[SCOBRAC]

Indeed it is the same TS.

I was 12 when I moved in across the street from him and was like most kids probably a pain in the ass most of the time. I helped him in his garage at home moving engine blocks and lifting transmissions by age 13 or 14. By then I was at least a foot taller and had him by 75lbs. I gained some pretty useful experience picking his brain and getting advice on "how to".

I think having a master mechanic living across the street gave me a confidence at 15 or 16 to do things I had no business doing, tranny R&R, (he rebuilt my C-4 for a couple hundred and the needed parts) head jobs, the right way to rebuild a carb, etc.

The stories I heard from him then were pretty typical hot rod stories. One in particular was when Chevy released the 427 "mystery motor" in 1968 as a service item. He tells the story about getting the part number out of a trade publication and taking it down to the Chevy dealer and them not finding a reference to it yet, but they could order it and he would have to pay for it when it arrived. Indeed 12 weeks later a crate arrived. It was $934. including frieght. It was the first one sold over the counter on the west coast.

The engine was still in his barn in 1985. The heads were sold a few years before for more than he paid for the engine. I knew he built engines for SAI before he went to Vietnam but never knew about the Dragonsnake. I'm sure it isn't common knowledge in the hot rod community where he lives.

I bet if we can keep it simple and offer him free food he might tell all. It might take some prodding but I am sure he would be pretty complimented people still care. I know what you mean about the older guys not wanting to talk. It's really ashame.

I was thinking about this the other day. I wonder if he gets hit up every few years or if this is a recent thing with the popularity of the kit and component car market taking off.

I will go see him Friday and see what we can do.