Thread: Checking in

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Mike,
I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis and that you're having to deal with the issues, but after going through a year of "treatments" with my wife's Stage 4 situation, and living the journey I believe that I would be taking the same path that you have chosen. I'll be looking forward to your progress on the Valiant, and seeing a post of your "First Drive" with lots of smoke!!
Take good care, my friend, and thanks for the many years of great posts on CHR!!

Double Post - Damned Software!!

I'll echo Roger's sentiments and add a couple. That diagnosis is a bummer at best.
I would like to say that folks like you are the epitome of hot rodding, if it can't be found or too expensive, make a new one or modify something that already exists.
Sure wish I was closer, all the best to you Mike.

Not good news, but our thoughts and best wishes are with you.

Thank you Mike for including us in the ups and downs of your life, I've valued your posts both on the car stuff and on the adventures with your grandkids. I share your sentiments about forming a cyber family here.

We each face these challenges in life, or will in time, and I've no quibble with your choice to ride out the process rather than go through what can be a frustrating series of treatments. We'll be here to share whatever progress reports you want to post on the Valiant, you're a champ.

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.

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.

401 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.

64 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.

64 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?