Title: 59 elcamino as promised
Post by: johnieG on July 11, 2005, 08:21:54 pm
Well a few posts back I promised to post some pictures of my "delivery truck" , as promised, here 'tis, 
, the model no. is a '59 "sedan-delivery" better known in the first year of production as an "ElCamino" , built by Chevy to compete with Ford's Ranchero pickup, it was billed as a gentleman ranchers pickup delivery, and often saw duty as a floral wagon, catering services & other high profile delivery needs where a rusty old full size pickup wouldn't do. ( country clubs, golf courses, etc.) it's built on a full size Chevy "X" frame, ( it's not a Chevelle, those started in '64) & was fabricated from production line 2-door staion wagons known as the Chevy Brookwood wagon, in fact, if you lift off the rear bed floor, you can see where the station wagons rear
passenger seat mounts & foot-well were located. weighing in at 3200 lbs, the rear "wings" don't help much in getting her airborn at any speed,
This ones a California built (L.A. plant) "Camino, equipt with a balanced & blueprinted 425 h.p / 409 CID engine, with a 384/tri-power intake manifold, 'Offy' valve covers, hiding stainless steel big block roller rockers & high-rev. hydraulic lifters with chrome-moly, push rods, the pistons are flycut for 10:1 compression,& run molly top rings w/forged steel connection rods & crank, hi-volume oil pump & windage tray. kepping it cool is a '64 heavy duty waterpump & a 4-core "desert" radiator with an 16" auxillary electric cooling fan. it has 4 wheel drums w/power brakes, & a 3-spd "on-the-tree" (column) shifter, ending at a street Chevy 3.55 rear end. I built the engine in my moms garage ( still hear her complaining about the parts all over the place) & I'm 3rd. owner , & have had it since I was 17 years old.
Me & my 7 year old will be taking her to the Woodward dream cruise this year...rock on dudes!
, the model no. is a '59 "sedan-delivery" better known in the first year of production as an "ElCamino" , built by Chevy to compete with Ford's Ranchero pickup, it was billed as a gentleman ranchers pickup delivery, and often saw duty as a floral wagon, catering services & other high profile delivery needs where a rusty old full size pickup wouldn't do. ( country clubs, golf courses, etc.) it's built on a full size Chevy "X" frame, ( it's not a Chevelle, those started in '64) & was fabricated from production line 2-door staion wagons known as the Chevy Brookwood wagon, in fact, if you lift off the rear bed floor, you can see where the station wagons rear passenger seat mounts & foot-well were located. weighing in at 3200 lbs, the rear "wings" don't help much in getting her airborn at any speed,
This ones a California built (L.A. plant) "Camino, equipt with a balanced & blueprinted 425 h.p / 409 CID engine, with a 384/tri-power intake manifold, 'Offy' valve covers, hiding stainless steel big block roller rockers & high-rev. hydraulic lifters with chrome-moly, push rods, the pistons are flycut for 10:1 compression,& run molly top rings w/forged steel connection rods & crank, hi-volume oil pump & windage tray. kepping it cool is a '64 heavy duty waterpump & a 4-core "desert" radiator with an 16" auxillary electric cooling fan. it has 4 wheel drums w/power brakes, & a 3-spd "on-the-tree" (column) shifter, ending at a street Chevy 3.55 rear end. I built the engine in my moms garage ( still hear her complaining about the parts all over the place) & I'm 3rd. owner , & have had it since I was 17 years old.
Me & my 7 year old will be taking her to the Woodward dream cruise this year...rock on dudes!
Title: 59 elcamino as promised
Post by: loman4ec on July 11, 2005, 08:26:41 pm
Thats great John. Nice car. My father and I used to build 55, 56, and 57 chevy's. How about some pics of whats in the "Soda Barn".
Title: 59 elcamino as promised
Post by: Kilroy on July 11, 2005, 08:28:59 pm
Whoa! She's beautiful Johnnie.
Title: 59 elcamino as promised
Post by: dr galaga on July 11, 2005, 08:36:26 pm
Nice ride. Now you just need a big Coke logo on the hood. 
JK
JKTitle: 59 elcamino as promised
Post by: Jim on July 11, 2005, 09:12:39 pm
Very Nice Johnie!
With a 409 tri-power, I bet she gets up and goes!
Is the engine combination (409/tri-power setup) original or did you upgrade...?
Lastly, on the drivers side, is this a mirror or an optional spot light...?
With a 409 tri-power, I bet she gets up and goes!
Is the engine combination (409/tri-power setup) original or did you upgrade...?
Lastly, on the drivers side, is this a mirror or an optional spot light...?
Title: 59 elcamino as promised
Post by: halehouse on July 11, 2005, 09:30:24 pm
I bet it is a spotlight...a spotlight for spotting machines sticking out from behind garages, barns, and bushes when driving down country roads at night.
Title: 59 elcamino as promised
Post by: joesquid on July 12, 2005, 02:27:14 am
WOW!!! (drip drip) oh, sorry, I was salivating. How about some pics of the power plant Johnnie? GORGEOUS Ride!!
Title: 59 elcamino as promised
Post by: Bob K on July 12, 2005, 06:52:04 am
It just doesn't get any better than that... 
Picture it with a barn-find Vendo 56 in the bed - yeah baby!!
Picture it with a barn-find Vendo 56 in the bed - yeah baby!!
Title: 59 elcamino as promised
Post by: johnieG on July 12, 2005, 07:04:59 am
| Quote (Jim @ July 11 2005,10:12) |
| Very Nice Johnie! With a 409 tri-power, I bet she gets up and goes! Is the engine combination (409/tri-power setup) original or did you upgrade...? Lastly, on the drivers side, is this a mirror or an optional spot light...? |
Thanks guys! Jim, it originally had a 283 CID V8, which the 2nd owner spun a bearing on the crank, he then installed a 235 CID straight 6 (ugh), when I bought it from him, I yanked the stovebolt 6, & install this NOS (new old stock) 409 Crate motor ( an original service engine, in the crate from G.M.) as for the spotlight, it's an original dealer option spotlight (conforms to the fender contour)with a 100 watt police spot lamp in it.
and here's an engine compartment shot.
Title: 59 elcamino as promised
Post by: on July 12, 2005, 08:10:21 am
Beautiful! That is a very nice ride. Good work Johnie. 
Title: 59 elcamino as promised
Post by: on July 12, 2005, 11:20:05 am
Wow, that's awesome! Thanks for the pics!
Title: 59 elcamino as promised
Post by: Creighton on July 12, 2005, 03:38:11 pm
Outstanding. Great job!! Might want to make some room for the trophys :-)
Creighton
Creighton
Title: 59 elcamino as promised
Post by: sodaworks on July 13, 2005, 12:43:01 am
johnieG,
Nice very nice. I have a 64 El Camino that I use for my daily driver. I plan on doing a frame off custom next year on it. I have done two previous frame off customs. The first one sold and was shipped to Yokahoma, Japan.
Nice very nice. I have a 64 El Camino that I use for my daily driver. I plan on doing a frame off custom next year on it. I have done two previous frame off customs. The first one sold and was shipped to Yokahoma, Japan.