1982 Pro Street ElCamino Conquista refresh

[rockmup]

Any thoughts on painting the steel heads in aluminum paint?
I've always painted them black because I'm scared of how fake they might look...

Mexican chrome has always been a Chevy thing

 

[ANGRYBLACK]

I'd say black. It's hard to make the under hood of G bodies look nice. A black firewall makes the engine pop IMHO.

And that paint won't ever match the pure beauty of the moroso valve covers.

 

[CarterKraft]

I'd say black. It's hard to make the under hood of G bodies look nice. A black firewall makes the engine pop IMHO.

And that paint won't ever match the pure beauty of the moroso valve covers.

Right on, I'll get some more paint.

I've been trying to find a matching air cleaner.
I did a dumb and put it on my boys truck then forgot to replace it when we sold it, come to find out they are discontinued

 

[Speedy]

I'd say black. It's hard to make the under hood of G bodies look nice. A black firewall makes the engine pop IMHO.

And that paint won't ever match the pure beauty of the moroso valve covers.

Totally, agree.

I know it was a lot of work but blend the firewall into the background so the engine will be the highlight.

 

[jptbay]

Like the tall silver pipe stands. Are they made with repurposed parts?

 

[CarterKraft]

Like the tall silver pipe stands. Are they made with repurposed parts?

Yeah they are a combination of coil rod, 1.75 and 1.5 tubing on Rome harrow disc plow spools. The spools are much larger than normal plow parts, the discs are 36" and the spacers are super thick, not cast steel.

CR-12 COIL ROD 1-1/4" X 12', PLAIN - ALP Supply

1-1/4" X 12' Coil Rod is manufactured from high grade quality steel and stocked in high-tensile strength in 12 ft standard lengths. Custom lengths are available per order.

www.alpsupply.com

 

[CarterKraft]

More slow AF progress.
Painted and Installed the AC delete panel, got the coil, msd 6 digital+ bracket on the inside and the 12 pin Duetsch bulkhead all put in.

Got the rest of exhaust tacked in just need to commit to the turn out position.
I think I'm done fucking with it so it'll get welded out in the morning.

Lots of slow detail shit, started on the new engine harness. Hoping for more progress tomorrow.

 

[Projectjunkie]

I like the bits and pieces from the equipment world, my buddy put a big block Chevelle together with half a CAT ac system

 

[CarterKraft]

Had to quit when oil pressure didn't come "right" up after cranking a few cycles.
It's pumping oil just hasn't made it to the valvetrain or shown any pressure on the gauge. Priming tool ordered, I can't find mine it still might be at my dad's, good luck buying one locally anymore, I tried.


All wired up enough to get it running, need to add the alternator/wiring, mount and dual MRBF fuses when they come in this week.

Lots of details I want to change, old spark plug looms don't fit with these headers, plugs are too long, wires are now too long. Brake lines still look max gay, on and on.

 

[M92PV4U]

Priming tool ordered, I can't find mine it still might be at my dad's, good luck buying one locally anymore, I tried.

Chevrolet s/b b/b oil pump priming tool made out of a old distributor.

 

[CarterKraft]

That's what I have, somewhere. It was a old hei that I converted, no idea where it is though. New one is $20 be here tomorrow.

I don't even have a spare distributor to make one.

 

[Projectjunkie]

Man, auto zone used to loaner tool that thing all day long, maybe times have changed

 

[CarterKraft]

Man, auto zone used to loaner tool that thing all day long, maybe times have changed

I actually drove up there to get it, said $10 on the app. I was just gonna buy it, but no luck they didn't have it and couldn't get it brought in from anywhere locally.

 

[CarterKraft]

This bitch faught the whole way
Oil priming/pressure went smoothly.
Played whacka mole getting the distributor timed. Then got it fired.
No water yet so once it fired I threw the hoses on it and water neck thermostat. Then I "adjusted" the lower radiator outlet and it cracked the bottom of the tank. Snatch the rad back out and solder it up.
Water back in and fire it up again.

Success! I have another half day of shop cleaning to get it rolled out of the shop.
Need to build a shroud for the fan and get the alternator on it.

 

[jptbay]

Sounds good!

 

[CarterKraft]

Looking at the shroud tonight for a electric fan makes me think I should just switch to a LS radiator, fan/shroud setup now...

Looking on rock auto at 1998 Camaro radiator/fan setups seems like a decent setup for the price if it fits.
Radiator is around $125 and dual fan setup about the same.

