New lifters on a used cam

Two test drives stand out in my mind...

I worked for Dodge City in Milwaukee from early '69 until late '70 after finishing GM Trade School...yes THAT GM. I did A/C full time and front end work Wednesday nights. We put every car on the front end rack to check the factory's work... then we test drove it.

I had a Six Pack Super Bee on the rack one night and took it out on the freeway for a test drive...threee miles north and back. I had the hammer down in the left lane on my way back... pulled into my spot in the shop and was diddling around with something when the 'Boss' came over to me and casually mentioned that when I'm test driving at 120 mph it might be best to look for our dealer plates on the cars we pass... he was in a car with a customer when I blew by them...oops!

I was working at Holz Motors in Hales Corners doing new car set-up. My two stalls were right near the back or the shop and one day I spotted the car hauler coming into the back lot to unload. I saw a dark green Camaro with white racing stripes and knew it had to be one of the new Z-28's that were going on sale soon.

After that load of cars was checked in a salesman gave me the keys and told be to do that green Camaro first... the customer was coming in to take delivery today.

I did the set-up and while I was finishing my buddy from across the aisle came over to look at the car. I was all excited about that little 302 but he just laughed... he challenged me to race. He was just finsihing up a clutch job on a '66 SS 396-360 horse Chevelle.

We left the shop a few minutes apart and went to the county road where we did our 'road tests' which was about 1/4 mile from the shop. He beat me after 80 mph and we both went back laughing and grinning... I found the salesman and his customer waiting for me to get back. They both heard the tire squealing and the RPM's from both cars... this turned out to be the FIRST Z--28 off the truck in WI and the guy was going to haul it home on a trailer and keep it for an investment. HE wanted to be the only guy to drive it if he ever drove it!

Needless to say I never got near another fast 4 speed car again... it was back to four door Biscaynes and six cylinder pick-ups for me from then on...