any of the good features of either. No room inside, and not enough weight carrying capacity in the bed.
     
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  13. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    Just got off the phone with my best friend who is a big Gbody elcamino guy. He was so shocked I got it for free lol.
     
  14. dynaflow

    dynaflow shiftless...

    ...free...actually you didn't..."pull engine trans"...:rolleyes:
     
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  15. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    Momma said nothing is free in this world. And she was right. I'm going to end up giving him some chain link fencing I have too. That lesson was drilled into me young.
     
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  16. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    I went over last night to see it because he said it was "ruff" and "you might not want it".
    Boy was he wrong.

    It was in good shape. The drivers door is not aligned but that's easy.

    It got dark and my phone was too low to use a flash.
    But its burgundy with white stripe down the middle, cowl hood, bucket seats also burgundy, big CB radio antenna on it, and it's a stick car, but I got to take the trans out anyway
     
  17. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    Not enough space huh?
    Not enough power huh? elcaminotrailer.jpg 4170ddcb29c98298937c3dd81582146d-1.jpg
     
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  18. John Stevens

    John Stevens Well-Known Member

    Clutch linkage for "G"-bodies is fairly valuable.....
     
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  19. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    4th gen buddy.
     
  20. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

    Single from what I remember its still hot out, in 2 hours I'm a go again.
     

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