So I am outside in the back of the shop shooting the breeze with my neighbour. Ive know him for about 12 years. He builds 9 sec. VW motors. Very well know in the VW drag racing world.
We start taking about the olds because he see it sitting in the shop. He say's do you know a guy name Joe Mondello. I said I know who he is very well known Old's engine builder. He say's " I used to work for him for many years. he taught everything I know about heads and air flow. I lived and work in California up untill he moved to (I think he said) Tennesse"
So now Iam all ear and start asking a bunch of questions and he eagerly tells me a bunch of engine building stuff about Olds motors. He says he hasn't built an olds motor in about 15 years. Sticks with VW stuff now. He has an awsome shop for making crazy heads and intake manifolds for VW engines.
Now I am thinking WOW I could have him build me a "Mondello" motor right in my shop.
Second I am thinking what a small world it is. An olds guy living 2 doors down and after all these years seeing me and my Olds why he didn't mention it before. I mean not once in 12 years, odd.
Anyways, kind of a cool story I thought I would share. Now I need to figure how to use all his Olds motor info he has. Hmmmm

Mike

 

Are you serious??? That is a cool story. So the big question is, would you let him work on your car?

I can hardly wait to move out there!!! Sounds like there's a lot of classic and performance guys out there compared to the prairies. Surrey or Langley close enough??

 

Dude, Allan are you moving to Vancouver? I went there when I was a kid...I loved it! I swore I'd always make it back, if you're out there I think I might have that extra motivation to go.

 

Just not in the winter!

 

I'll swing by and pick you up...we'll go next summer

BTW, I'll be in Grapevine on Aug. 6-10...I wish we could get a DFW crew together for dinner one night...that'd be cool to meet you guys in person!

 

That's the plan. Just gotta get my son through college here first. So in about 2 years we'll be house hunting out there and put this one up for sale. Now HOW IN THE WORLD am I gonna get the Olds out there? WHO would be willing to drive it that far???? My wife won't, my son isn't allowed to; Oh heck I might as well sell it and start a new project out there... Oh look, a flying pig.....


You're always welcome for a visit! So is de rest of de crew even if its winter!

 

Allan, he would work on the car if I asked. The 403 is brand new rebuild so missed the chance to get some input. I do all my other work.
Now as for winter in Vancouver. You got more snow in Texas than Vancouver did. We had two days of snow. Then above freezing most of the winter. Been like that pattern for about 7-years. However we did have "fall" for about 8 month! 40-60 constantly. And LOT'S rain. But that what happens when you live in a rain forest.

Allan when you come out look me up I can show you the hood. Langley is very nice. Some rural and some city all with in a few miles. Houses are actually affordable out there. Vancouver average house price is $800,000.00. I would be very happy to fly out to your place and drive your car back to Vancouver for you. No Charge!

Mike

 

Hey Mike - that's a darned nice offer. Last year we were in Van (actually Surrey close to White Rock) visiting. Went looking at a lot of real estate while we were there to get some ideas of the pricing. I don't think we'll be looking for the 800K range. There were some nice places in Fort Langely that were only 1.2Million...right next to the Fraser. Wanted to see what that $$$ was really worth. Nice, but the only thing that was a real draw was the waterfront property. Wonder if any of them got flooding this year with all the rain?

We're looking for mostly a 1200 sq/ft bungalow (no more stairs!!) with a good size yard and room to build a good size 3 car garage. Might have to do some hunting for that; I only want to spend around 450K max. Might mean buying an older house and renovating? I know how to swing a hammer and other tools. I noticed that a lot of the properties have 'renter' suites. Don't really want that.

You can count on me looking you up. If I'm out there anytime earlier I'll get in touch with you and a few others so we can link up and yak! You have a 403? There's a few of them here in the boneyard in Toros? Need anything from them?

Crap! It was so nice about 2 hours ago. The clouds have rolled in and the boomers are starting. Time for our daily rainstorm. See? I'm already getting used to the West Coast weather!