Anyone know a stout OEM setup to cool 450 HP? That power level seems well in reach of most shit these days

 

[Bebop]

Silverado from 2005/2006 with the dual elec fans.
Moves tons of air.

 

[CarterKraft]

Silverado from 2005/2006 with the dual elec fans.
Moves tons of air.

Perfect, I'll check it out.

 

[CarterKraft]

Those all look like surge tank style so I can fab a tank for that or add a cap to the radiator. I think I prefer the surge style but not sure I need to open that can of worms at the moment.

I might just build a shroud for the core I have and worry about a complete redesign when/if I do the LS swap. I have fans and a sheet of aluminum now...
I am not good with goal creep and I will end up hand making all this shit over the course of 3 months

 

[CarterKraft]

Knocked out the shroud for minimum fan to get rolling.
Old 16" fan of unknown specs, because like the air cleaner I put the Spal fan that was for this on my sons truck we sold...

It's wired direct to fan switch now but I am working on a Arduino variable speed controller, I have all the parts and since I've never successfully made anything with micro controller this seems worthwhile waste of time.

 

[CarterKraft]

Finished the shroud, need to get some bulb seal for it to seal it up the radiator.
Added some flaps for road speed air flow, not sure they help but I always wanted to do them on this car so here they are.

 

[CarterKraft]

Back when it pushed the head gaskets out, I stabbed the throttle to try and get it cleared out to fire up before it left is stranded and the plastic throttle pedal mount exploded quite violently I might add. So before I could go anywhere I had to fix that. I tried to just buy a new one but that seemed unobtanium so I built my own. I'll need to build a solid stop for it at WOT but it will work ok for now.

Took it and put 4 gallons of gas in it.
I learned the brakes are fucked. The fronts are stuck on, the right worst than the left. Took LOTS of beans to get it motivating
Neighbor texted and said "God damn I guess you got it running" 🤣

Feels so good

 

[crispins]

awesome!

 

[72blazer]

 

[rattle_snake]

fuck ya man nice work.
Need me a tubbed el co...

 

[surpip]

Bad ass, makes the right noises too.

 

[CarterKraft]

fuck ya man nice work.
Need me a tubbed el co...

Thanks, there is STILL a lot of WTF LoL. Im working on straightening it all out to something 43 year old me is proud of.

I cracked the bleeders and got the calipers to retract so it seems like the line lock valve is stuck?
After switching to manual brakes the pedal feel has always sucked, I assume the pedal ratio is off.

I'm gonna fix the shit as is and replumb the lines so it doesn't look like meth lab. There was a hydroboost option for some Buicks and I am putting a power steering pump back on it too so maybe it gets hydro boost?

I might put new larger calipers if I can get them at a good price, not sure if there was a original application or only aftermarket. I got new brake hoses already. Regular calipers are $20 each so it might just be stock shit.

Lots to figure out, it needs drop spindles still but that's down the line.

 

[ANGRYBLACK]

Now that is how you do it! Awesome Brother.

Stock calipers and hawk pads are a nice upgrade for street driving and weekends at the darg strip. Will wood has a metric replacement. Howe has an aluminum replacement. Dual piston S10 2wd spindles and matching rotors and calipers should fit behind a 15" wheel also. Lots of you tube videos on the g body S10 brake upgrade.
If you need resto parts OPGI has a ton for G bodies nowadays. Bob Ezel on face book is also a great used parts source.

 

[CarterKraft]

Now that is how you do it! Awesome Brother.

Stock calipers and hawk pads are a nice upgrade for street driving and weekends at the darg strip. Will wood has a metric replacement. Howe has an aluminum replacement. Dual piston S10 2wd spindles and matching rotors and calipers should fit behind a 15" wheel also. Lots of you tube videos on the g body S10 brake upgrade.
If you need resto parts OPGI has a ton for G bodies nowadays. Bob Ezel on face book is also a great used parts source.

Thanks!

Good info on the S10 swap stuff, I figured this was all already figured out but Google doesn't seem worth a shot anymore for searching forums.

 

[ANGRYBLACK]

www.gbodyforum.com is the most current one that stays active. It's rough for forum guys. You tube and facebook are the places to go nowadays. Even Maliburacing seems dead, but the facebook groups are helpful. Look up Classic Gbody garage on you tube and facebook. The facebook group is a clown free zone if that helps.