[Tod]

Well, yesterday didn't go quite as planned. We had a power outage that shut down everything for a couple of hours so I didn't get as much done as I wanted. I did get lifters from Prus Jr. to test fit in the bores and that all looks great. I got the oil pan bolt holes programmed, drilled and tapped and now I can bolt on the last external bolt-on piece. I also cut the main journals to width. There was a tool I wanted to order but found out it would take longer to get than I am willing to wait right now so I ordered material to make it myself. What will take a tool maker months to custom make I figure will take me a day to do myself.

I talked to Prus Jr. Thursday and we discussed building and running this first one. Hopefully good luck continues and I don't run into anything that prevents that plan. The worst thing that can happen is something causes this to be nothing but a display/mock up item. But, seeing that there is very little left to machine I can't see what could present itself this late to ruin the plan.

As a matter of coincidence he brought up something someone else did the very next day in an email. Both people proposed that this first motor be sold at cost or auctioned some way, because someone just might want bragging rights for being the owner of the very first one. But, I'm inclined to just keep it for myself and display it at shows and in the Snyder's show room. I haven't discussed that with Snyder's but I can't imagine it would be a bad thing for anyone. But I'll let Don make that call. I would like to have it displayed at Hershey this fall if nothing else. We'll see how it all works itself out. If I've learned nothing in my 37 years in manufacturing is that you can't force things to happen according to your wishful thinking.

Tod