Tom Kochtanek
09-06-2004, 12:19 AM
Most of you guys know I like "period correct" builds and have been looking for a good solid QB block for some time. I have two already, one a "068" from 1962 and another "814" from 1963. Both QBs are in sad shape, needing sleeves and more. So the search continues...
About 6 months ago I found a 1963 QB "814" block with a standard bore. The guy is a local BBC builder, and his niche is in "tractor pulling". He's got some really neat pullers and lots of trophies. All BowTie stuff. When I first contacted him, he wasn't real keen on selling the QB block and parts. We have a good friend in common, one he really respects. Over the months I have "cultivated" a bit of a relationship with this fellow, who is now retired. I think he realized how totally dedicated I was to these engines when I asked him to do the machine work on my 427 crank to fit into my stroker build. He never told me how much it would cost, and he never, not once ever asked me to pay him for the crank work. Most of you know how much effort this is from a machine shop standpoint.
I have tried to get him to tell me for months how much I owe him. The crank is in the block, and still I can't get him to commit. I really felt obligated to him in terms of the debt, and have sought to "square up" with him at least 3 or 4 times. Often I went over there with cash in my pocket, and never would he commit to a price. It got to a point where it was killing me (well, not really, but I hate owing people).
The other day my friend mentioned that Raymond (the machinist) had a dead tree on his property that he needed to remove. It was near his house and his fence and garden, and everything. Real close. And it was a big one! So Friday my friend and I took the day off and went over to Raymond's with the intention of taking that tree down. I've dropped plenty of trees down in my time, but always hate it when it is so close to real property. This one basically hung over his house. So we started Friday morning around 8:00 and it took the whole day and some of Saturday to get her down safely. It meant climbing up the trunk and out the limbs and dropping big limbs before taking the giant tree down by the trunk. And we cut and removed the entire tree log by log and hauled it over to an area where he stores his firewood to heat his shop. He bought lunch and later we had a few beers and talked. Never asked about the 409 stuff, or tried to settle the debt. Just worked hard in the 90 degree heat and got the job done. Later I found out he had the job bid by several pros, and he was not able to afford to have them remove the tree. I felt good to have been able to help him out, as he had really helped me with his machinist skills.
Then today (two days later) I went out to my friend's house only to see Raymond and his wife over there with chainsaws helping my friend clear brush from around his lagoon. So I helped pitch in and we ended up spending the whole day cutting trees and brush. I needed a lot of aspirin after the first gig, but I was even more sore by the end of the day...
My friend doesn't burn wood, so we loaded it all up in our trucks and hauled it over to Raymond's shop to add it to it the already huge pile from 2 days ago. After a few beers, the conversation of course focusing on cars and engines, Raymond asks me if I wanted the 409 stuff. I mentioned that I really wanted to square up with him on the machine bill from months ago, but yes, I was very interested in the block and parts.
He took me over to the old school bus where he kept bunches of parts, and showed me the 409 stuff. 1963 QB "814" block, standard bore, with 340 horse heads from a passenger car and iron intake. Eight pistons and connecting rods, standard bore. Plus the camshaft. Most of the flat metal pieces except for pulleys and such (including oil pan, valve covers, timing chain cover, etc.). All in pretty decent condition, but in need to a good cleaning. He asked me to make him an offer. So I did. It was about what that QB block just went for on Ebay. He said "No, let's do this. I was going to charge you about $750 for the machine work alone, but you can have this stuff AND settle your bill with me for XXX" and made it a price that was several hundred dollars less than what I had originally offered him just for the parts. And he said "Thanks for helping us out with taking the tree down".
So now I am the proud owner and future savior of a 1963 standard bore QB block with lots of other goodies I can use to built a stock 409/409. I already have a spare set of 690 heads and a 2x4 setup I bought about 2 years ago. I think it would be nice to try to put this back as a standard bore engine (if possible) with the 690 heads and eventually stick it my '62SS, which is undergoing a "stock" restoration. I will break in the 409 stroker in that SS then transplant it into the future build of my '62 BA bubbletop. At least that's the plan for now.
I now Tommy just had a really great experience with Aaron regarding the 1961 409 engine, now I have a similar one with with this '63 QB block. If it were a 1962 date coded block, I'd be wetting my pants, but this will do for now :) This has been a really great Labor Day weekend!
Here are some pics of the parts as they lie in my garage tonight. Notice the '62SS in the background. Hope they feel at home together :) :) :)
Cheers!
TomK
P.S. As if that wasn't enough, he asked me if I wanted to own a pair of valve covers also, I said "sure". He said "buy us another 12 pack and they're yours." I went out and bought a 20 pack, and by the time I returned an AFB carbueretor was added to the pot :) The valve covers were glass beaded and in good condition!
