69 Z/28 Day II Project (Air Force Brat)

[NorCam]

I had a little text session with the original owner earlier today. I asked him the following questions and here is how he answered them;

Paul, did you happen to keep the blue warranty booklet with the metal protect-o-plate that was attached to the inside of it?

Answer: Sorry Graeme. All that stuff was in the glove box when it was traded.

I'm also wondering if you knew who the second owner was? I am curious if that 302 was ever saved when it was pulled out?

Answer: I can't recall the name but he worked for the maintenance dept. of Haltom City, Texas in 74 to 75 while I was working there as a Police Officer. That's when he told me that he blew up the motor and put in the 327. The next time we talked he told me he wrecked the car and it was totaled? The car was in pristine condition when I traded it in. I got a little pissed at him for being so irresponsible and I never talked to him again. When I traded it, the car had 456 Zoom Gears, a 4500lb Zoom Clutch, Hooker Headers, and Lakewood Lift Bars.

Paul went on to say...About 1972 my wife came home from work one day and the motor was missing. (Broken Valve Spring) I pulled the head to check the cylinder and it was OK, so I then decided to pull the motor and go through it. The motor was then totally blueprinted. My wife continued to drive it to work every day and we would bracket race the car on weekends. It was in top shape when we traded it in 74!

Wow! Sounds like you really had some fun with it back then. Do you recall ET's with the car?

Answer: Stock 14:30's about 93 mph. After the rebuild with gears and headers 12:80 at about 118 to 120 mph. That was shifting into 4th gear just before the traps at 7000 rpm. I really needed 513 gears but that was a little much for the street. My wife had to get used to it, she thought it needed another gear!

I then sent Paul a picture of the balanced and blueprinted small block that's going into the car when the body is finished up and painted this off season. The response was quick!

Paul's reply: Beautiful. I want to drive it. Maybe I'll take a trip to Calgary when you get it done. Further conversation ensued and he was invited up to visit when it's finished. He said he'll be putting it on his bucket list!