The post the other day about contacting a person to whom you sold a car got me thinking...Here's somewhat the opposite scenerio... A person to whom I sold my engine contacted me via email today and sent me a clip of the engine running for what appears to be the first time. How thoughtful!
[URL=http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d36/plance1/?action=view¤t=2012-07-14_11-18-56_263.mp4][/URL]
Here was my response...
"Sweet jesus! love that lumpy cam, does that have solid lifters? See attached for what the body shop down the street had parked outside a few months ago.
When I was about 13 or 14 some guy had a 68 like this but with huge tires in the back. I recall it had ladder bar suspension in the back. I told him he had a cool car and he said get in, I'll take you for a ride he said. Damn thing pressed me back in the seat hard and made quite an impression on me. Keep in mind my dad had a top of the line trans am back in those days which made a grand total of 190 hp! About that time Hot Rod magazine came out with a 2 part article about a 69 olds, it was titled "Junkyard Dog". I read that about a million times. Perhaps you have seen it. I had a copy of it laying around that someone emailed me a few years ago.
Not sure if I told you the history of that engine but my neighbor had a green 69 delta 88 that they got from a relative who had passed on. It was a hardtop... I think it said custom royale on it. All I know it had every option there was. We used to sit in it when we were kids growing up, it had a great old car smell. The thing was a sweet car that they let sit out and rot for about 10 years. When I was about 15 they finally called a tow truck driver to haul it out. Before he could get away with it, my brother asked the neighbor for the car. He paid about 50 bucks for it. I bet the tow truck driver was pissed. He couldn't get it started so he gave it to me. My best friend at the time and I worked on it after school and got it running. We drove it around the block. Like a dumb ass I took the car all apart and junked it. I should have kept the damn thing all though it was rusted out by that time. I recall finding a bent pushrod when we tore down the engine. Somewhere, not sure where, but somewhere there are pictures of me and my buddy working on that car.
Not only did he help me with my olds but he also just happened to have a real, 1970 chevelle 396 SS that he taught me how to drive. The thing is probably worth a fortune by now. Well that best friend of mine died young about 17 to 18 years ago, I bet some genius psychologist would tell you thats why I hung on to that engine for so long.
So thanks for the memories and keep sending me files of your bad ass ride. I'm glad I finally sold that stuff to someone who appreciates it and is getting good use out of it. Like I said, keep sending me pics, videos or whatever!"