1. Don't Trust Whitey

Actual text exchange:
    Random Number: Do you still have that crab?
    Me: Nope, I saw a doctor and got rid of it.
    Random Number: LOL ya.  I have a 750 Holley Im trying to (get) a 600.

Then it all clicks for me... the Craig's List ad about the carburetor.

Also the crankshaft came.  Back to the machine shop for (re)balancing.

Doing a 180

Grrrrrr.

I called Jegs yesterday to ask where my crank is.

They have not yet shipped it.  The reason?  Because the crank "key" (the bit that allows the timing sprocket to stay attached to the crank at the proper orientation) is located not in the 0 degree position, but in the 180 degree position.

For those I've lost, look at the following picture

The lower arrow is pointing to the 0 degree mark on the crankshaft's timing sprocket.  Right below that is a notch called the "key".  Well, the Lunati crank has that key located in the 180 degree position, directly opposite of the 0 degree position in the picture.

This means that I'll have to either

1. Get a new timing chain set with a key-notch in the 180 degree position (my current one doesn't have a notch at 180 degrees).  Oh, and for the record, I'm told they don't make them this way any more.
2. Use the one I have, but rotate it 180 degrees out of alignment and do a bunch of mental gymnastics when I'm setting up the engine (for example, the 1st cylinder should be all the way up at 0 degrees, but when things are 180 degrees out of phase, the 6th cylinder will be all the way up instead).

Bah.  I thought hobbies were supposed to be fun.

If Anything, I am a Patient Man

The Crower rods came, but I'm still waiting on the crankshaft.

Still haven't sold the Chinese parts.

And so I wait.

For the Record, I Did Not Say Americana...

would be cheap.  It won't be.

Turns out trying to sell my parts like this http://corvallis.craigslist.org/pts/2326064159.html isn't working out so hot.  Who knew?

New parts are on the way and should be here early May.  Lunati crank, Crower rods, ARP ring compressor, and an engine brush kit later, I'm $1361.95 poorer.

Pathfinder

There is a way forward.  I called around and found out that Crower produces U.S. made connecting rods and Lunati U.S. made crankshafts.

Now I have to sell my Chinese parts and buy much more expensive American bits.

I'm a man of few principles, but this one is going to cost me.

Me Play Joke

Got the parts back from the machine shop on Monday.  I was unpacking them all this evening when I noticed a sticker on the connecting rod box.  "Made In China".

The joke's on me.

Crankshaft and connecting rods are both Chinese.  This will not do.

I refuse to let the heart of the engine be composed of Chinese metal.  I'm no racist, but it seems dead wrong to let a symbol of Americana be powered by China.  Although it may be an apt analogy for the state of things today, it sure as hell isn't representative of the '60s, and is a far cry from being representative of me.

And if cars are one thing to American men they are an extension of our personalities.  My personality says "Eff China".

Back to the shop to return some parts and get some American steel.

Head Case

Apparently the heads are near done and I should be able to take delivery on my parts come the middle of next week.

Yikes!  It was nice having a break.  Back to work.