After wheezing by on three cylinders for the past 2-3 weeks my good ol' junk yard motor finally belched out it's last bit of smoke on the way to Washburn tonight (What a plume it was).

I'll be driving the T-bird beater that my grandma blessed me with a couple weeks ago. It's a blessing, but it will be living Hell driving this thing until the Talon is running again.

BTW - I ordered .020 over Forged pistons for the engine rebuild today. The machine shop says it will probably be 4 weeks before he is done since he is so busy. That means I'll be pushing the Sept. 21st dead line.

I can just see it now, wrenching the Saturday night before trying to get the car ready for the big race. Why does it always have to come down this way?!

I smell a flyer that says "wrench fest at Marcus's on the 21st" Going to drive her day and night in early Sept. to finish the break-in period before race day?

Ah, the inevitable. Have you forgotten the cardinal rule of car building? If it can break it will, and usually at the most inconvienient of times.

That's ok, you will have a good setup when all is said and done. Where are you having the work done at?

Oh know I couldn't forget that rule. Infact I think I may even be an enforcer of that rule as I live out these occurances. What's funny is I actually predicted that the engine wouldn't make it much more than 20 miles before I went to the Applebees meeting. I think it made it around 30 miles! Knowing how these things go I got the T-bird licensed and titled before I headed to Washburn.

Shotts Machine is doing the work, but I think they send the crank to Kalina to be machined and polished.

Which forged pistons are you going with? JE's, Wisecos, Arias, Ross? Betcha made sure they have anti-detonation grooves, huh?

Yes they do and I also got the premium option for knock reduction in the form of a 'Halon knock supression system' equiped on each piston.

No kidding?! How's that work? Where did you get these suckers from?

I definetly 2nd a wrench day...i need to fix my damn car! By the way, once again, if anyone has or can get a decent passanger side halfshaft for a relitivly decent price PLEASE let me know. Mine it on its last legs, and I cant afford to buy one new. And if anyone knows how to replace a 2nd gear syncro I would love you forever as well. And replace shift linkage. Damn, my list is way too long. Rest assured, the loving will be spread all over if the car can be fixed sometime soon. I wanna dust Hondas on the 21st dammit!