Steve (and others on this site),  Just want to say ditto to Tim's reply.  We did have fun, didn't we.  By the way, when I go into the shop and flip the switches, I have to put my sunglasses on.  So, thanks to you too Steve, and you are welcome back anytime.  By the way, I love your truck.  That Y sounds so sweet in there and looks awesome.  I know others will ask questions every time you raise the hood.

Charlie Burns Laton, Ca (South of Fresno)



BurnsRacing981@gmail.com

Thanks for the kind words Steve.  It was great getting to know you too, as has been my experience with everyone from this site that I have met face to face.  Great bunch of guys!

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

I am really happy with the new motor Tim McMaster built,got it dialed in now with a re-jetting for the Demon Jr. as per the current thread in the Technical section. So,this is how a real Y-Block's supposed to run! Last thing to do is have a friend check out the MSD distributor on Monday.

I really owe a debt of gratitude to Tim -and to Charlie Burns.Tim graciously and patiently put up with all my inexperience and set me straight numerous times when I would have made bad decisions. He is a great engine builder - and a nice guy,to boot.

As to Charlie,he put me up for five days,and he and his better half showed me the utmost in hospitality.He allowed me to leave my truck at his ranch while I worked overseas earlier this year.I mostly did the unskilled work of cleaning/painting/parts-swapping,and tried to earn my keep by doing a little electrical work.Meanwhile,Charlie and Tim were also getting Charlies race truck ready for El Mirage.For me,the extended weekend was great fun,and I really appreciate all these two have done for me.Thank you,gentlemen!

Man Steve's got to be stoked! You know he's been building that motor in his head for a few years and its finally in his truck! Tim, I'm sure you won't put this on youtube Steve if you read this give me call sometime, -4speed

1959 and 1960 f-100sAkron OH

Steve glad you are home and will finally get to burn some rubber.  Not sure why but it looks to me like Tim is the only one dressed for working.  

Warsaw, IN

Well now Steve is home and this last weekend he drove his F250 down to Charlies and we all went to work installing his new engine. After a few unforseen problems with parts purchased over the phone from half way around the world we finally got it running yesterday. I think he is going to be happy driving his truck back home tomorrow.  I want to thank Charlie for letting us use his place for the change while he was trying to get his truck back together, I think it all worked out, I know I had fun. 

Goober says hey!

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

I know that I've no concept of what real heat is over here,since the worst of it will come from July-September,but to me 110 is hot.It's been averaging around that for the past ten days.When I foolishly complain,the old hands smile and say "Just wait".During those months it will be around 120 every day and won't cool off much at night.Right now,in my tent,it's about 80,though the A/C is set at 60.I'm really hoping to get into my own CHU(Containerized Housing Unit)by then.It's like a small Conex,or shipping container,but well insulated.
Three things are helping me bear up under the heat:getting as close to eight hours sleep per night as possible,eating right,and drinking now about six liters water per day.I have to drive around the base in a truck that has windows that won't roll down.In California,they arrest you if you do that to a pet,but it's apparently not a problem here.No lingering in my vehicle,I get to my next job as soon as possible.One of my minor,sort of perverse pleasures, is to turn my passenger-side windshield squirter at a 90 degree angle, to soak people as I drive by.I can't help myself.There's always a victim in comedy.
I'm nearly within a month of my first R&R.I hope to spend time sitting and staring at Lake Tahoe,just looking at Blues and Greens,instead of browns and even dirtier browns.They say you can tell how far a person is from their R & R,by their attitude,and I guess mine's not the best now.I still have the same goals,care about my actual work as much as ever,but have grown very impatient with the bureaucracy,red-tape,and,well,plain old B.S.,involved in working under these conditions.Pardon my French.The things which should be important,aren't,while the things that are truly just minor details ,are magnified way beyond their importance.I've never been one to suffer fools lightly,even if I am one myself.
Well,I do apologize for the overall negative tone of this update.It is what it is.I am really looking forward to seeing as many family members and friends as possible during my upcoming break.I just inspected 30 living quarters this morning, and have about 4 hours of paperwork to complete.That's what I'll be doing for the next 22 days.

