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Time: 1 hour

Tools: standard socket set, standard wrenches

Cost: Fabrication costs will vary, but expect to pay around $20-$30 to have them made. If you purchase your own material ahead of time, factor in about another $10.

Tinware: A small plate of aluminum stock- 6061 aircraft alloy is the most common and the least expensive.

Tip: You can save some money by making the shims yourself if you have a wide assortment of hole saws or a knockout punch. They may not produce the cleanest results, but will work nonetheless.

Performance gains: none, just the peace of mind knowing your car is sitting level and straight

It seems that all our old cars have a “Story”, and my ’65 El Camino story really starts back in 1964. Fresh out of high school, I had read in the September ’64 issue of Motor Trend that the Malibu was to be made available with the optional L79 327 Corvette engine, 12 bolt rear end and a 4-speed. I took the plunge, borrowed some money and ordered a Danube Blue ’65 Malibu with those aforementioned options. I had it by Thanksgiving. I had to sell that car a year later for cash to start college and have regretted losing it ever since– even though it was the certainly the right thing to do at the time. 

Russ Almand built this class-winning ’67 El Camino his way, by himself

My El Camino was purchased in March, 2008 as a project truck for $2700. The guy that I bought it from had shipped it from California but had lost his job and had to sell it. It had been built in the Fremont, CA plant.

My infatuation with El Caminos and the concept of a car-truck hybrid design started at a very young age of probably 7-8 years old. I can remember my next door neighbor in the early ’60s, who worked for the phone company, had a “work truck” 1957 Ranchero that I always loved. And then in my Hot Wheels collection as a kid, my favorite car was the burnt orange “Custom Fleetside” that appeared to be an El Camino, but was actually designed after a ’67-’68 Chevy truck front clip with an El Camino style roof line and bed.

My 1970 El Camino started life in Thomaston, GA. The first owner had the local swimming pool business, and he kept the car up to the mid-to-late ’80s when the family traded it off. About six different people have owned this Chevy over time. One was a tool salesman who got the car for his business and had it painted red with white stripes on the hood. I even sold him the hood off my first El Camino and now I have it again! He also rebuilt the motor and transmission. He used her for a while, got out of the tool business and sold it to a fellow that I bought it from on the last day of 1999.

My wife Debbie and I first got hooked on classic cars about ten years ago. We had a Chevelle at that time, but I had always wanted to own a ‘55 Chevy. After a considerable discussion with my wife Debbie, we sold the Chevelle and went looking for a ‘55.

By the time we attended the 2006 Winter National event in Orlando, Florida we had only been looking for a ’55 to buy for a few weekends. While viewing all the great Tri-Fives at the show, we noticed a ‘55 Be1 Air 2-door Sedan along a fence with a For Sale sign in the window. I asked my mechanic friend, Larry Hays, who was with us, to check out the car. After crawling under, on, in and all around the car, we decided to purchase it and start a frame-off restoration. We learned that the previous owner was from our home state, Virginia. Debbie later found out the car came from her hometown, Staunton, Virginia.