[Joe Toller]

Update: I couldn't help but dig into the motor a little to see what I had. Glad I did. I popped the valve covers to replace the gaskets and found fulcrum rockers. I have a 78-vintage 302, with D8OE heads and what appears to be a nice recent overhaul on the whole thing. Because it has a nice standard set of the 77-newer pistons in it already, and the shortblock works fine, I picked up a set of D7OE's and had them cleaned up, and sent an extra cam off for a regrind at Delta Cams in WA for $82 to my door. I will be running the car as a 77, at 137hp (not that it is an issue for me right now). I traded some misc. parts for a set of 1.6 Comp Magnum rail-style roller tip rockers, my score of the month! In the meantime I managed to clean out the fuel tank and mount my Holley blue pump and regulator. I also put in fresh motor mounts and an oil pan gasket, along with servicing the C4 and putting in a shift kit. At this point, I am putting the car away; it is reassembled and running well with the stock shortblock and 77-vintage upper end, and now I have a cam and converter to swap in after some baseline passes in the spring, so I feel pretty good about what I have to work with.

I can say I am MUCH further along then I was last project, and at a total of under $1600, not counting anything I sold/traded off the car. I will make some baselines in May or so; I can't wait! If it works I might even have to clean it up and break out the Rustoleum lol!