1969 El Camino gets SERIOUS suspension upgrades for "Bitchin Burnouts" and better handling!

One of the biggest complaints anyone who drives old school cars, muscle cars, classic cars, or really just about anything American before the early 2000s is how horribly they handle. Yes many of them are big. Yes many of them are heavy. But that doesn't mean they have to handle completely like a a land yacht.
In the case of this 1969 El Camino we are making some major improvements to the rear, tightening it up with a complete revamp in the rear allowing it to better plant a tire... or smoke a tire depending on preference. In the front we are keeping the stock stamped steel control arms but replacing bushings, ball joints, knuckles, shocks all to help bring in some more modern suspension geometry. This old Chevy El Camino might be party up front and business in the back but now it's got the suspension setup to play any day any time in just about any way the owner may want.
These modifications are time intensive for sure and can be a bit on the pricey side but are some of the best things you can do to any classic car to improve ride quality and enjoyment. It doesn't matter how much power you make if you can't put it to the pavement, or keep the car on the road going around a corner.
Huge thanks as always to all our subscribers, followers, fans, and customers who have made our business successful and gotten our channel to where it is today. Special thanks to the SRC / Street Racing Channel / SRC Garage / Old Man's Garage / Junkyard Digs folks for showing such amazing support for us over the past several months. Without all of you we wouldn't be anywhere near where we are today. We hope you enjoy this one!

[@LucoreAuto]

Another one improved and back on the road in time for Spring and Muscle Car season! Now, on to the next!

[@darrellclark8112]

Hint for control arm bushings if you know ahead of time you are doing them and have the parts on hand throw them in the freezer overnight before you put them in pull them out just before you pop them in. The cold shrinks them just a little and makes them going in easier

[@terryeustice5399]

Great work on the El Camino . Thank you for sharing!

[@LucoreAuto]

Thanks for watching we appreciate it! She's in a WHOLE lot better shape than when she rolled in!

[@charlie225]

Good evening Mr Lucore, seems Rich has a problem with gravity in this video, enjoyed the show on this beautiful El Camino, keep it coming!!😁

[@LucoreAuto]

You know, it seems to be a CONSTANT problem 😉 Fortunately this one should be done and good for a while just in time for fun car season. Meanwhile, on to the next!

[@Loki13M]

Make a drinking game out of it. Every time Rich curses gravity, take a shot. Each comment-less drop, just a sip. Warning: Buy by the 5th at a minimum and game creator is not responsible for potential ensuing alcoholism.

[@Crappiestalker]

I did a hand hit two months ago just like you did still feels hurt. I wouldn't had been that clean with words lol

[@LucoreAuto]

It was just with a purse 😉 You can definitely do some damage though, know more than a few people who have broken bones that never heal correctly

[@jh1867]

Nice work and great attention to detail!!

[@LucoreAuto]

Thanks we appreciate it. Love what we get to do but some of these little monsters really require a lot of extra attention. The owner is VERY happy with the change in his ride after all this too 😊

[@d_rock_t]

My C10 ball joints where the same way. A few weld tacks around the joint and "fixed".

[@LucoreAuto]

As we are very fond of saying, There's The Right Way, The Wrong Way, and The Way We're Going To Get This Done 😉

[@johnbean1994]

Can’t wait much longer for the video on Kenny’s camaro

[@LucoreAuto]

It will PROBABLY be up for Friday

[@TJAllen601]

Love the car y'all

[@LucoreAuto]

Thanks Thomas, it's always fun for us making a cool car better!

[@garyjones2582]

Ouch, that was a painful video.. Rich I hope u feel better Monday.. Gonna have to do something about that gravity.. lol..

[@LucoreAuto]

Hand is all good, fortunately wasn't a direct hit. Gravity however is proving to be a bit more challenging!

[@garyjones2582]

@@LucoreAuto I've noticed that on other videos too... lol..

[@dentoldani3460]

I'm really glad I found Lucore via The Hoskinson family! Rich, I felt that left hand hit hahaha 3 weeks ago, I went back to being a mechanic professionally for the first time since 1999 (early 70s born, grew up around cars, turned my first wrench at 14 in 1986 till 1995 when the family business sold and continued to at dealerships 4 more years, when I decided to change paths) Much respect from Iowa!

[@billyray8062]

Nice Camino,great job Rich!!

[@LucoreAuto]

She's a WHOLE lot better now! Should hear a report from the owner tomorrow, he got to enjoy it for a sunny spring weekend 😎

[@paulpowell195]

My mannnn good job bro love the content keep it comn

[@LucoreAuto]

Thanks Paul we appreciate it!

[@NoName-yr1jv]

Good job Rich 👍

[@LucoreAuto]

Thank you we appreciate it!

[@scaleman69]

Love them.

[@LucoreAuto]

So do we! And when they can handle they enter a whole new level of cool

[@joecameron3406]

I feel your pain. 94 s10 SS all urethane bushings front to rear Still trying to get suspension settled in. No taller ball joints yet. Just a cammed 364 ls between the fenders.

[@donaldegreco]

Ouch. PLEASE be careful . we need you

[@LucoreAuto]

Fortunately the axle took the majority of that hit 😀

[@jh1867]

Love the videos guys. They need to get you some big lights for under the car on the lift. Better for you to see and us. Keep up the amazing work how to.

