it came home

[Brian]

I attended a swap meet last weekend and came across a relieved 99 engine, sans heads and front timing cover, that exhibited all the features that I'd perform during an engine rebuild; it had been modified for external oil filter, ported, had a steel camshaft that had been reground [evident by it having been centre drilled in the snout so it can be run between centres], aluminum timing gear, nicely tuliped valves, amongst other things...price was $NZ 550.00. Obviously I bought it! picked it up from the seller today, got it home, and began to inspect it more closely. Blow me down! I did build this engine, I remember it vividly, I even made from scratch the full floater rod bearings from phosphor bronze, I always use a steel cam, this one was stamped from Franklin Cam Grinders, who I remember I tasked with tickling up the cam. I had the engine balanced, sure enough, it's balanced! I am quite stunned that after all these years, heck, it'd have to have been 25 years, that it's come back home. I'm happy!

[cadillac512]

That's excellent. You must have built it well! That's a lot of value for $550.

[Brian]

yeah, when I sold it all those years ago, it was equipped with finned heads and twin carbs. That stuff has vanished now, but I do happen to have a nice set of early Edelbrocks that will go on. I ran that mill in my 1/2 ton jailbar pickup before I sold it. It still has the jailbar oilpan with the removeable section under the flywheel and has the big clean out plate under the oil pump pick up.

[JayChicago]

Nice story. Thanks for sharing. Good to see your work after 25 years.

[Bored&Stroked]

Well, that was a fun story! I can't imagine making the rod bearings . . . but yah gotta go what yah gotta do!

[my4dv8]

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I saw you were excited to find it at the swap meet. Awesome it is coming back home.

[glennpm]

Great story Brian!