Whats a father to do? Son wants a Chevy.

[twilt]

My son who is now 15 let me know yesterday that he wants a Chevy.  I guess its not so bad, since he wants a 72 El Camino. When i was his age, I wanted one too. Im actually kind of happy as it really is the first time that he has expressed any interest whatsoever in a musclecar era vehicle. I plan to help him get one, but he will have to work for it. Suffice it to say that i won`t be doing any yard work in the near future. His interest was the result of a El Camino he had seen in a music video. The one in the video was a BB 72 SS car/truck. For right now, a 350 car will have to suffice as the price tag on a BB SS is a bit out of his price range. Looks like I`ll be junkyarding for chevy parts in the near future....never thought that would happen.    

[dodge freak]

I would go to a few car shows and let him look around at all the old cars. Seen one in a rap video, oh wow. Lots of those cars look cool cause they put big bucks in them, gold wheels, video screens, yeah I like one too. Its summer time, let him see all the cars and then he know-hopefully what one he want. Might be a 1963 vette-those are cool too but big bucks. Hope some have prices on them, maybe thats not such a hot idea.

[Brock Samson]

lock him in his room till he comes to his senses... `

[mikepmcs]

Yeah, i can think of a lot better cars to start with other then a Meano.   But on the flip side, at least he's close to the right era.  Good on him for that alone!!!
I have a chevy as well, just not an El Camino fan,  so can't bust on him too badly.
v/r
Mike

[twilt]

I would go to a few car shows and let him look around at all the old cars. Seen one in a rap video, oh wow. Lots of those cars look cool cause they put big bucks in them, gold wheels, video screens, yeah I like one too. Its summer time, let him see all the cars and then he know-hopefully what one he want. Might be a 1963 vette-those are cool too but big bucks. Hope some have prices on them, maybe thats not such a hot idea.

If he hit a few car shows  with me.....he might decide he wanted an E body convertible. ouch. maybe an El Camino is a good choice.
He isn`t into rap or the bling bling either, it was a rock video. The vehicle that inspired him wasnt radically altered by any means.   
I`ve basically offered him one of my 72 Chargers with all the goodies to make it a Rallye Clone. He simply doesnt seem interested. He is a hard working and responsible young man, so i guess I`ll just have to respect his tastes and TRY to be as supportive as i would be if he wanting a Charger. (that will be hard) On a positive note, since the El Camino shared parts from the Chevelle/Malibu line, i expect that there is a good aftermarket for them.

[dodge freak]

Well I think Chevy motor parts are cheaper and there is a ton of them out on e-bay. Those El-Caminos are kind of cool, has a pick up bed and drives like a car. A crossover 35 years ahead of its time.Too bad small block Chevy's stink to work on, just to swap intakes you have to pull the dist.

[twilt]

back in the day..... I liked em dressed out with a set of Cragar S/S`s, sidepipes  , and a Tonneau cover. 
I dont mind working on a Chevy. Being an automotive master tech, i view GM products as job security. 

[DodgeChargerNeeded]

I say let him get what he wants within reason, 72 El Camino is a cool car. Nothing says he can't get something different in a few years.

[Nacho-RT74]

We must think MaMopar didn't came out with anything similar to El Camino to market competition, just Ford.

I like better El Camino than Ranchero Option

[Lightning]

We must think MaMopar didn't came out with anything similar to El Camino to market competition, just Ford.

I like better El Camino than Ranchero Option

I agree....the El Camino's are a little nice.

[TruckDriver]

Look at it this way.... least it's a '72 he wants. So he has your favorite year right. 

[BB1]

Here you go the El Rampage, just tell him this is what the cool kids drive. 

[blackcharger]

lock him in his room till he comes to his senses... `

tell Momma she got some 'splain;n to do!

[bluesfool]

My son wanted (which we got) a Ford Focus. Oh well, at least it gets 3 times the gas mileage of my Charger!

[twilt]

I`d much rather see him get a El Camino than a Rampage. I`ve had my fair share of 4 cylinder FWD Chrysler clunkers already.

Yesterday morning, i asked him to look out one of the back windows in my house and look to the 10 o`clock position. He was psyched up to see that one of our neighbors( living behind us) has a El Camino sitting in their backyard. Its been sitting there for a couple years.