About 6 months ago I found a 1963 QB "814" block with a standard bore. The guy is a local BBC builder, and his niche is in "tractor pulling". He's got some really neat pullers and lots of trophies. All BowTie stuff. When I first contacted him, he wasn't real keen on selling the QB block and parts. We have a good friend in common, one he really respects. Over the months I have "cultivated" a bit of a relationship with this fellow, who is now retired. I think he realized how totally dedicated I was to these engines when I asked him to do the machine work on my 427 crank to fit into my stroker build. He never told me how much it would cost, and he never, not once ever asked me to pay him for the crank work. Most of you know how much effort this is from a machine shop standpoint.
I have tried to get him to tell me for months how much I owe him. The crank is in the block, and still I can't get him to commit. I really felt obligated to him in terms of the debt, and have sought to "square up" with him at least 3 or 4 times. Often I went over there with cash in my pocket, and never would he commit to a price. It got to a point where it was killing me (well, not really, but I hate owing people).
The other day my friend mentioned that Raymond (the machinist) had a dead tree on his property that he needed to remove. It was near his house and his fence and garden, and everything. Real close. And it was a big one! So Friday my friend and I took the day off and went over to Raymond's with the intention of taking that tree down. I've dropped plenty of trees down in my time, but always hate it when it is so close to real property. This one basically hung over his house. So we started Friday morning around 8:00 and it took the whole day and some of Saturday to get her down safely. It meant climbing up the trunk and out the limbs and dropping big limbs before taking the giant tree down by the trunk. And we cut and removed the entire tree log by log and hauled it over to an area where he stores his firewood to heat his shop. He bought lunch and later we had a few beers and talked. Never asked about the 409 stuff, or tried to settle the debt. Just worked hard in the 90 degree heat and got the job done. Later I found out he had the job bid by several pros, and he was not able to afford to have them remove the tree. I felt good to have been able to help him out, as he had really helped me with his machinist skills.
Then today (two days later) I went out to my friend's house only to see Raymond and his wife over there with chainsaws helping my friend clear brush from around his lagoon. So I helped pitch in and we ended up spending the whole day cutting trees and brush. I needed a lot of aspirin after the first gig, but I was even more sore by the end of the day...
My friend doesn't burn wood, so we loaded it all up in our trucks and hauled it over to Raymond's shop to add it to it the already huge pile from 2 days ago. After a few beers, the conversation of course focusing on cars and engines, Raymond asks me if I wanted the 409 stuff. I mentioned that I really wanted to square up with him on the machine bill from months ago, but yes, I was very interested in the block and parts.
He took me over to the old school bus where he kept bunches of parts, and showed me the 409 stuff. 1963 QB "814" block, standard bore, with 340 horse heads from a passenger car and iron intake. Eight pistons and connecting rods, standard bore. Plus the camshaft. Most of the flat metal pieces except for pulleys and such (including oil pan, valve covers, timing chain cover, etc.). All in pretty decent condition, but in need to a good cleaning. He asked me to make him an offer. So I did. It was about what that QB block just went for on Ebay. He said "No, let's do this. I was going to charge you about $750 for the machine work alone, but you can have this stuff AND settle your bill with me for XXX" and made it a price that was several hundred dollars less than what I had originally offered him just for the parts. And he said "Thanks for helping us out with taking the tree down".
So now I am the proud owner and future savior of a 1963 standard bore QB block with lots of other goodies I can use to built a stock 409/409. I already have a spare set of 690 heads and a 2x4 setup I bought about 2 years ago. I think it would be nice to try to put this back as a standard bore engine (if possible) with the 690 heads and eventually stick it my '62SS, which is undergoing a "stock" restoration. I will break in the 409 stroker in that SS then transplant it into the future build of my '62 BA bubbletop. At least that's the plan for now.
I now Tommy just had a really great experience with Aaron regarding the 1961 409 engine, now I have a similar one with with this '63 QB block. If it were a 1962 date coded block, I'd be wetting my pants, but this will do for now :) This has been a really great Labor Day weekend!
Here are some pics of the parts as they lie in my garage tonight. Notice the '62SS in the background. Hope they feel at home together :) :) :)
Cheers!
TomK
P.S. As if that wasn't enough, he asked me if I wanted to own a pair of valve covers also, I said "sure". He said "buy us another 12 pack and they're yours." I went out and bought a 20 pack, and by the time I returned an AFB carbueretor was added to the pot :) The valve covers were glass beaded and in good condition!