desapience
02-24-2006, 08:25 PM
I've been a member since Sept 05, but, this is my intro. I'm a baby boomer, 57, and believe it or not, a dentist for the last 25+ years. Before that, I was a top-notch body and frame and front-end-man, and mechanic. I did my 1st car at age 14 -- a 55 Chevy Belair 2-dr hardtop, with a 265... Went to Vietnam in 68 as a US Army combat mechanic -- trail party machine gunner on convoys. Worked on all type of vehicles, tanks, trucks etc.. Already a very experienced mechanic, I returned to civilian life in 1970, and went on to learn the autobody trade, and was taught by the 'old school -- by what were then older men... lead soldering, pic-and-file... did lots of restorations and clips in my day but, only for others. Went back to school in 1974 part-time, then, full-time in 1976. married with two little kids. Seven solid years of school later I received my doctorate, and went on to specialize in TMD. Got diverted into BMW's, Turbo Porsches.. but, never lost my desire to turn wrenches. In Feb 1999 I decided to get back into streetrodding, and bought a so-so 55 Chevy 2-dr post. I immediately tore it apart -- frame-offed, the works. It was powered by an all-out 327 -- lots of billet, chrome... looked top-line. Got tired of the "small-block" and went on to build and install a 454 (468) roller-motor... awesome power, semi-show car. I decided to bring it all up a notch, showcar-wise, and while into it, started reading up on the ole' 409's, and luckily for me, came across a well-preserved 64 hi-perf 409... Researched it thoroughly, and 18 months later, won two awards at the 2006 Super Chevy Show here -- best modified tri-5 and best overall tri-5. I was 'hooked' on the 09's from day one! I found this site along the way -- good info. I recently started planning my next project: call it my swansong to hotrodding. I've gathered-up another 09, that will eventually sport CRW's new heads, intake -- I plan to supercharge this baby, stroking it with a 454 crank, splayed 4-bolt mains, etc. It will go into either a 55 Nomad or a 1940 Ford Coupe, and will be built for show, but not a trailer queen -- I do drive them! I have two sons.. each eventually will be willed a car, one gets the 55 Chevy, the other gets the new project. I plan things out meticulously, the nature of my profession, I guess. I will be sharing info and seeking it out here...lots of dedicated guys on here, making things happen, and I want to be a part of it. My name is Denis. :cheers