Cheerfully Yours,
Steve from Baghdad.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

Here is the latest letter from Steve.

It's heating up here now,100 plus degrees for the last week,one day reaching 43 Celsius,or 109.4 Fahrenheit.I'm taking my lunch-a nice cold salad-in the cool of my tent.I just came from the Necessary Room.You know those usually repulsive plastic buildings we try to avoid.But not here.As I was taking care of business,a large diesel truck loudly plowed through the gravel to within feet of where I sat,and after a tug at the locked door of my little hiding spot,immediately proceeded to suck dry the adjacent unit,sanitize it from top to bottom,refill the paper holders,and waited patiently for me to finish up.And they repeat the procedure throughout the camp hundreds of times each day.There are very few real bathrooms,but Porta-Potties dot the landscape,usually in close proximity to the huge pallets of bottled water we all drink here.But these are so clean not even the most squeamish could protest,as each one is cleaned in a like manner at least a dozen times
per day.They really are cleaner than most peoples home bathrooms at any given time,and normally still wet from the most recent cleaning,and normally having full rolls of paper.I know some ladies may beg to differ,but that's my story and I'm sticking with it.Not literally.
Water is your Buddy.We're supposed to be drinking about 6 of the 1 liter bottle per day at this heat level,and by the hottest part of the year when the temperatures are in the 115-120 degree range every day,we're supposed to be drinking 10 to 12 bottles.Every third or fourth bottle needs to have a packet of Gatorade added.This water is too pure,having absolutely no mineral content,thanks to reverse osmosis,thus the need for adding electrolytes.It's made at a plant nearby,costs a lot to produce,strips your body of minerals at the quantity we're supposed to be drinking it,thus can cause kidney problems -stones I think.It goes right through you.
It's been about ten days since I began composing this update,Ive been very busy replacing failed circuit breakers,burnt air conditioner outlets,etc.,with our first warm spell.We hit a stretch of more than a week where temperatures exceeded 115 degrees,once hitting 121.Still,it's a dry heat,and it is cooling down at night,and if you get enough sleep and eat right,this is bearable.When July/August rolls around,it will be 120 every day,and won't cool down much at night.They say your skin feels on fire just walking out into it.Oh Joy!
Tammy recently sent me some great Pete's coffee,which is much better than what I can get here.Some of you are no doubt familiar with my, shall I say,extreme enjoyment(addiction) to good coffee.It all began during eighth grade,in the winter-time,walking to school through the cold and snow.Five miles,up-hill,each way,I swear it.I would arrive half frozen,and sneak into the teachers lounge,and get a cup of that delicious brew from an automatic vending machine for 10 cents.Now it's twelve dollar a pound Petes,or I roast my own beans.Tammy declined my offer of showing her how to roast so she could mail fresh beans to me weekly.And rightfully so...
What I can't get here,and would love to have,is real cream for my coffee,or at least real half and half.Please don't try to mail it to me. Worst case scenario,I use the powdered creamer.Who really knows what that stuff is.Only slightly better is what is known as long-life milk,which I get at the Defac,or Dining Facility.It tastes strange and unsatisfying on it's own.It's slightly less so when you mix an ounce of it in a fourteen ounce mug of coffee.Three times per morning.Any less than this and I can't shake my morning coma.Long life milk,the beverage that will out-live the cow that gave it.I think the label lists a half-life comparable to spent nuclear fuel.I'm going to work now...Steve,in Baghdad.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

Tim,it's looking beautiful!Steve

More pics of Steves engine. He is trying to get a new Mummert four barrel manifold but till then I have painted the "B" intake and timing cover dull aluminum. Also He bought a "New" set of "Ram Horns" and they look great. They were sent directly to me so I don't know where he bought them.

Also did Dutchys PCV mod.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias