Made a big step forward in my latest project yesterday and thought I would share what I have cooking for 2010. If you read the "Short-Stroke Shootout" story in the October 2009 issue of Excellence, you could probably read between the lines that I have been kicking around the idea for a new powerplant for "Olivia" my 70"S".

I had a few reasons to want a new engine:

1) she is numbers matching and I drive the car frequently and hard. One of my biggest fears is that something catastrophic would happen to the engine.

2) the 2.2 has a lot of miles on it and needs some attention anyway. There are several minor oil leaks and the throttle bodies need rebuilt. Why not pull it out and stab something bigger in place?

The first two reasons are really "justifications" primarily used when my wife is around. The third is the real reason.

3) I have no self control. I know what a hot-rod engine feels like and I want it. Im not ashamed to admit it...when my wife is not around.

My original plans were to build a 2.5 short-stroke MFI based on a 7R case that I had purchased. I had a good set of core 2.4T heads, a very nice 66mm crank and a core 69 E magnesium MFI stacks and tb's.

Then one day I noticed an old Supertec built 2.8 SS for sale on the Pelican boards. It had spun a rod bearing and had been completely disassembled. The price was too good to pass up! After selling off the PMO carbs that came with it and a few other things I didnt need, it ended up costing me about $1500.00! (Sounds fantastic, but honestly all I was left with was a nice Turbo case, 5 good cylinder heads, misc hardware and a set of headers)