New World Datsuns...

That would be my guess. Haven't thought much about it. Just shoved it in a corner until after the swap meet. Way too many pressing projects taking priority. Need to get the Datsun trailer from my brother's house so I can start staging my swap meet pile. His bitch wife is holding it hostage. Divorce should be final on Monday so all this "marital property" can be set free. Greedy little thing has even managed to get into my pocket. Fuck, I could rant for hours on that subject.

Engine and transmission pulled from the El Camino last night. Not sure if it's really feasible or not but I'd like to drive this thing to Pendleton in June. Also dragged all my swap meet stuff in to a big pile in the middle of the shop floor. I might need a bigger trailer.
Current list is:
-LT1, harness, ECM
-SBC 400
-(1) WC T-5
-(3) NWC T-5s
-TH200
-headers
-Spectre dual snorkel air cleaner kit
-some electric fans
-Buick finned aluminum drums
-misc $1-$10 crap

Maybe I'll do a CL pre-sale to hopefully whittle it down a little. Either way, it's gonna be a busy couple weeks.

El Camino's 400 is torn down to short block status. Need to pick up a few gaskets then paint and reassemble. I'm actually a little torn about selling this thing. It just runs sooo good and pulls so hard but I don't see myself having any real use for it any time in the foreseeable future. Also, I have quite a bit more in to it than I'd ever get back out. Have to just keep telling myself it's for the move. Big push right now to liquidate all the stuff in the shop that doesn't have an immediate application. It's amazing how easy it is to accumulate "stuff".

So what is going back into the El Camino? Or is that being sold as well.

It's original 327 has been under the stairs for many years (allegedly 400,000+ miles) and I'll be taking it to the machine shop in the next week or two. Planning a stock rebuild with balancing and a more modern, but tame, cam grind. I already have a correct Qjet rebuilt and ready to go on it along with a pile of external parts.
The overall plan for the El Camino is a satin clear over current patina, restored to stock under the hood, a different rebuilt A-833 overdrive, New exhaust system, and just clean out the interior for now. Hopefully new interior in the next stage but that's a whole different stack of cash.

Pics coming of general Compound progress in the next couple days.

Photo catch-up.

Started by breaking down the LT1. Took it down to the shortblock for cleanup. Then the pan went back on for a repaint.

Brand new set of GM rockers, nuts, pivot balls.

Blasted and painted the exhaust manifolds, hung it all back together and slapped on a cheap set of chrome valve covers. I still need to do the wiring harness and come up with an oil filter adapter but it's otherwise ready to go.

Then I moved on to the 400 once I got it out of the car. Again, tore it down to the shortblock to clean and repaint.

This only has maybe 5000 miles on it since I went through it in 2009. Unfortunately the pan that I used has a small crack near the drain plug so I've had a replacement pan for years but just hadn't gotten to it yet. There was also some oil seepage at the rear that I had initial thought was the rear main seal but I think was actually the soft plug at the rear of the cam. Replaced both just to be sure.
Main bearing looks good.

This is how I left it last night. Intake is just resting on there to keep out dirt until I take it to work to clean it up. Then I'll put the rest of the parts on.

327 comes out from under the stairs next.

Next thing I need to do is clean up the shop a bit. My mess is sprawling.

Is that a backup engine for the wagon I see?

That's actually the original engine I bought for it but when I opened it up to reseal it I found out the bottom end was shot. Then I bought the one that's always been in it. The one in the pic is a core but I have always intended to pull a spare engine on one of the 1/2-off days.

Shop is much more organized now. At least the piles are cleaner. I spent some time pre-packaging the extra parts from project Zero and will be trying to sell them after the swap meet.

Took some random parts to work yesterday to run through the parts washer. Finished assembly of the 400. List is getting shorter.

LT1 sold yesterday on my lunch break. The 400 has had a bunch of interest but nothing serious. I'll be doing a little final cleaning on the transmissions tonight then taking pics and listing them Friday night.

All but done with my parts prep for the swap meet.

Still need to take the Buick drums to work and blast them.

Also did some shuffling and got the 327 on a stand and started the tear-down.

327 is torn down and goes to the machine shop tomorrow.

My dad rolled into town yesterday and started disassembly on the El Camino. Got all the trim removed while I was at work and now just has the bumpers, door handles and grille left.

Since the '35 cab has been cut apart in the paint booth for months, it will need to get put back together and moved out before the El Camino can get rolled in the for clear coat. After my brother got off work we rolled it up on it's nose and they did some small patch panels on the inner rockers so that the outer rockers can be welded in. This will require the rear cab corners to be cut out since it all fits together like a puzzle.

It's going to be pretty busy around here until Thursday when we head over to the swap meet. Then we can all relax and make some cash for a few days. Not sure if my dad will be sticking around after that or just heading home. The goal is to have the '66 on the road for the Pendleton show in 2 months. Since he's without a project right now he will be ,making a couple trips down here to work on this. His help is very much appreciated.

327 delivered.

Sold one transmission already and one tentatively sold to a guy who is flying in from Texas for the swap meet. Says he'll pick it up Saturday and doesn't sound too flakey.

Trailer is loaded and ready to go. Jerod and my dad will be setting up the spaces around noon. Weather forecast looks great and I'm amped for a good weekend.

Also...


This is as bad as it's ever looked. Progress will resume in a week or two.

Sold all the transmissions by 10am the first day. Took a deposit on the 400. All loaded up to deliver tomorrow night.

Now that the swap meet thrash is behind me I'll be able to focus on other things...theoretically. Between a busy work season and springtime yard cleanup, I really haven't had much energy to devote to the projects like I should.
The El Camino is still sitting on the hoist where I left it and the engine is still at the machine shop. About all I've gotten done on it is to repair the broken tailgate hinge. The LS has been broken for close to 20 years, the RS had been replaced with a carriage bolt. They now have proper bushings and pins and should be fine for another 50 years.


Over in Compound East, my dad has temporarily mothballed his search for a '35/'36 pickup. He came close on a couple but they fizzled out. So instead, he bought a couple Harleys that he initially planned to flip. The first was an '03 Roadking 100th Anniversary with a 96" kit and some other goodies. The second was an '01 Ultraglide with a 95" kit, cam, etc. Since his '97 Roadking is getting really close to 100K miles, it may get replaced by the '03 as a personal bike. With him, who knows?
He's planning another trip down here to work on the '35 cab and the El Camino next weekend. Updates on them after he's done.

Got a call from the machine shop today -- 327 is ready!