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| Work Done: Electrical System Gas Tank & Sending Unit Oil Pan Valve Job Head Gasket Timing Chain Water Pump Steering (column, gearbox & pump) Brakes & Master Cylinder Front End Starter Locks Vent Windows _________________ Costs = $6,200+ Photos: January 2006 |
| When first testing this car, the engine's rumble following a quick start-up is what endeared me to it so fast. The test drive itself wasn't noteworthy; but trying to get it home was. Soon as the deal had been made, TOBY & I pulled out of the parking lot and immediately detected something wrong. Turns out a brake line for the rear passenger side wheel was leaking; a part had to be replaced before we drove back to The S.F.V. After the car was registered with new license plates, I set about getting the repairs started. My first concerns were with the electrical system: the dash lights didn't work, the tail lights were all wonky and the front, external, driver's-side turn indicator wasn't even connected. A few days at a shop in Chatsworth took care of that. The next malfunction presented itself when I first filled up the gas tank--which started leaking in the parking lot at work. Had members of security calling my office to inform me of the problem, which was promptly resolved with a new gas tank and sending unit that very same week. Once that problem was resolved, my focus turned towards the steering. It was a difficult thing to do, turning sharply or softly; so it helped to have the power steering pump replaced--especially after learning that the wrong model of said part had been in there. Next thing to do was have the steering gear box replaced; the old one barely functioned--placing unnecessary stress on the new pump. The upgrades didn't stop there; that whole column had to be replaced since the old one was barely keeping the steering wheel fastened--and it had no locking mechanism for the ignition. The car could literally be started up merely by turning the ignition without a key being in there! While repairs were being performed, the bad head gasket was detected; so when getting an estimate for doing that particular work, the quote of a valve job for merely $100 extra during the same project seemed like a deal. As this work was in process, the bad timing chain fell apart--ergo the need to replace it along the way. Throw in the bad, rusted-out water pump, and the whole job ran up past $1k. Not cheap, I'll admit; but it got certain jobs done all at once that wouldn't concern me later. Wish it had covered the main pulley for the engine, which literally fell-the-fuck-off as I arrived at work one morning. Getting it fixed wasn't as costly as I feared; but replacing the car's oil pan gasket the next month was. Arguably, the most worrisome period of time began when my brakes started to seriously soften-up. It was right after the oil pan gasket job, and a month away from when I could next afford any mechanical work being done. The brakes were soft to the point of not working; and only after pumping them several times could I get 'em to operate at all. Needless to say, I spent the next few weeks driving very carefully--hardly ever going over the 35 MPH speed limit and habitually pumping the brakes long before reaching a stop. As it turns out, the rear brakes needed to be redone and several hoses had to be replaced--in addition to the master cylinder. With said project finished, my car stops just fine. Before leaving on a trip to Las Vegas, I left my car at the shop to have its new front end installed. A few months later, I also had the front wheels' bearings repacked--thus softening the ride a little bit on turns--in addition to getting a wheel alignment. This was followed by the need for a new starter. The last significant repair performed in this first year of ownership was to finally get the locks replaced on both doors and the glove box. Add in new regulators & cranks for the vent windows--along with some tweaking to make sure the door handles work right--and it's now much easier to open the doors and to lock/secure the vehicle. Since becoming owner of this classic muslce car, I've not only noticed a new group of enthusiasts, but have also joined them. Learning about cars, engines & parts is when I noticed clubs out there that cater to a variety of themes; ranging from wide-open domestic & foreign classics, to more focused fans of Chevy, Ford, Dodge & other muscle cars. Being the new owner of a Chevy El Camino, it made sense to not only seek out fans of Chevrolet, but more specifically, those who are into the Chevelle & Camino production lines. So I was thankful to find--and join--The Southern California Chevelle Camino Club in January 2006. In this first year, I have established a new, deep appreciation for American-made classic muscle cars. Yeah, my preference leans towards Chevy--especially with Caminos and Chevelles; but I dig all classic rides that have been spruced up, cherry'd-out and generally taken care of. There were plenty of memorable rides to come off the GM, MOPAR, et al production lines since the 1950s to keep us all enthralled and entertained. I've not only become a semi-regular at things like Flames' Cruise Night, but also attend the occasional car show and soon began participating in poker runs. And I now take exceptional pride in friends whom have had classic rides of their own--such as TOBY, KAT & Sean. Who knows? Maybe I'll even talk The GF into getting one. Year Two |
| ELKY - Year One |