Hey guys, I figured we could use a thread for this. I know we have the "What did you work on today" thread, but there isn't really a thread for discussing our projects, so here we are.
As for me, I just did the 4-speed to 5-speed swap on my Civic and it's done except for cosmetic work for now. So I'd been looking for another project. My colt is a good running car and although I have the 4G63 swap to do on it, I lack some pieces that are really hard to find, so I'd rather not tear halfway into it in case I need the extra car. I decided to pull out my '65 El Camino parts car and build a complete car out of it.
Tomorrow I'll get some pictures of the beast, it's been sitting for years so it's pretty much rust and steel. I've got the front clip for it laying in the back of my '65 El Camino, and it'll be bolted on there once I get it out of the hole it's in out back at my parents' house.
Now, I'd be doing an american build if this was any regular project, some small-block chevy motor or maybe a souped up 6-banger. But this isn't a normal project, really. I'm wanting to do something different, something you don't see normally. So I gathered up what I have and I'm building a Nissan KA24DE for it, with a 5-speed.
I've got a freshly machined KA24DE block and crank, a new P&P head. I plan on ordering some Eagle ESP H-beams when I get the money, some decent pistons (anyone have reccomendations for the pistons?) and I need a good set of cams or turbo applications.
It will either be running a single or twin T25s, probably single at first just to make sure it's all going to go okay. This is my first Nissan build so I'm playing by ear on most of it, but it shouldn't be too difficult.
Anyways, pics tomorrow around noonish. Everyone discuss their current and/or future projects!
Twin T25'd KA-T would be beast
My white hatch has been sitting for what seems like a month now, plans of getting it running again were derailed by an ill-fitting T25.
Tomorrow I plan to clean out the garage a bit and set up a table to organize parts as they come off the car. Also go find an engine stand to put my engine on when we pull it for a rebuild.
I'm still having a hard time deciding on a turbo for it, just sooooo many options. Right now it's mainly between a Precision Billet BB 5857 or a Garrett GTX3076R.
Other parts planned are an AEM Series 2 EMS, with MAP and IAT sensors, and an AEM boost control solenoid. Fuel system wise, I'm going to need some big shit. Maybe like 2 or 3 more Walbro 255's or dual Bosch 044's, feeding Injector Dynamics ID2000 injectors, pumping E85.
I'm gonna need a bigger intercooler for sure, this ebay cxracing crap wont cut it. Also I might as well get an Isis intake manifold as it flows more top-end and looks better in the engine bay.
With the power I plan on putting out I may even need to get a Z32 trans conversion kit, as those will support like 1000hp
Who knows how long this shit's gonna take. I want this car to be my dream car.
Good god, put a V8 in the El Camino, anything else would ruin the car. Classic cars need to roar, not whine.
You can pick up a good v8 for a grand that makes 400+ hp stock. If you want to be different then try and drag the car out. Though I'm going to have to wait to see pictures of the car to truly say anything about it. Restoring a car is a whole new league when comparing it to the occasional tinker and swap.
Speaking of intercoolers, what is the best intercooler to go with for a regular Nissan build? And what piping do you usually use?
Only stuff I've had experience with is the ebay stuff, and although it works just fine, I don't want to completely half-ass this build.
Also, the Precision Billet BB 5857 is the way I'd go on that turbo. Garrett is overrated.
[editline]7th May 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=Valon Kyre;29665689]Good god, put a V8 in the El Camino, anything else would ruin the car. Classic cars need to roar, not whine.
You can pick up a good v8 for a grand that makes 400+ hp stock. If you want to be different then try and drag the car out. Though I'm going to have to wait to see pictures of the car to truly say anything about it. Restoring a car is a whole new league when comparing it to the occasional tinker and swap.[/QUOTE]
No.
It's my car bro, this is what I want. If you want to buy it you can do whatever you want with it. Everything is for sale for a price. :3
[editline]7th May 2011[/editline]
Also I've already got a '64 with a 327... I want something CRAZY now. Not boring and usual.
Good luck building a complete disgrace to everything muscle related. Would be a good idea to pry off every Chevrolet and El Camino emblem.
Thanks.
It's better than the car being parted and crushed. Which is what would be happening if I didn't do this.
Need pictures!!!!
Make it a '65 with a 540 hemi then, atleast someone would buy it if you gave up. Or make it a super sleeper car.
You should put this thing inside of it that I hear is a must for every El Camino. I'm not sure what they're called, my friend said it was "an actual engine". Might want to do some more research into it.
