I’ve spent more time in my garage today than I have since the night Eric Rood dropped off the 360 that is bound for the Imperial earlier this year. What am I working on? That same 360, of course. After learning that a water pump bolt was JB Weld-ed into place, that the main caps were loose, and that the crank needed some machine work, what was supposed to be a nearly drop-in ready mill has turned into a full-on rebuild. I want to make it clear, this is not Rood’s fault…he bought the engine as a complete unit for his “Project Regretmobile” Dodge Magnum LeMons car, and he was gonna dump it in the framerails of the rotted-out B-body right up until that particular car broke at the T-tops. (No, seriously…it broke in half.) So instead of a complete LA 360 that was a water pump gasket and accessory test-fit away from being plunked into our long-resting J-body Imperial, I’m rebuilding my first engine during the time of year where I apparently start emitting the scent of WD-40 like a pheromone and hibernate where the smells of raw metal, petroleum products and the occasional hint of human blood linger. How do I know this is a thing? Because this time last year, the Angry Grandpa build was in progress. And this time three years ago, I was tearing the 323ci LA motor that had powered the Imperial and, prior to, the Superbeater Mirada, out along with the most roasted A-904 automatic I’ve ever encountered. That’s what happens when you hang the 1-2 shift for three seconds at WOT, boys and girls!

Admittedly, I have a good excuse for why I haven’t really spun any wrenches over the summer…I’ve been working my ass off, trying to come up with stories, manning the camera during races, and generally trying to do my part here at BangShift. But let’s also be real for a moment: summer in Kentucky is hot, humid, loaded with all manner of insects and spiders (tons of which I’m still cleaning out of my garage) and is completely oppressive to working in a metal building. How much work can I really do in a sauna? It’s not like Arizona, where as long as I’m in the shade, I’m ok. The shade doesn’t mean squat when it’s 95 degrees out with 95% humidity, and finances aren’t good enough to put air-conditioning into my garage (oh, but I can dream!) But the moment the leaves start turning colors in the trees and the air takes on a cool nip, I’m more than ready to break out the tools, chemicals and rags and get to work. I can only assume that the reason why I’m cleaning up head surfaces and dingleberry-honing cylinders like a man possessed is similar to the work of a squirrel: I’ve got to make do with the useful time I have before BangShift Mid-West becomes a winter wonderland and the shop is colder than something, something “witch”, something-something “brass bra”.

October is pretty much gone at this point, and I lose the first week of November to SEMA coverage. But that doesn’t mean work will stop in the shop. In fact, parts are due to arrive at the house in just a few short hours from now for some more work. I can’t wait…I’m genuinely excited, more so than Christmas morning. I can’t be the only one like this, can I?