Every bolt out. Every bracket catalogued. Every badge checked against the build sheet. Two years on jack stands. Back on the ground where she belongs.
Numbers-matching block and heads. Muncie M21 close-ratio. 12-bolt posi 3.73. No LS conversion. No billet anything. We measured every hole-pattern twice and sourced NOS where it existed — and only repop where it didn't.
The original L78 came out of her at 87,141 miles. Cracked exhaust manifold, tired valve stems, a carb that'd been rebuilt by somebody who didn't love it. We line-bored the block. New cam, new lifters, new rings, new bearings on a factory crank that miked out perfect.
She fired on the third crank. Oil pressure held at 60 psi cold, 45 hot. That's a good engine.
The restoration happened in a 24x30 shop with one lift, a MIG welder, and a wall of Snap-on that took longer to build than the car. Most nights ended at 1am. Most mornings started with a broom and a decision about which drawer the 5/8 socket went back into.
Family helped. Neighbors wandered in to check on progress. Nobody got paid. A few got paid in beer.
But she shows up at cruise-ins, charity drives, and the occasional Sunday morning driveway visit. If you see her out there, come say hi. Tell her she looks good.
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