Phew wringing my hands. Little background.....1973 Cuda Was 446 cast iron head solid flat tappet 4speed car street strip 11.90s

Sons getting into drag-racing Sooooooooooo figure I'll pass the torch and hand down the car provided he takes my advise on building it and we put a automatic in it.

Drop off the engine explain what times we're looking for and our budget. Comes up with a combo. Stroker motor 13.5-1 good crank/rods/pistons solid roller Pro-Comp heads roller rockers. Nice little package.

Now the saga begins....pistons on backorder, valley pan backorder, pushrods backorder LOL Due to the economy nobodies sitting on inventory. This I understand, try telling that to a 21 yo LOL

So the magic day arrives and we pick up the engine. Looks great. Bring it home and drop it in and Rut row! Fab valve cover pinned on brake booster! Modify booster(remove spacer), valve cover clears............barely. Wiggle the hooker headers in place (yanno the ones that used to fit great) get a couple nuts started and realize theyre hitting in 6 places! Figure better install plugs and check for fit! Oh my what a dream Not!! AND cyl 4 plug is laying dead on the tube :-(

So im standing there trying to look like all is well with tears in my eyes wondering whatever made me do this LOL

Been working on cars all my life and expect problems to arise.........but geez Well sorry about the long winded rant. Just needed to vent!

Feel free to offer your little ditties and tribulations to ease my suffering! I'm headed out to the garage to ding up a perfectly good set of headers!

you went with ProComp heads????? how tight was the budget? sounds like your arms need to grow a few more inches to reach the $ at the bottom of your pockets.

Now you know why I build my own headers. Installation and removal is always cake.

Of course I would be ECSTATIC if my 19 year old Son asked to learn how and got involved. But all he cares about is playing computer games and sleeping.

Hey that what my headers look like now LOL He's REALLY into the car and dragracing Its hard for him to accept that engines take time to build and problems arise.

I'm going to throttle stop the car the first tine he takes it out. Fastest hes been is 14:50s So this will be a bit of an experience LOL

He was starting to race a Fox Body Mustang on the street!! The deal I made with him.... I gave him the car.....He had the engine built. And we sold the four-speed parts off to cover the cost of the automatic trans and converter. AND the car was never to be street raced! Lotta money for a young kid, hes been saving for years. But I figure if it keeps him out of street racing......

I waited 7 or 8 months for my motor, 446 w/ b1/BS heads. We dropped it in and then..., found out nobody makes a header for these. Car sat another 6 months in header fab. shop hell.

Take your time and enjoy the time spent doing a fun project with your Kids.... It's worth it in the end guy's.....Trust me, I know.....

But why would you go 13 to 1 and have to use race fuel when the right combo of lower compression, bigger cam and aluminum heads can build a killer street strip 92 octane motor???

Best of Luck,Randy! It's ALWAYS a good thing when the kid's want to be involved! I REALLY miss the days my son Lee use to help out with the GTX,and actually go to the cruises and race track with me! No longer has the time,with a steady girlfriend,and regional sales mgr. position which keeps him VERY busy! Enjoy,and cherish the time you 2 have together! RandyB. BTW...Hope the car runs great for you guys!

I think the anti pump gas is a creative and good way to keep the car off the street racing scene.