Well if you have only met the guy three times, then you are a good Sumaritan. Since your not close buds he may be embarrassed that his motor failed in front of you. That man pride thing. I had a bud who had a bad habit of letting his cars sit in the driveway at idle for 30 minutes to "circulated " the oil. One 55 Ford pickup he had seized up AFTER he put it back into the shop. It would not turn over the next time he started it. It stuck the valves. Even with manganese guides. I know the shop that built the heads and they were right. He used Av gas and it does not really lube as well and at idle, the motor would not get enough oil. Just a thought. Good luck. I'm thinking very serious about building a run stand for just such an occasion.