[The Boss]

So we got the story on how the car came to be owned......do we have the story on how the car came to be?

[Aluminum Chief]

Thanks guys, I still can`t believe I have this car in my garage, it was worth the 30+ hours of driving { that`s easy to say now I`ve had a week to recuperate } Best self bought Christmas present ever! I spoke to the high school friend of Tom the previous owner that passed away. He said they went to buy the car in 1983 and remembered going with Tom to by the engine in pieces in 1985 for 5k from Dick Mettle {does anyone know this guy I would like to contact him } He said they didn't know exactly what the block was but knew it was special. He said they thought it was some type of Super Duty block. Tom had the engine machined and assembled and installed it in the Judge shortly after purchasing it. He then had the car repainted after that. The car is from St Louis and never left that general area until now. I plan on driving it and enjoying a running Ram VI in a 69 Judge. I have a correct carb that will be installed soon and also have a correct TI distributor but due to the sleeve issue I will most likely leave the 73 Unitized dist in for now. I need correct pulleys if anyone has them for sale. I made a mistake about the number of VI blocks I know of, I know of 2 others, the one in Nunzi`s 65 Goat and the one I have pics of from a guy in Georgia from over 10 years ago. I spoke with him recently and he said he traded the VI block and a almost complete Ram V engine for a 74 SD T/A. Thanks KC

[74SDformula]

Congratulations on your purchase. I thought your car might have the block/heads that Don M. in Georgia had. However that is not the case. I still can't believe I didn't take a picture of Don's block when he showed up at the BOP show with it in the back of his vehicle. It was something I have never seen before. Don did say he made a trade with Greg T. toward that SD TA. Wonder what Greg did with these components? Once again, great score.

[Aluminum Chief]

I did not know Greg was the guy Don traded the engines to, I purchased Ram V heads, intake and the aluminum V block from Gregg back in 09, I wonder if any of the stuff I got from Gregg is from Don, I`ll have to give Don a call.Thanks KC

[GOAT WHORE]

Wow, $5,000 for the engine in pieces back in 1985! I bought my first Goat in 86 for $3000 and I believe I paid too much Man, $5K in 85, that's a ton of dough and that didn't even really realize what they were getting.
This story is way too cool and I can't get enough!

[GOAT WHORE]

Originally Posted by 68pongto

Some pics before the rattle can rebuild. Unfortunately I was just the money man, not the negotiator. The 2 goats and garage full of parts went for 25k. I'll be kicking myself for a long time!

Attachment 384092Attachment 384093Attachment 384094

Kick yourself? I would need to be on suicide watch

[Aluminum Chief]

A few pics of it now.

[OCMDGTO]

AWESOME CAR!! Nice to see it being driven & enjoyed!

[The Boss]

Well bought! Thanks for the background story too!

[Uncle Judge]

Originally Posted by Aluminum Chief

A few pics of it now.

That car at the gas pump will be a familair scene.

I just hope that you can get some capable fuel in your part of the country. Great score Kenny! Glad it went to a good guy too. Merry Christmas!

[2002Z4CSS]

Congrats on that nice find!

[brut4s]

Wow! just Wow... so cool! Congrats on the deal great story!

[geogolfx]

Originally Posted by Aluminum Chief

After numerous e-mails phone calls and pics without raising too much suspicion I was almost certain this block was something special, we all knew the top end was V stuff but the big gamble was the bottom end. The transfer lug in the back of the block usually means it`s a large journal block. The 545 casting number by the oil filter housing is not your typical 69 Ram III or IV casting but is in order with other V numbers. The large number 3 and 1096 by the distributor is something I have only seen on High nickel 428 splayed main cap 428 Ram Air VI blocks. The problem as we all know is the engine was together in the car running so the splayed 4 bolt caps the extra reinforcing in the lifter and main`s area could not be seen for confirmation even the large distributor hole could not be seen. So I took the gamble and pulled the trigger at 49K drove right out to St Louis negotiated the price down to 47K due to numerous fit and finish items and could not wait to get it home and pull out the distributor. The distributor will not come out, it can only be lifted up approx. 1/4" but that was enough to see the sleeve in the block they used to install a 73 Unitized Dist. the pin must have come off that holds the sleeve onto the dist. so now the sleeve is stuck in the block and will not allow the large dist gear to pass by. Check out Wallace racing online under Arnie`s Stash and you will see the same 1096 and the 3 by the dist. Look on page 219 of Pete`s book and the block in this Judge was cast on the same day 6/30/69 as the one in Pete`s book. Looks like my gamble paid off. I know of only one other of these blocks anyone know of others? Check out the pics I will post more if requested. Thanks KC

LOVE the car.... and the story. I'd love the combo with a plain RAIII. Well bought !

[Aluminum Chief]

Thanks Guys, Hopefully I`ll have it at Performance Years Open House and Norwalk.

[muscle_collector]

ill refer back to post #7 and post #8. I second my post #7

[68pongto]

Originally Posted by Aluminum Chief

: He said they went to buy the car in 1983 and remembered going with Tom to by the engine in pieces in 1985 for 5k from Dick Mettle {does anyone know this guy I would like to contact him }

I believe who you are looking for is Vic (Victor) Nettle, not Dick Mettle. Vic is still around in the St. Louis area. I don't know how to contact him and he is not on the best of terms with the Gateway GTO chapter. Search the internet and you may find some contact info.

[Aluminum Chief]

Yes, Tom S. from the GTOAA told me that recently also. Thanks KC

[Ron Landis]

Originally Posted by 68pongto

Some pics before the rattle can rebuild. Unfortunately I was just the money man, not the negotiator. The 2 goats and garage full of parts went for 25k. I'll be kicking myself for a long time!

Attachment 384092Attachment 384093Attachment 384094

and I thought only Greg found those deals!

[68pongto]

Note to self; do not let friend who is into 65's negotiate deal on 69's!

[The Boss]

Originally Posted by 68pongto

Note to self; do not let friend who is into 65's negotiate deal on 69's!

Too late!