[QUOTE=Valon Kyre;29665801]Need pictures!!!![/QUOTE]
In the morning. Supposed to go out and gather the parts I have laying around and move some things around and then I'll have pictures of everything so far.
[QUOTE=debmaster;29665767]Good luck building a complete disgrace to everything muscle related. Would be a good idea to pry off every Chevrolet and El Camino emblem.[/QUOTE]
I gave you a tool, you can help.
Read the wiki article on the ka24de, stock 165 horsepower, with all the mods I'm guessing roughly 250 hp. It ain't going to work bro, you can't power a boat with a ATV engine unless it's modded as fuck.
Hey lemon, quick question, where's an easy place to find a manual tranny yoke for a KA24 tranny?
[editline]7th May 2011[/editline]
I'm guessing I'll have to rob one off a 240 at a pull-a-part.
[QUOTE=Valon Kyre;29665892]Read the wiki article on the ka24de, stock 165 horsepower, with all the mods I'm guessing roughly 250 hp. It ain't going to work bro, you can't power a boat with a ATV engine unless it's modded as fuck.[/QUOTE]
yeah, because two turbos rated at a little over 200whp a piece will only make 85hp over stock.
[QUOTE=Valon Kyre;29665892]Read the wiki article on the ka24de, stock 165 horsepower, with all the mods I'm guessing roughly 250 hp. It ain't going to work bro, you can't power a boat with a ATV engine unless it's modded as fuck.[/QUOTE]
Read the article on the El Camino. The highest horsepower engine other than the 327 was the 283 V8 with 195 horsepower. The base model engine was an I6 with 80 horsepower.
?????
[editline]7th May 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=lemon_lover;29665923]yeah, because two turbos rated at a little over 200whp a piece will only make 85hp over stock.[/QUOTE]
Also this lol derp. A well built near-stock TT setup (rods and pistons, stock block, P&P head, big cams) can bag up to 400~ with the right fuel system and tune.
Although reliably we're looking at around ~325 here.
[editline]7th May 2011[/editline]
$28 for a whole driveshaft and yoke at LKQ. Think I might do that.
or 11.50 for the yoke alone... But I'd have to disassemble it in the yard. Hmm.
There was something regarding the way they tested the horsepower of their engines because I remember reading a article where a guy dyno'd a bone stock 426 hemi and of had roughly 600 hp. I think the given hp value is with the engine in the car, not on it's own. They changed this some time is the 80s though.
327 and the inline 6 for the el Camino were shit anyways. I can pick up a complete 440 with around 500hp for 2 grand near me. How much is it for your ka24de to build.
[QUOTE=Valon Kyre;29666037]I can pick up a complete 440 with around 500hp for 2 grand near me.[/QUOTE]
can i haz link
Yeah, older V8's had absolutely NO power...especially once the 70's hit.
[QUOTE=Valon Kyre;29666037]There was something regarding the way they tested the horsepower of their engines because I remember reading a article where a guy dyno'd a [b]bone stock 426 hemi and of had roughly 600 hp[/b].[/quote]
The 426 Hemi is a big block motor. And they aren't cheap. But 600hp stock is complete and utter bullshit.
[quote]I think the given hp value is with the engine in the car, not on it's own. They changed this some time is the 80s though.[/quote]
They have always measured horsepower at the crank. Back then the numbers they gave were a little off, yes, because it was estimated and not really fully tested. It was the 60s, after all. But regardless, you're looking at a 15% change in horsepower from crank to wheel horsepower, you can't tell me a 80hp I6 from the '60s really had twice that power. The stock KA24 is still stronger than the lower model engines in the '65 El Camino.
[quote]327 and the inline 6 for the el Camino were shit anyways. I can pick up a complete 440 with around 500hp for 2 grand near me. How much is it for your ka24de to build.[/QUOTE]
Stock, the KA24 will cost me NOTHING because I got it for free.
Rods are going to run me about $400, probably go with some cheapo cast pistons for now for around ~$100, head is already port and polished and the block and crank were pre-machined, gasket set was around ~$75, turbo manifold I can make my damn self, advantage of my dad owning a shop, flanges are going to cost a few bucks apiece for the turbo, I am running one turbo to start with and a decent T25 I can grab for a couple hundred used... I have a set of 550cc injectors laying around, other little odds and ends aren't that expensive.
I'll probably have about a grand in around 250-300 horsepower. Not too shabby for a grand, and I have something that no one else does. You're talking in fatass american and it sounds stupid. Don't hate someone else's build because it's not what you like. It's what [i]I want[/i] and you can deal with it.
