This turned into one of those great days that I have to share. My friends Bob and EJ sold their auto repair business last year for a heap of money to retire with. So last week I drive the Roadrunner over to EJ's place to show it off. Bob is in the shop cussing some stubborn parts off of a Subaru and EJ is screwing around with a van. So basically nothing has changed. "Just cant say no to old customers" says EJ. So we are looking over the RR and I mentioned that I had just bought a rusty pile of a 68 Charger to restore. A light comes on in Bob's eyes and he says "hey, you have this 383 in the back of the shop!"
So here is the story- This happened about 10 years ago. A customer wanted the engine and trans rebuilt in a Dodge truck. They took the engine to Motorworks in Spokane and had it completely rebuilt with what they remember was a purple cam and flat top pistons. The 727 trans went to a trusted shop for rebuild and a new converter.
Three or four months go by, the guy doesn't pay his bill, and they hear rumors that the guy is planning to leave the State. So they give him a call and tell him that they have to do a 500 mile service on it, or Motorworks will void the warranty. He brought the truck in, and they removed the engine and transmission.
We walk back to a corner of the big shop building and there it is, no carb on it, all intake and exhaust openings duct taped up solid and on an engine stand. We put a socket on the crank and it turns easy and starts to suck the duct tape in. I looked at the block casting date that said "69". "So you want to sell it then?" I say, and EJ says "how bout 2500 bucks for both" and I of course said "sounds like I need to go back and get my truck!
So here is the story- This happened about 10 years ago. A customer wanted the engine and trans rebuilt in a Dodge truck. They took the engine to Motorworks in Spokane and had it completely rebuilt with what they remember was a purple cam and flat top pistons. The 727 trans went to a trusted shop for rebuild and a new converter.
Three or four months go by, the guy doesn't pay his bill, and they hear rumors that the guy is planning to leave the State. So they give him a call and tell him that they have to do a 500 mile service on it, or Motorworks will void the warranty. He brought the truck in, and they removed the engine and transmission.
We walk back to a corner of the big shop building and there it is, no carb on it, all intake and exhaust openings duct taped up solid and on an engine stand. We put a socket on the crank and it turns easy and starts to suck the duct tape in. I looked at the block casting date that said "69". "So you want to sell it then?" I say, and EJ says "how bout 2500 bucks for both" and I of course said "sounds like I need to go back and get my truck!
