My auto/home insurance went up a couple of years ago nearly double.  I started checking around, with no tickets, no claims on auto or home, and I got a huge surprise for the cause.  When I turned 75, rates changed.  Automatically.  Not something they will tell you, but it is there nonetheless.  Nothing I can do to change it but get rid of vehicles or downgrade the coverage.  To me this is discrimination, but I understand many folks at 75+ are not good risks.  I am still healthy and consider myself an excellent driver, but they have their guidelines to follow.  Joe-JDC

Not to be too negative here, but I sent out a set of coated, forged JE pistons to have the skirts coated to take up .0005, twice, and when I got them back each time they measured exactly the same as shipped from JE.  That cost $$ plus shipping.  Just saying.  I was told they could coat them to add as much as .002", and I did not get what was promised.  Joe-JDC

Whenever you change MSD ignition boxes(6AL/2) your timing will be different by as much as 4* or so.  I found this out during a dyno session on my EMC engine.  Different 6ALs have different timing.  You may need to re-establish top dead center and 0 on the damper.  Joe-JDC

I have a pair of '69 Boss 302 heads that have a 2.250" intake valve seat.  It is doable, but not the best for a small cubic inch engine.  Since you use an 8.2 deck, what intake manifold are you using?  Joe-JDC

I have found that Brent has always been open and forth coming about his builds on his You Tube channel.  No secrets there.  Tells it like it is and you can see everything.  Barry has always been open about his builds, and Jay has set the standard in openness with his dyno testing.  Thanks for a forum where folks try to help other FE owners.  Joe-JDC

I keep a couple of shop towels placed over the drain to catch most of the particulate from entering the tank.  That helps with keeping the fluid cleaner and you can dispose of the towels when they get really nasty.   Joe-JDC

Ross, I think you will find that wherever a CJ/MR/BT/Sidewinder 4V will fit, the TW/MR8V/DoveTW will fit even better.  The only issue is the length of the airfilter lid and the ribs of the underside of the hood.  The TW and 8V MR/BTs are actually .100" shorter than the CJ/BT/SW/MR4V.  Check out Jay's book for comparisons.  Joe-JDC

I agree that the Fairlane GT with 390GT engine and 4speed was a very competitive car of the time against similar horsepower vehicles.  I drove my first 390HP back in 1964 in a Galaxie with 4 speed, and a 1966 Fairlane GT with 4 speed and bought a '66 mustang because the dealer said I couldn't qualify for the 7Litre Galaxie in 1966.  I did buy a '69 Fairlane Cobra R code, formal roof line with 4 speed and 3:50 gear which was the quickest stock Ford I had owned to that date.  The Cobra CJ with ram air would simply drive away from the Mopar 440s, Chevelle 454s, Nova 396/375, Z-28s, and even the Boss 429 in pure stock forms.  I raced at Panama City Beach drag strip every weekend.  The closest car to the Cobra in F Pure Stock at the time was an El Camino 396/375 with the tail gate down, but I could always run him down at the stripe when the ram air took over about 80mph.  That Cobra ran 13.22 with street tires and pure stock.  I had to sell the car when I got orders for Vietnam and I have regretted it to this very day.  Joe-JDC