I'm not looking for the fastest '65 El Camino around, I'm looking for something unique that will turn heads and make people wonder why I did it. So far, it's all going according to plan. :smug:
Carry on.
Won't really be able to see the engine though, anything elce your going to do cosmetic wise?
Plan on making it look like a stock '65 from the outside, trying to go with as little chrome as possible. I'm wondering if painted bumpers or just running bumperless would look bad...
Also, how low is [i]too[/i] low for a classic like this? Stock, the El Camino sits high enough to drive over the top of a small mountain. It is for sure getting closer to the ground.
Plan on running stock rally wheels or just plain steelies on it, I don't want anything too fancy. I am taking suggestions on cool classic steel wheels though. No Corvette rallies, I already have those on the '64.
[editline]7th May 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=Valon Kyre;29666211]Won't really be able to see the engine though, anything elce your going to do cosmetic wise?[/QUOTE]
Also, seeing the engine isn't what I mean. When's the last time you got passed by a rice burner and it was a '65 Chevy?
I'm sure lots of people will do a double take.
[QUOTE=lemon_lover;29666059]can i haz link[/QUOTE]
No link, friend of my dad is selling it. It is a old rebuilt 440 block with a stock crank, aluminum heads and pistons, comes with a 4 barrel intake and 750cfm 4 barrel. The downside is that it has roughly 1000 miles on it and alot of the parts are quite old. He is selling it for 3000 but will drop it to 2000 without the intake manifold. Doesn't matter as we have a dual 4 barrel in the garage and new heads.
I might buy it if I do get a dart I have my eye on currently.
[editline]6th May 2011[/editline]
5 hours ago in the fast five thread you were asking around for a KA24DE engine and in such a short timespace you somehow accuired not only one, but a freshly machined one with a new crank and head. And you got it for free none the less.
I used to have a 240SX, gave it to my dad. He scrapped the body because it had no paperwork. Gave him a call, motor and tranny is still there.
[editline]7th May 2011[/editline]
Well, except for rods and pistons, and cams. Which is why I'm having to buy those as I already said. Motor was machined and the head was P&P but I never put it together because the guy never brought me a title. I didn't want to put the work into the car and then lose it because the guy hadn't obtained it in the most legal manner, so I gave my dad the car to do whatever with and he stripped it and scrapped the body.
[editline]7th May 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=Valon Kyre;29666397] I might buy it if I do get a dart I have my eye on currently.[/QUOTE]
what year dart?
(whoops, automerge fail)
Pics!
Up front, I'll apologize for quality. I had to settle for cell pics because when I got out to the house my camera battery was dead as a hammer. I'm thinking the rechargeable battery is wearing thin...
[img]http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/227655_207151942653053_100000747462026_610616_2624102_n.jpg[/img]
'65 front clip for the car, it was all bolted together laying in the back over the hood, I had to move it by myself, and let me tell you, that is one heavy son of a bitch. They don't make them like that anymore.
[img]http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/227765_207151952653052_100000747462026_610617_6089556_n.jpg[/img]
The '65 project, it's a bit rough around the edges but if I didn't do anything with it, she would have been parted out and scrapped later because it's basically just pieces. Someone's already stolen my rear springs, going to use some metric springs under the rear and I'm not sure what in the front, gotta see how it sits with the motor and tranny in it first.
[img]http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/229065_207151962653051_100000747462026_610618_2103879_n.jpg[/img]
The door glass isn't gone. It's off the track and inside the door. At first I though it was busted and I was going FFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUU- but I looked down in there and it is intact. Whew!
[img]http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/226860_207151975986383_100000747462026_610619_7623102_n.jpg[/img]
It's bed. It's not as rusty as it seems in here, and the tailgate opened like it was new even after sitting for ~10 years. That's a good sign! The doors even open great. I haven't dug down to the floorpans to see how they are yet. Lots of stuff in the cab.
[img]http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/227355_207151992653048_100000747462026_610621_6426802_n.jpg[/img]
DUBS, CHECK 'EM.
[img]http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/230305_207152019319712_100000747462026_610622_6376468_n.jpg[/img]
'65 hood, it's beat a little so I won't feel so bad about just slapping some pins on it. Fuck the hood latch. I don't have a spare for the '65 and like hell I'm taking the good one off of the '64.
[img]http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/223410_207152025986378_100000747462026_610623_5292141_n.jpg[/img]
The front clip, both El Co's sitting there.
Again, sorry for the pic quality but I promised pictures and it's the only thing I had.
I didn't get pics of the engine pieces and tranny I have, but did wind up getting a set of stock (I think) cams and a valve cover. Next week I plan on re-honing and painting the block, and then dusting off all the parts.
Not sure when I'll be rolling the El Camino itself into the shop. Gotta get some springs on the back first so I can tow it properly and some roll-able wheels and tires for her.
Going to definately be a long term project.
Also did some number crunching, the 240SX in both generations were within 70lbs of 2700lbs, with KA24DE. The '65 El Camino with the smallest motor (which was a heavy cast-iron I6, probably weighing a LOT) weighed just 2950lbs! I'm guessing with me running no inner fenders, tailgate, front bumper, and various other bits such as interior pieces, I can get the '65 El Camino [i]with[/i] KA24DE down to a weight [i]lower[/i] than the stock 240SX. In fact I'm pretty sure it's already close to being lighter with just the KA24DE swapped in, it and its transmission being aluminum (with cast iron block) and the stock 194cid I6 being cast iron through and through.
Anywho, I'll keep you guys updated on what I get done and what I plan to do.
Well I've got my Jeep but I cba making a huge post for it now so I'll reserver this post space and edit this post later :v:
[QUOTE=bradley;29678559]ElCamino pics
:words:[/QUOTE]
Keep us posted, I'm actually kind of interested in how this turns out. :v:
Judging from the pics it seems like your fucked, you'll be putting in too much money. It would probably be better to get a complete rolling car and use the parts from all the others to make it better. Do you have a better camera because until then I see no hope for this project.
I've seen 3 cars fully restored so I know how this all goes. It can be done, it's just that it will cost a metric fuckton of time and money, so a more complete car is probably better.
[QUOTE=Valon Kyre;29684074]Judging from the pics it seems like your fucked, you'll be putting in too much money. It would probably be better to get a complete rolling car and use the parts from all the others to make it better.[/QUOTE]
It [I]is[/I] a complete rolling car. What the hell are you talking about? The only thing it is missing is rear springs. There's a bit of rust on the bottom of the bed in the back but the car is solid and complete except for a few trim pieces and the front bumper I probably won't put on anyways.
[quote]Do you have a better camera because until then I see no hope for this project.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=bradley;29678559]Up front, I'll apologize for quality. I had to settle for cell pics because when I got out to the house my camera battery was dead as a hammer. I'm thinking the rechargeable battery is wearing thin...[/QUOTE]
You aren't that good at reading, are you? :|
[quote]I've seen 3 cars fully restored so I know how this all goes. It can be done, it's just that it will cost a metric fuckton of time and money, so a more complete car is probably better.[/QUOTE]
The car [i]isn't[/i] going to be a show car. As it sits with a motor and tranny and rear springs it would be driveable, everything is there. You can't really get something more complete without it costing a metric fuckton, and the only thing missing, as I said, are trim pieces, and two cheap coil springs which my Dad has kindly donated to my project.
I know what I'm getting into. I'm not going into this blind and winging it, I've been involved with stuff like this before. I know it isn't going to be free but I also know it isn't going to cost a fortune. Trust me, I thought long and hard about the project and everything I would need before I even started. And I have TONS of '64-'65 El Camino parts laying around.
And I get to use my dad's shop for everything. So really I couldn't ask for more. My dad's restored many cars in his time, if not [i]in[/i] the hundreds range, pretty damn close. It's what he's done since he was 15, so he's not new to this. But this isn't a restoration, it's a revival. Slapping a quirky Japanese motor in an old rusty El Camino and restoring an El Camino are two different things. This is the former.
Although I do plan on taking care of some of the rust, my dad is going to help with that. She'll probably never get painted though, some grey or maybe an odd color primer and that's it.
Anyways, my dad has a set of '94-?? S-10 aluminum wheels that have decent tires, I'm going to try and get them off of him for a set off rolling rims for now until I can find a clean set of 4 14" steelies.
[editline]8th May 2011[/editline]
Like these [img]http://images1.americanlisted.com/nlarge/chevy_s-10_aluminum_wheels_150_barberton_oh_12349321.jpg[/img]
Something to get it off these destroyed tires that are on it.
el caminos are gay
I'd drive one.
Right now I need to find myself a 92-95 Civic hatch so I can start my build. It's pretty hard to find a clean one that's cheap. I got about a month and a half to find one before my current cars inspection runs out cause Its not gonna pass.
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