Forum member Joe Craine at Engine Masters with Y-Block

[machoneman]

But, they must all be 427's, right? I mean, it's cast right on the back! 

Hah! Ford did pull a boner on that i.d.

[cammerfe]

Looking at the pictures of Joe's engine, the only improvement I can imagine would be if he had a pair of original T-Bird rocker covers on it!

KS

I have the Thunderbird valve covers, but I just could not cut them to install the crankcase evacuation breathers.  The Edelbrock covers do not have any particular significance to me, so they were sacrificed for the cause.  Joe-JDC

About a zillion years ago, I had a 312 in my '54 Customline. Soon after I got it running, I got a chance to buy a set of the cast T-Bird covers. I'm not absolutely sure, but I think I had to give $10 for them. I was working for $1.75 an hour that summer, and had just bought a Paxton VS 59 blower for the car so the extra $10 really cut into my pocket money. But they sure did look good. ( The B7A-6250-C cam came soon thereafter. Cost about $15 over the parts counter at Bill Brown Ford on Plymouth in Livonia---up the street from T&C Livonia.) Good Times!

KS

[gt350hr]

   Royce your comments about Jon are spot on.  When he came out from Ohio to work for Dyno Don (rip) I had the same impression. Jon always gave Don the credit but worked tirelessly to make him run better and be more organized. The pairing produced a world championship in one of the toughest years of Pro Stock racing. Through all of that and his many successes in the following years Jon has remained Jon. Willing to use a "good" $10 part or make a $1,000 custom part from scratch if he "had" to in order to get he job done. He never rests on his laurels because he is keenly aware that others (like Ted and Joe's fine entries)  are capable of beating him on any given day. Jon's creativity has raised the bar and IMHO , made these competitions interesting. Congrats to Joe  and Ted it's too bad the problems with the fuel kept Joe from winning. I thought he had it in the bag.
   The fuel issue has been a problem for NHRA Pro racers who must also use a "spec" fuel like Pro Stock.  Early on , engine carnage was directly linked to inconsistency in the fuel. Fuel check ( at finish line after a run) became a game of Russian Roulette. Fuel from the same can might not check on the next fuel check. It's sad to hear Sunoco has issues again.

[blykins]

   Royce your comments about Jon are spot on.  When he came out from Ohio to work for Dyno Don (rip) I had the same impression. Jon always gave Don the credit but worked tirelessly to make him run better and be more organized. The pairing produced a world championship in one of the toughest years of Pro Stock racing. Through all of that and his many successes in the following years Jon has remained Jon. Willing to use a "good" $10 part or make a $1,000 custom part from scratch if he "had" to in order to get he job done. He never rests on his laurels because he is keenly aware that others (like Ted and Joe's fine entries)  are capable of beating him on any given day. Jon's creativity has raised the bar and IMHO , made these competitions interesting. Congrats to Joe  and Ted it's too bad the problems with the fuel kept Joe from winning. I thought he had it in the bag.
   The fuel issue has been a problem for NHRA Pro racers who must also use a "spec" fuel like Pro Stock.  Early on , engine carnage was directly linked to inconsistency in the fuel. Fuel check ( at finish line after a run) became a game of Russian Roulette. Fuel from the same can might not check on the next fuel check. It's sad to hear Sunoco has issues again.

I'll third this.....

Jon's a top notch guy and is very humble.   I dyno'd a Boss 9 engine down at his shop several years ago and was taken aback by how generous (bought everyone's lunch, including mine and my customer's) he was and how easy he was to talk to.  Just an all-around nice guy. 

[cjshaker]

   Royce your comments about Jon are spot on.  When he came out from Ohio to work for Dyno Don (rip) I had the same impression. Jon always gave Don the credit but worked tirelessly to make him run better and be more organized. The pairing produced a world championship in one of the toughest years of Pro Stock racing. Through all of that and his many successes in the following years Jon has remained Jon. Willing to use a "good" $10 part or make a $1,000 custom part from scratch if he "had" to in order to get he job done. He never rests on his laurels because he is keenly aware that others (like Ted and Joe's fine entries)  are capable of beating him on any given day. Jon's creativity has raised the bar and IMHO , made these competitions interesting. Congrats to Joe  and Ted it's too bad the problems with the fuel kept Joe from winning. I thought he had it in the bag.
   The fuel issue has been a problem for NHRA Pro racers who must also use a "spec" fuel like Pro Stock.  Early on , engine carnage was directly linked to inconsistency in the fuel. Fuel check ( at finish line after a run) became a game of Russian Roulette. Fuel from the same can might not check on the next fuel check. It's sad to hear Sunoco has issues again.

I'll third this.....

Jon's a top notch guy and is very humble.   I dyno'd a Boss 9 engine down at his shop several years ago and was taken aback by how generous (bought everyone's lunch, including mine and my customer's) he was and how easy he was to talk to.  Just an all-around nice guy.

I'll 4th this. I'm an absolute nobody, but both times I had questions and talked to him at 2 EMC events, he talked to me and answered my questions, in depth, like I was just as important as the magazine and on-line guys. His ingenuity is next level stuff, but his personable character is almost unheard of, especially at his level of expertise.

[Joe-JDC]

Yes, Jon is very easy to talk with, and very knowledgeable, and down to earth in his attitude.  I had a very good discussion with him about how we grew up and got started in automobiles, especially FEs, and beyond.  I grew up in the Greenville SC area, and he is in Winder GA.  I was drafted my second year of college, and he missed the draft due to his college and age difference.  I graduated in 1964, and he in 1970, so I was already in Vietnam two times before he finished college.  His son was disabled in the Army, and my son has a service connected disability from Desert Storm, etc.  We have a lot in common with home life, and he was gracious through the whole competition.  I congratulated Royce and him immediately after their dyno session.  It was a learning experience, and I hope it will encourage others to enter their engines in a future competition.  JE Pistons has a unique facility and they are planning to expand the competition for next year.  Maybe you folks might consider building an engine for next year.  If so, good luck and have fun.  Joe-JDC

[BruceS]

Joe, thanks to you and your son for your service to our country!  Also appreciate the encouragement to give the EMS a shot.