The son and daughter came up with the ingenius idea that their mom ( I`m divorced from her) should pay for the El Camino and that i could contribute by helping fix it up. 

[NYCMille]

Ah yes... the El Camino... the Mullet of the musclecar world... all business up front, PARTY IN THE BACK!!!

[Steve P.]

I like El'Camingia's!! I've owned a few myself.  They can be DONE UP pretty nice and not so hard on the pocket. Only they are a bit harder to make them hook hard...  One very nice thing is a full frame and it doesn't bust the scales either..   And yes, tons of parts for them available in the aftermarket..

[Nacho-RT74]

Here you go the El Rampage, just tell him this is what the cool kids drive.

I didn't know about this model, anyway, as usual on Chrysler, was a late coming out. AND THIS TIME not the best.

[PocketThunder]

I wanted a '71 Elco when i was 16 that was for sale in town for $2000.  but i was broke.  a couple years later i built my first car, a 55 Chevy because i watched American Graffitti 100 times.  it was easy to do because every part of that car is reproduced.  I since sold it off and dove into Chargers now that i can afford to do so.

Just keep a hard cover on the back so he can only have 2 or 3 passengers at one time.  less people to risk getting hurt in your kids car if an accident happens.

[jaak]

whether its an Elco, Mopar, whatever, I would get a nice fixer upper, not a frame off project, but something to work on together, it will be good learning experience for a 15 year old, using tools, learning some mechanical and body work, not to mention spending time together building something, which in the words of Mastercard is... priceless. I know we all here are pretty much mopar fans, but I like all muscle cars, no matter what the brand is. Good luck on finding and building a nice car.

Jason

[Brock Samson]

Guy that lived accross the street (R.I.P. Sammy) had bought a new, marina blue, SS 396, he had a white cover on the back and the stock Rallys... finally traded it in about '76 for a Ford Station Wagon,... Then he got a '86 K car station wagon... what a plunge! 
ya' know what would be cool?..  is a SS 396 station Wagon... I'll take a '68 or '69 though.
Nice your listening to your son Jaak.

[grouseman]

Just point out the advantages of same-period Mopar vs. Chevy engineering. 

Chrysler far more shade tree friendly, they had the mechanic in mind.
Chrysler factory service manuals the best in the business. 
Distributor drops in perfectly, vs. twist & stab.
Valve train bolts up with no adjustments, not like the rattle & splash Chevy setup. And more stable.
Even a 318 will rev to 6,000. 
Strongest, best designed trannys. 
Those wonderfully simple Carter carbs.
Valve covers that don't leak all over the place. 
Love those adjustable torsion bar springs. 
Strong leaf springs don't need ladder bars. 
Stronger, more streetable, torquier engines. 

Well, just everything, okay? 

[hemi68charger]

Perform an exorcism on him.........     

[CaptMarvel]

  Teach your younguns the Gospel of Mopar when they're little and they will seldom go astray when they get older....

My 19 yr old loves his beat up ol Duster...

[Lowprofile]

ElCamino's are great 1st cars. I had a 68' SS 396 4-Speed right after High School. You have plenty of time to get him into Mopars........at least its a muscle car & not a ricer.

[Arigmaster]

It's always a good thing to start any kid out with a Chevy. That way it will be cheaper for them in parts when it breaks or, when they misjudge something and bend it a little. (or allot)

Even if you build the car together... It's still quality time that might lead you to more quality time when they are ready for the 1st real Mopar. In addition, they will be more experienced drivers by the time you get to build the Mopar.

Now, in the event they ask to build another Chevy... There are plenty of asylums still practicing shock therapy.. 

[WM23N1]

Nothing wrong with chevys. I own a few. Im currently on a camaro kick right now.

[MassCharger73]

Just be glad he doesn't want a Gd Honda ! I have three " collector " cars, a finished '60 Catalina a basket case '65 442 and a project '74 Charger, luckily my son has taken a shine to the Dodge.

[69charger2002]

hey it's good and bad.. bad cause it's a chevy not a mopar.. but hey 72 elky's are pretty darn cheap.. and a good era car.. always remember, it could be MUCH worse
he'll come around. my first new vehicle was a 93 s-10 back in 93. loved that truck.. but i came around.
trav

[mikepmcs]

and around, and around, and around......

