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Hey Mike sorry to hear the news, you have helped me on my projects and feel like I know you from your posts. I wish you a peacefull journey in the time you have left and hopefully you'll be able to recruit some friends and family members to help with the Valiant project. Steve
I tried PM ing you but your inbox is full, but it won't hurt for others to read thus too .
I'm sorry to hear about your cancer diagnosis, bladder cancer is what took my dad as well. Whenever I see your posts on here I think of how such a good mentor you are to Cade and also how you gave me the manuals for the G John Deere I had. I don't know how to say it right, but in a way it is nice to have some preparation to get your house in order for your loved ones. I truly believe that this world was made by our creator and that he came down here to die for our sins because of his love for us in order to call us his own bring us to him after our work here is finished. I hope this give you peace at this time.
Lost my Dad on 31 December 2022. By May 2023 I had undergone radical surgery for the same thing and learned they didn't get it all. I really hope you get your projects done. Amazing how at this stage of our lives it is comforting to see projects complete. Good luck and Godspeed.
sorry to hear it mike. i've been battling cancer for almost 12 years now. you might want to look into Joe Tippens protocol. https://mycancerstory.rocks . i've been on it a few years now.
all we can do is keep the faith and forge on. good luck.
Mike, I've enjoyed your projects here. Thanks for the entertainment and knowledge sharing. May God Bless You.
Nolan
Best of luck Mike, and thanks for having the guts to share this with us. God Speed buddy.
Steve there were no guts involved in sharing this. I think Uncle Bob best described this site several years ago when he called it a virtual club house. As I mentioned I’ve been coming here for 20+ years and consider the friendships I’ve made here as valuable as the friends I have that I can drive over and see face to face. Just as I decided to let a handful of people who live near me know what is going on I felt it was something I also needed to share here.
Shine thank you for the link to the site……..I’m still working my way thru it. It’s interesting to say the least.
Seth, thank you for your thoughts. It’s funny the men in my family going back to prior to the civil war have all seemed to die of a sudden fatal heart attack or accident. I actually figured that was the way I’d go and I actually always thought that it was a preferable to a lingering disease. The “extra” time has been a blessing. Admittedly there were things that were on the “someday” list that needed to be done that have been taken care of now and that will be a relief for Donna. The nicest thing for me I think is that I can personally pass on some items that are the Grandkids inheritance.
Overall I’m doing OK. It’s funny I’m not really suffering from side effects of the cancer so far (stopping the treatments was probably the best decision I made). What’s bothering me the most is the arthritis is my back. Seems like every couple of days the weather changes here right now. I feel good enough to get maybe a day of work in (OK 3 or 4 hours) then the weather changes and I’m miserable again. I’m thankful for what I can do at least.
Getting old sucks
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With the site going through changes and sometimes it's on and others it's off and then add in computer failures.. well it's been a blessing and a curse. A blessing in that I haven't been able to put into words all the thoughts that I want to say and a curse in a way as one night I typed out a lengthy response and for some unknown reason it just went poof! It was gone and I just stared in anger... turning off the computer and went to bed. In hindsight, it's a good thing as it was too sappy / flowery and just wrong. But in retrospect, I think of the stories you've shared, your family trips, your shop, your grandkids, the builds.. and through it all you were gracious in sharing your life and knowledge. And so for that and more.. Thanks and yes, I call you a friend! One question tho.. why FECUSTOM? a former life story? 8-)
“……I typed out a lengthy response and for some unknown reason it just went poof! It was gone and I just stared in anger.....”
Oh, been there done that. I got into the habit with posts that I know are going to be fairly long (like this one) or with a problematic sites, that I’ll write the post up in a word document (hitting save regularly) and then do a cut and paste to the site.
“…..One question tho.. why FECUSTOM? a former life story? 8-)…..”
Come on Mike, you know better than to give a gabby old man like me an opening like that……..of course there’s a story. :LOL:
It all started with a 61 Thunderbird I owned. The engine was tired and so I decided to build a replacement motor for it. I had a heck of a time finding a buildable 390 block however. I finally found an early 352 block that was sound and I had read a couple of places those blocks were thick enough to take out to past 390 bore size. Well to get the cylinders cleaned up we ended up boring it .110 over size. Threw in a 390 crank and rods and ended up at 401 cubic inches. It’s cooler to say you’ve got a 401 stroker than a .60 over 390 so the 401 was born. During the build I ended up selling the T Bird (figures doesn’t it).
So I had this really neat FE engine sitting on an engine stand collecting dust for several years. It had a Thunder Bird Tri-Power intake (modified for Rochester 2G Carbs) and I’d also found a set of the factory shorty cast iron headers for it.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3a5b159a_z.jpg401 fe by M Patterson, on Flickr
When I was in between projects I decided I should probably find a body for the motor. So I went junk yard shopping to find something that the old FE would fit in without too much effort.
I ended up dragging this old 64 Ford Custom home.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e6592f5d_z.jpg64 1 by M Patterson, on Flickr
It had literally been a little old lady car with an in-line 6 and 3 speed. It had taken a hit in the drivers’ side front corner that took out the bumper, grill, fender and hood. It was rust free and complete other than the body parts which I also found at the wrecking yard, and it had a 9” rear end with 3.50 gears. It was also cheap (big plus)!
Anyway over the next few months I got the car together. The engine swap, C6 Transmission, body panels, disc brake swap etc etc. One last project that I had wanted do was graft a Thunder Bird scoop to the hood…..that never got done but the scoop ended up on the 57 Plymouth.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fc123eec_z.jpg64 running in by M Patterson, on Flickr
I was at the point where the fun part of the build (the mechanicals) was done and it was time to start on the paint and upholstery…….the part I like the least. Anyway the car got put back in the storage shed for a few years and I eventually sold it as it sits in the picture to someone who wanted to finish it up.
So back to the original question. While I was in the middle of the build I joined an FE engine forum. The name Mike P was already taken so I came up with FECUSTOM, which I used on that site and a few other when Mike P was taken.
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Geeze Mike, I don't know what to say other than I hope you don't suffer and you can stay on this planet for as long as you can. I've looked up to you for a long time and have enjoyed your knowledge and advice. I'm very glad to hear you are in a position in which you can relax and focus on some end of life goals. Unfortunately many don't get that so for that I feel you are blessed. Do you plan to go back home this summer or fall?
Thanks Ryan.
As far as making it back, I don't know I've been in Hospice for 3 months now, and so far I'm not noticing anything that can be directly linked to the cancer. My back has been really bad the last couple of months, but a lot of that can be attributed to the degenerative arthritis which gets bad every time the weather changes and it seemed to do that on an every other day basis most of the winter. When I can I end up out in the shop working on the 68. The goal is to get it built and if I fell capable making one last trip back, but who knows.....at least it gives me a goal and beats the hell out of sitting in the house and watching TV for the brain dead. LOL.
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“…..One question tho.. why FECUSTOM? a former life story? 8-)…..”
Come on Mike, you know better than to give a gabby old man like me an opening like that……..of course there’s a story.
HA! There is always a story right? And I just realized it says "Gabby" old man.. I thought it read Crabby, old man... LOL!
Great write-up too. Like you I enjoy the mechanicals best, and the paint / body work least... Did you get to at least take the big car for a ride and see what that 401 could do?
"......Did you get to at least take the big car for a ride and see what that 401 could do?......"
Just yard drove it (a couple of times :3dSMILE:) It was healthy. The cars traded hands a couple of more times since I sold it. Both times to other acquaintances of mine. One sold off the Tri-Power but did do the interior and started on the body work. When I talked to the current owner last he was digging up parts for a 4 speed swap. Oh well maybe some day it will actually end up on the streets again.
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Thought I’d do a quick update. It’s been a little over a year since I was told about the cancer and given 4 months without treatment to survive. It’s been 8 months since I stopped the treatments and went into in home hospice.
As far as the cancer, it’s stage 4 but at this moment in time the effects seem to be minor and the pain is pretty much controlled with the pain meds.
The biggest problem is still the degenerative arthritis in my lower back. I’m fortunate I can still get around with just a cane. With the weather turning colder in the mornings I’m getting a later and later start getting around and it’s pretty painful till the meds kick in. I hate sitting in the chair waiting for the day to start. Zuul doesn’t seem to mind the later starts however.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a920a190_z.jpgZuul by M Patterson, on Flickr
On the bright side, sitting in the house gives me an excuse to keep up with the build book for the Valiant. The progress on the car has slowed significantly but Cade and I still plugging away.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...cb0b68e3a9.jpgZ Build book by M Patterson, on Flickr
I’m also helping Austin with a project he’s working on (it’s pretty much a shop class for this home schooling…...he’s getting pretty good reading a tape measure and doing fractions LOL).
Having watched mom in her later years (she was also afflicted with arthritis) and my brother pass from cancer last year I pretty much know what ahead for me. I really believe I’m doing as well as I am because I haven’t given up. Life right now is pretty damn good and I’m enjoying what I can still do. I’m surrounded by family and friends who I love and who love me.
I’m not writing this for any sympathy, just to let everybody know I’m doing OK and don’t need any. Life is still pretty good and I’m enjoying it.
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Wow Mike glad your still kicking, and doing well enough to enjoy your time and your family. Keep up the good fight, and glad your still with us. Your posts with Cade and Austin have always boosted my moral, seeing folks who pass on their legacy and love of cars and hotrods!
Great update, Mike! I adhere to Clint Eastwood's philosophy on aging, "Don't let the old man in!" Once in he's hard to evict.
Thanks for keeping us involved with your projects!
i'm 12 years out on lung cancer. i am on the joe tipen protocol . so far so good. does it work? hell i dont know but it has 0 side effects. But i am still cancer free.
mycancerstory.rocks
“…..i'm 12 years out on lung cancer…..”
Shine the first time a read that earlier in this thread I was surprised. I’ve watched your projects and the collecting of cars/parts for future projects and have always been impressed. Maybe I just missed the cancer thing if you had posted it earlier, but it did catch me by surprise.
I think in a lot of cases when people get the diagnosis they just give up on life. You and others (I would like to include me in that) tend to make the most of the time and keep going as long as their able. I suspect that’s what you did when you got the news. I’ll admit I’ve slowed down considerably but I think that’s more due to old age and the arthritis. I think keeping going actually lets you go longer.
Keeping the stress low is also a big factor. There’s no such thing as a stress free life so we’re at least used to a certain level of it. After getting the news though, it can be pretty overwhelming worrying about what will happen to the ones we’re leaving. Honestly I went through that panic too. Fortunately, having watched what mom went through and being the executer of her estate I knew what to expect and in reality we had been preparing for this for several years. A couple of the “we’ll get to it someday projects” (preplanning/prepaying funeral, getting VA POCs for Donna, going over the wills ect) got moved to the front burner. The property had been put in a trust to protect it for the Grandkids (and we had passed the 5 year “look back” time). I was able to sell a couple of the cars for what they were worth and between that and the insurance Donna will do OK. Missy and the Grandkids live next door now which I’m sure will make it easier for her. I’m at peace that the family will be OK and that is a big relief.
The only thing I really don’t care for is the weekly visit by the hospice nurse. Don’t get me wrong I like the nurse and she’s very competent, it’s just the weekly reminder of the situation I don’t like…..but hell maybe I need that too. The one bit of advice that both the hospice nurse and my primary care provider at VA gave me that I did disregard was the “at this point you really don’t need to worry about what you eat or how active you are ”. I’ve been on medication for cholesterol and high blood pressure for several years. That I disregarded and still eat “sensibly” and so far my blood work still looks good and I feel reasonably good most of the time.
Anyway I’ve rambled enough enjoy the holiday everyone.
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Mike, I hope folks who read your story and get a sense of your inner strength will learn from it. Since this is Veterans day I'd like to think that the positive attitude you exude is, at least in part, a result of your military experience. The lessons we learned during those sometimes dangerous and stressful times had/have great value.
i remember pop saying we went to war as kids but we came home as men.