RIP Gerry.
When I started in this crazy 348-409 Chevy hobby I meet Gerry at my sons home in Dearborn, MI, it just so happens that Gerry lived on the same street. P
It was some years after I purchased my 62 Chevy conv 409 and I drove it to a birthday party at my sons, that I meet Gerry when he was driving by. He stopped just to look at my 100 ft looker. After talking with him some, he invited me and my son, to come over to his place at a latter date. I had no idea that he was A connoisseur of the 348 409.
When we came to his place and looked in his garage and saw 2-race cars & his suburban W powered tow truck, I know I was talking a TRUE, W powered person.
Over the years of meeting him on and off and talking shop, we became friends. During our Conversations he said at one time he had 12 W engines at one time setting in his garage. After a some years he sold off one of the race cars, keeping the nostalgia drag 61.
About 10 years ago my 62 was acting up, broke one of my number eight valve lifters. I thought it was time to rebuild the Chevy from he ground up. So after finding the metal shop to do the body work and an painter, off we went.
At the same time I stopped over to Gerry’s to visit and he asked why he hasn’t seen the 62 lately. I told him I was doing a body & paint refreshing. He said that would be the right time to refresh the engine at the same time, wasn’t even thinking about that, $$$$$. But after the Conversation about it, we Decided that was the best time to refresh the engine. After talking to him about where is the the best shop in town. He said he could do it if I would do all the running around for parts. So we set a price for his services and what kind of engine I was looking for. So off we went p. When ever he needed parts or machine work he’d call and off I went. About 7 months later, he called and said come over to hear your 409. All I can say is WOW.
unfortunately my son had to move out of state and I haven’t talked to Gerry since as much as I should have.
RIP, friend I will never forget our Conversations.
Dave Krueger (ROYALOAK62)