[RT DAVE]

pull his head out of his arse?   

[azraelck]

Be thanking god he doesn't want to commit suicide by driving a poorly designed Ford, or be gay and drive a Honda or Toyota with a 6 foot aluminum wing, neon and bright paint. Or be both gay and suicidal and drive a Yugo with the six foot wing, paint and neon.

[Kirkvkid]

Like it was said above... Thank god he doesn't want a fart pipe, 9000 stickers and a 6 foot shopping cart handle on his ricer.   

We all have our bias as to which gen charger is the best looking.  Personally I think the 2nd gen is one of, if not the best looking car ever made.  Thats why we are on this site.  But with that aside, if I had to enter the car world now, with current day prices and with todays defintion of a 'restorable car' being what it is; I might want a chevy too.  We can all admit that we turned down  cars in the past 'needing to much work' that are now considered restorable or acceptable even.  Older cars are big money as it is, then add in todays 'mopar markup'.  Chevy parts are cheaper and more readily available too.

You may not be able to polish a turd, but sometimes you can have alot of fun with it.  Let him play, then show him as time goes on how much better mopars really are.

[bull]

Ah yes... the El Camino... the Mullet of the musclecar world... all business up front, PARTY IN THE BACK!!!

I thought it was the transvestite of the auto world.

[dkn1997]

get him a chevelle and tell him you welded a roof onto the elcamino.

as said, thank god he wants a v8 muscle car and not some wrong wheel drive douchemobile.

[twilt]

as said, thank god he wants a v8 muscle car and not some wrong wheel drive douchemobile.

No worry there,  he doesnt care for Neons or Calibers.

[dkn1997]

I like GM stuff.  I am really into the poor man's chevelle:  the buick skylark.  you can still get plain jain rust free ones for under 10k.  does not take much to make them look/perform like a real GS....

ironically, when they were new, the buick was more expensive...

[twilt]

I agree. I used to have a 72 skylark. rust free, 350 4bbl, and orange. bought it in 88 for $500 when i was stationed in NC. It was a real good dependable car. I got it painted, then traded it to my brother in law for a rust free 71 charger w/440 and a General Lee project minus engine/trans.

[dkn1997]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-Buick-Skylark-Very-Sharp-Well-Maintained-NR_W0QQitemZ150011965568QQihZ005QQcategoryZ16124QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-Buick-Skylark-2Dr-HT-Only-51781-miles_W0QQitemZ300008263693QQihZ020QQcategoryZ16124QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Buick-Skylark-One-Owner-31k-All-Original-Paint-Cold-A-C_W0QQitemZ250009958918QQihZ015QQcategoryZ16124QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

try to find a chevelle or elky in that condition for those prices......I love those cars.  plus you can toss in a 455 and reuse all of your original accessories/engine mounts, etc....

[73 Charger 440]

WM23N1, You on LS1tech?

I used to have a "thing" against Chevy, I was a Mopar and Ford guy... A period came when I wanted to get a Cobra, but the "right one" never came up so I started considering Camaros and Trans Ams and here I am with a LT1 T56 TA... Theres days when I still want a Cobra however.

[greenpigs]

Just don't let him put a 5 inch cowl hood on it.

[Ghoste]

And if it's a 72 version he wants, at least they are tougher looking than the last generation of El Camino's.  They were getting pretty girly towards the end.

[hrspwr]

At least he's interested in American iron! Here's a pic of the Chevy project my son and I did while he was in H.S. It was an excellent father and son project, there are many happy memories of the project. He's currently serving in the USAF, and the truck is in the garage awaiting his return, along with Mom and Dad!

[73chargers4404]

I would go to a few car shows and let him look around at all the old cars. Seen one in a rap video, oh wow. Lots of those cars look cool cause they put big bucks in them, gold wheels, video screens, yeah I like one too. Its summer time, let him see all the cars and then he know-hopefully what one he want. Might be a 1963 vette-those are cool too but big bucks. Hope some have prices on them, maybe thats not such a hot idea.

If he hit a few car shows  with me.....he might decide he wanted an E body convertible. ouch. maybe an El Camino is a good choice.
HeI isn`t into rap or the bling bling either, it was a rock video. The vehicle that inspired him wasnt radically altered by any means.   
`ve basically offered him one of my 72 Chargers with all the goodies to make it a Rallye Clone. He simply doesnt seem interested. He is a hard working and responsible young man, so i guess I`ll just have to respect his tastes and TRY to be as supportive as i would be if he wanting a Charger. (that will be hard) On a positive note, since the El Camino shared parts from the Chevelle/Malibu line, i expect that there is a good aftermarket for them.

ve basically offered him one of my 72 Chargers with all the goodies to make it a Rallye Clone.iare you looking to adopting a kid maybe a 28 year old one  p.s that chick up above is hot

[Goldfinger71]

Hey Twilt,
Truth be told even though I have been a Mopar man for years.............there's quite a few other makes I like and wouldn't mine owning.
Here are some good ones,66-67 GTO's,69-70 Mach 1's and Boss Mustings,70 Chevelle SS,66-67 Nova SS,70 Buick GSX,70-71 Olds 442...............when I was a young boy up until my early teenage years I enjoyed car shows and all makes,but I started getting into Mopars becuase I hardly ever saw one,they were known in the 60-70's of being "the boss" at dragstrips,they had cool names,and colors,cool advertising...I could go on but they real reason that I got into mopars was becuase of the first one I drove which was a 71 RR with a built to the hilt 383 with a 4:11 rear that gave me the "shivers" when I used to drive it and everyone gave me a thumbs up becuase it was diifferent and cool! .............................................Now why does your son want a el camino again?.........are you sure he didn't say el charger!?

[NHCharger]

As mentioned above, at least he doesn't want rice.
I just bought my youngest son a 95 Jimmy 4x4. Had to do some body work on it but I got it cheap. Seems like first vehicles don't last too long, plus parts for these are a dime a dozen in the salvage yards.

[twilt]

As mentioned above, at least he doesn't want rice.
I just bought my youngest son a 95 Jimmy 4x4. Had to do some body work on it but I got it cheap. Seems like first vehicles don't last too long, plus parts for these are a dime a dozen in the salvage yards.

If its a 4.3L......here is a good tech tip.....when it starts inexplicably starts running rich as #*^%...... it will usually be the fuel pressure regulator assembly leaking. you can check it by removing the diverter valve  top/center of the upper plenum (held with 2 torx bolts)  and look down inside with a flash light. If you see/smell raw gas, its leaking.  A very common problem.

[twilt]

are you looking to adopting a kid maybe a 28 year old one  p.s that chick up above is hot

I think i already found one to adopt A kid and his dad stopped by my house a week ago inquiring about one of my cars that is visible from the road.. The kid was in complete awe when he saw 3 72`s, 2 with Rallye doors, 2 with power bulge hoods-1 with RamCharger hood. I am seriously thinking about selling them the car if a fair price can be agreed upon. The kids dad does body/paint for a living and the car  needs 2 quarters, trunk pan, and a dutchman panel. (basically it needs to be back-halfed)  Even though I already have all the needed  parts.... I am hesitant to put that much labor into a 318 car.

[73 Charger 440]

are you looking to adopting a kid maybe a 28 year old one  p.s that chick up above is hot

I think i already found one to adopt A kid and his dad stopped by my house a week ago inquiring about one of my cars that is visible from the road.. The kid was in complete awe when he saw 3 72`s, 2 with Rallye doors, 2 with power bulge hoods-1 with RamCharger hood. I am seriously thinking about selling them the car if a fair price can be agreed upon. The kids dad does body/paint for a living and the car  needs 2 quarters, trunk pan, and a dutchman panel. (basically it needs to be back-halfed)  Even though I already have all the needed  parts.... I am hesitant to put that much labor into a 318 car.

I remember that RamCharger hood... I was there with my father when you told us how much some guy had offered for it (If its the same one). I should have loaded up on parts from you before I moved here, cause theres no parts here (in Finland)...

[BLACKWOLF]

YOU ALT TO BE  HAPPY, ATLEAST IT ISN'T A RICER THAT HE WANTS!