[@LucoreAuto]

We DO kind of battle the lighting thing in some of these videos but it's tough since we are an actual working shop not a TV show shop. It drastically slows down production and work when you have to keep changing lighting and camera angles for shots. You'll also notice a weeee bit of background noise in a lot of these videos ;) cue the compressors

[@jh1867]

I think they are very informative videos and you guys do great job at teaching.

[@jeffjankiewicz5100]

I love El Caminos. Starting issues Rich?

[@LucoreAuto]

She may need a little tweaking under the hood, but that wasn't on the menu for this visit!

[@rolliefoster2837]

Love it !

[@LucoreAuto]

Thank you! We appreciate the support! Can't wait for the report back from our customer!

[@darcy32171]

I spy with my little eye...Kenny`s Camaro at 18 minutes!!!!🤣

[@LucoreAuto]

Lol indeed 😉

[@Rev22-21]

Funny I came across this video....I'm considering on buying a 68 Camino and doing a complete restoration. Actually thinking of driving a 2000 1/2 ton with the 327 LS under it and calling it good. Currently...it's just a shell...........Enjoyed this video very much. BTW: What did this upgrade cost? Also... giving thought about about air bags for the rear as an alternative. Any thoughts? Thanks

[@dtracy03ss]

Dint they have rebuilt control arms with all the goodies and a little better caster camber adjustability? I swear I've seen some that they are not much more than kicking the crap out of those old ones!! I know this was already completed but this would be for future builds!

[@southstreetbarbecue7875]

I still can't understand why that model wasn't just called a Chevelle Camino. Hope your hand feels better soon!

[@LucoreAuto]

Fortunately the axle was there or there would have been a whole lot more bleeping necessary 🙄

[@mikemontgomery7337]

Did I miss the Kenny Powers video or you didn't make one ?

[@LucoreAuto]

No you haven't missed it yet, she's still on the rack. The surgery on that little 3rd Gen is going a bit more extensive than initially planned.

[@mikemontgomery7337]

@@LucoreAuto little brother Austin still sitting in the office eating M&Ms ?? 🤣

[@billysmith8430]

He make it look so hard its like he didn't like work

[@johnmaxwell258]

Send that car to the old man’s garage. I say needs tuning before burnouts and suspension

[@LucoreAuto]

Whenever he's ready for another phase with the car we just might have to do that 😉 for now he just wanted it back for some fun on a sunny weekend!

[@scaleman69]

Is that a clone ss?

[@LucoreAuto]

It is yes, with a smallblock under the hood.

[@chrispokorney6801]

It's a Chevy . What do you expect. Lol Nah just joking. Been subscribed for a bit now. You, the ol Man and Billy and Tommy. Don't give up Hoss. Your getting there. Put a Coyote in and you'll be fine. Lol

[@mwhitelaw8569]

Hit it with your purse!! OK I laughed so hard I sprung a leak

[@LucoreAuto]

Lol yeah the timing on that one couldn't have been better 😀

[@codysevedge7581]

"stupid gravity" 😂What color purple is this El Camino? I have a '69 as well and I'm looking at different shades of purple, I really like how this one looks.

[@teresaharmon4405]

You know you might have been able to use that ball joint compressor to put that rear end bushing in with instead of hitting your hand with the hammer. Wink.......

[@jeffotterberg5031]

There isn't enough room on the eye to use the pipe support on the opposing side of the bushing, although using a short length of 4x4 wood and a bfh works quite well and gives a bigger target.

[@cyane1577]

Some ideas for T-shirts to help raise funds for projects " Lucore Automotive ", " Stupid Gravity ", " Lucore Shop Ghost or Lucore Ghost Mechanic " " Lucore Boomer (Tech) Garage " or any others the fans or yourselves can come up with 😌

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

Just noticed, the 69 elco has vent grill in the hood, never noticed that before. Pretty sure the '69 chevelle didn't. Edit: Oh yes, the chevelle did have the grill. Looking at that shock, no wonder it had wheel hop.

[@LucoreAuto]

There's not a LOT of this car that's still original but we're totally OK with that. Means he can go have some fun with it 😀 Thinking the only real front end difference was the vent windows isn't it?

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

@@LucoreAuto yep, I think you're right, just the vent windows.

[@michaelfuson645]

Hit it with your purse 🤣 smacks ✋ with 🔨

[@LucoreAuto]

The timing on that one WAS rather perfect 😉

[@hotwheel6663]

Why in gods name they put reverse lights in tailgate in the '69? It looks so silly.

[@richardbrady2818]

Ya lotta work for an afternoon, and you get more done if you just quit dropping things, way too much gravity in your shop

[@rickharper1497]

Dude, I felt that hit on the hand, figure out a way to press those bushings in and save on the hands. Sorry

[@richardlucore6813]

No doubt!!! I ordered another press kit today so I can avoid that from ever happening again. I will modify the new press and cones into something that will work to press the axle bushing in place. I can't afford to do that to my hand again. I was really lucky the hammer got more of the axle than my hand.

[@Loki13M]

Oh that is going to be a world of difference in handling! Customer should definitely enjoy that Elco a LOT more now! Rich, my hands hurt from watching ya this round bud. I think this one wanted its pound of flesh from ya! It's gone from haunted to *car* nivorous! 🥸