My first race engine was a twin cylinder Maytag model 72, modified exhaust (strait copper pipe) was going on a wood frame "soap box" racer, removing half the fin's on the flywheel for more rpm's was a Bad idea, siezed the engine, I was 12, dad was po'd. Solid rubber wheel barrow wheels, Bridge spikes for axles were suspect in the down hill colision with a tree stump, car was a total loss, but grandma appreciated the kindling for the cook stove.
My first V-8 build was in 1963, a 1930's little 60hp Ford, auto mechanics class in high school, got an "A" adjusting the valves on that little baby was a trick, grind off the valve stems, thats why we had a teacher.
My first sbc build was a 283, bored to a 301cid, Isky "3/4 race" cam, thats what they were called back then, 3/4 and full race cams was the lingo. it went in my 1957 2 door, 4.11 gears, 4 spd trans, and I could break an axle any time I wanted to .. it seemed, I was 18
