[Fot] Its alive - Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

[Mark Eginton]

After 18 months of planning, parts gathering and building, my old 3 
started as if it had been running yesterday. It actually startled the 
#@%% out of me firing before 3 complete revolutions. No priming,  
backfiring, changing the timing 180 degrees or anything I had prepared 
myself for. I do not think it even missed a beat for the entire 20 
minute breakin. I'm so friggen happy I am beside myself!!!

First I'd like to thank my producer... but seriously, Joe Alexander, 
Tony Drews, Kas, Bill Babcock, Russ Moore - the list goes on and on... 
were talking lightened rods, NOS Pistons - parts parts parts - fixtures 
for boring... guidance on building a trap door pan, porting and 10,000 
other questions. A hearty thanks to all the offline interaction that 
helped me do it right the first time.

There is a dark side - when I retorqued the head hot, a headbolt that my 
machinest helicoiled in my new block (rear drivers side bolt under the 
rocker assy) topped out at 90 ft lbs so I stopped for now. I will likely 
be going back in again this summer or next winter but unless someone 
sees something seriously detrimental, I will probably get a few Sunday 
drives in before I see piston tops again...

Cheers from Ithaca,

M