1KWHP1G

I picked up the car a few years back when a relative started experiencing onset dementia. Not long after he passed away and I was able to pick up the car pretty cheap. It was always garage kept. Really a beautiful car. Came with GN wheels that are in perfect shape.
There are still some things that need to be done,but I should be done with the resto/build by the spring. Heres a mod list:

*gen1 4 bolt main block (Short Block by John Gunn of Gunn Automotive

*JE Pistons (R.I.P John)

*Crower rods

*Edlebrock RPM Performer Air-Gap Intake manifold w/Endurashine finish

*Edlebrock RPM Performer Aluminum cylinder heads
(Dual springs,SS valves)
*Fel-Pro head gaskets

*ARP head studs,main studs and rod hardware

*Holly 750 non-dbl pumper w/kit

*MSD Pro-Billet distributor

*MSD Blaster coil

*Hooker stainless headers w/ceramic coating

*GM Steel crank

*Monte Carlo SS 10 bolt rear

*200-R4 tranny built to handle 650whp-700whp

*TCi flexplate w/ARP fasteners

*Wilwood Big Brake kit

*Eiback springs

This is just a short list. I'll add more as I post pictures of the car.

portfl0w

iTrader: (1)

In for this one.

What's a 200R4? 3 speed?

roflsubaru

Looks like a real solid build! Weird that you said your relative had dementia because the story of how I got my 79 Camino is almost the same. The lady's brother I bought it from was experiencing dementia so she had to sell the car. Maybe Caminos drive their owners crazy!

1KWHP1G

lol,that could very well be. Bright side to this.....I'm already a few cards short of a full deck so bring on the mental disease.lol

1KWHP1G

This was taken when I got the car




A few months later





Heres a shot of the Caddy DTS seats I'll be using in this build.


These are the GN wheels that came with the car.


Motor is a Gen1 SBC. Shortblock by John Gunn


Went from the above picture to this.






Trans. (4 speed).

1KWHP1G

Sorry guys. I'm exhausted. I'll re-organize the thread and add the appropriate pics tomorrow. Theres a lot more pics I have as far as parts and such.

1KWHP1G

OK,just so nobody is confused I had set out originally with no intentions of doing a frame-off resto however once I took things apart I did'nt quite like what I saw. So off came the body,and the POR that I had sprayed the front half of the frame with. I was just going to replace all of the front end parts (control arms,spindles,suspension,steering,etc...) but this car is going to be given to my God son when he graduates highschool so it has to be done right. I don't want to give him something done half-assed. I want to give him something he can drive everyday if chooses,but also enter in a carshow or two, or take to the track and run some decent numbers with.
Once again I'm exhausted from another long day. Tomorrow is sunday,I'll get some time to organize these pictures in the correct order. Sorry guys. Bear with me.

1KWHP1G

I've been thinking about what color I want to spray the car. I would like to do something that is not like every other G-body out there. Flat black or grey would be cool but I know my nephew/Godson won't really go for it. I would like to do a GM color (blue or orange). But it's extremely easy to make these cars look gawdy and just plain stupid with the wrong color paint. I want to make this car look subtle,clean, but still keep it looking like a muscle car. What do you think?

portfl0w

iTrader: (1)

What are some modern GM colors that have some pep? I know sometimes the obscure, unpopular, cars have colors that come out great on other cars. Usually, all of the loud colors are played out. Maybe something subtle but modern? A nice green or a purple? Loving the direction of this thread!

1KWHP1G

Thanks.I actually would'nt mind either of those colors. Just have to find the right shade I just hope to get as much done as possible before winter really hits here in New York. We got a taste of it last month and I was quickly reminded why I hate NY in the winter. It creeps up on you.
I do have a spot for it in my brother's garage but can't really do any real work on it there. So I'm trying to hold off on putting it all up there for now.

slick1851

GM Cyber Grey off the ZR1 it has blue and green flake in the gun metal and changes nice shades in different times of the day.


Very nice color not alot of people are using/

1KWHP1G

I was just checking out that ZR1 grey....very nice! I actually like this color a lot. This is a strong possibility. Thanks,Slick!

1KWHP1G

My nephew and I looked at some colors last night. Without divulging to him the fact that the car will be his in a few years I tried to figure out what colors he likes. Obviously most 12 yr olds are going to pick some outlandish colors. Not being exposed to some of the earlier GM,Chrysler,Ford colors all they know is what they see in F&F movies and these drifting game apps on their Iphones. But to be honest,I don't know if he was trying to impress me or what, but he actually said he would re-spray the factory color,or the cyber grey. I should have known, he's big on dark shades. Everything he wears and owns is usually black,grey,dark blue,etc...
Though when I showed him some pictures of my old GN he liked that a lot. I told him that the two cars were of the same family/body code and that one could make the Camino look like a GN. Well he thought that was cool,especially the picture on google pictures of a GNX/El Camino clone smokin' em' up. So that may be a possibility as well. No matter what I'm going to use my setup in something. If I end up throwing my stage 3 GN motor in the Camino I'll put my 350ci motor in something. I've got a few rolling chassis' shells that I could work with. Thing is no matter what this motor is going to be ran as-is. It's a perfect combo built by a gentleman that is no longer with us. John Gunn. He was in the sport of racing for many many years. Had sponsorship directly from GM and a bunch of other companies, and was really known for his ability to build a bad-*** SBC. He could do anything but his lust was for small displacement SBC. One accomplishment was the 500hp he was able to squeeze out of a 4.3 liter 265ci LT-1 motor. These were generally found in taxi cabs. Exceptional RPM capabilities were further enhanced by John and he was able to build a pretty bad little motor that ran on pump gas and idled like a dream.
However older 1st gen SBC's are a bit more tempermental once you surpass a certain hp range. Motor starts eatin' up lifters, constant adjustments are needed, and they get a terribly,almost obnoxiously loud exhaust sound. Big hp Gen1 SBC's are not easy to maintain. I mean you don't have to be a rocket scientist but it's not like maintaining a fuel injected LS motor. So if I put it in anything else, it's going to be something light. With the power this motor will turn out I think I want to put it in something that is no heavier than 2,500lbs. Maybe a little Chevette, or something like that. As for now I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing. Which at this point is prepping the body for paint,and blasting the chassis and prepping for paint as well. Everything else will fall into place.

portfl0w

iTrader: (1)

He has good taste.

1KWHP1G

Decided to go frame-off on this one. Found a spot of rust in the tail section of the chassis so I am repairing that and blasting the chassis. I'm in the middle of powerwashing off any loose debrea,then I'll be breaking out the sandblaster. I'm trying to get my Talon to the track ASAP so I'm kind of taking my time with this now. I've got some pics of the body and the chassis. I'll post them up.

1KWHP1G

Here she is.