Retirement finalized.

[Joe-JDC]

I have been getting folks from different sources asking for port work on heads and intakes.  I have come to the point that my age, and my wife's health require more of my time than the work.  I have enjoyed this Forum since Jay began it, and the old FE forum before that.  I hope I have made many friends over the years and helped folks with odd jobs that no one else wanted to tackle.  I have met several of you including Jay.  My home shop became a place to meet many good folks after retiring from a local race shop.  One of the folks I truly admired was Karol Miller who set some records with the Ford Y block back in the '50s and early '60s.  He has been to my place a couple of times, and dubbed it "Joe's Skunk Works".  He sent me T-shirts with his '56 pictured on them from Bonneville, and a nice picture of him standing by my SF-600 flow bench.  He passed at the age of 95 and is missed by those who knew him.  Anyway, my son gave me a nice birthday gift a few years ago after Karol sent me the T-shirts.  Here are a couple of pictures.  Pictured is 1508 Y Block horsepower.  Joe-JDC

[jayb]

Joe, I wish you the best in your retirement and I hope you continue to frequent this forum.  Your expertise is very valuable, and a source of reliable information like you about certain cylinder heads and intakes is tough to come by.  Good luck to you and your wife, and stay in touch - Jay

[Joe-JDC]

Thanks, Jay.  I will certainly try to stay abreast of the FE world.  Hopefully your heads and intakes will make a huge difference in future performance gains for folks who appreciate the FE.  Joe-JDC

[My427stang]

I will echo Jay's praise and good wishes.  Very few people have talent to both do and teach, and you have shown your character repeatedly always trying to help others as well.

Godspeed but don't disappear!

[blykins]

Gonna miss you, Joe.  You’ve been a big part of my engine program for the last 17 years. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me.

[6667fan]

Good luck MSgt. Thanks for your many contributions
Apologies on spelling if you are Army

[Barry_R]

Good luck and enjoy the time ahead JDC. 
It's been an absolute pleasure meeting with, competing with, and working with you over the years.

[Royce]

Joe  I consider you one of the main drivers behind the elevation of the Y-Block and FE into modern performance status. I still have your first set of ported iron Y block heads that you did for free just to learn about them.. That engine has come a long way mostly due to improved breathing which you have had a major hand in.. We also made big strides in Lincoln Y and MEL performance due to your head work.  Sure gonna miss your efforts ... hopefully now you will have time to finish some personal projects

[mummert]

 Nice job Joe. Looks like you get to spend time with your family taking it easy.  Cars will never leave you I'm sure. Good luck with your next ventures. 

[e philpott]

Congrats on retiring and I hope your wife health improves

[Joe-JDC]

Thanks, everyone.  My wife has had two back surgeries and is still healing but she is feeling much better.  I just had a large skin cancer(BCC) removed from my left temple, and the stitches are just about healed over.  We are optimistic that things will be better real soon.  I have a few projects still in the shop of my own, a 289 that I was going to take to 2019 EMC, a real Boss 302, a 468 Shelby FE, and a 302 stroker/354ci that is almost complete.  Just got the pushrods in yesterday for final assembly and off to the dyno.  Joe-JDC