Well I suppose the main feature of this Forum is communication and I appreciate comments that I can learn from. In fact it is cheaper to recondition my old rods than to buy new ones so that is a good tip if they are better besides. Are all 400 blocks two-bolts? If so that explains Joe Butler's preference for two-bolt blocks, but as far as I know I was looking at two 350 blocks (I will check), one with two-bolt mains and another with four-bolt mains. The facts of the matter in my case are that I do not have a spotless drivers record in Va and I am 67, so I have no intention of competitive racing (sorry!). While I can REMEMBER excitement from earlier days I just want to go cruising in roughly a 300-500 mile radius to car events of various types. I note that most of the feature cars in Street Rodder have stiff rears (for mileage) and a mild 350 SBC, while on the street it seems that everyone has a 383 or a Mopar 440! I guess I aspire to the cruisin' crowd. As far as jollies, my best memories have to do with solving certain equations and presenting the results at international conferences where the egos are enormous, so my reverting back to teen activities after 40 years are out of date (you want to buy a 4" Merc stroker crank?) and partly the fact that I may not be able to solve new equations anymore, so I just want to have some fun and one good memory left to me is the surge of power from a 350 SBC in low gear and maybe a good 0-60 time, so let an old man have some fun. Come to think of it low gear in a '47 Ford flathead was pretty good too, but I kept breaking the fragile trans (three in all), still the torque from a flathead up to 1500 rpm was/is almost as good as the SBC, but by 2000 rpm the SBC is a new game entirely. Well tomorrow I have to teach the Carnot cycle to a class I agreed to teach to finance my engine rebuild and maybe they will like the joke about the Corvair with a "Car No Engine" under the front hood! (Got to pay for the engine somehow!) I will admit that the picture of the bunny with pancakes on it's head by Treekiller was the best laugh I have had in a long time so I guess there is some good fun on this Forum.

Best Wishes,
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder