30 years ago, there was a chick that I bowled with, on friday nights.  She complained that she was tired of putting any more money into her 1973 GS and she was being told that it now was in need of a cam and lifters.  She had been taking her car to the same hack for years.  He was probably the reason that the Cam had worn out, if she was getting the truth, which I doubted.  She was constantly complaining about a lack of power and, after checking the engine, a base 350 2 Barrel churning out 180 HP if running correctly and, it wasn't.  I asked her how she felt about an engine upgrade, due to the fact that even with the stock engine running well, she still wouldn't have the power that she wanted.  She loved the car but just didn't trust the people she had been dealing with.  I told her that I would be happy to do what I could, if she wanted the upgrade.  I told her that it would probably cost a couple of thousand dollars but, she was willing to do it any way.  I found a 1970 deuce and a quarter, with a 455 at 10:1 compression, in a salvage yard that was known for keeping old cars and was able to purchase to whole car for $800 dollars.  Long story short . . . . . complete overhaul with a "trailer towing" camshaft, swapping over the radiator, front springs, transmission and various other peripherals, she got her car back, with 1970, high compression performance and torque, she had MORE than twice the available power, with stock manifolds and exhaust, dual, of course.  The day after delivery, I get a phone call and she tells me that people are still passing her on "the hill" on Route 1.  I told her to bring the car around and let me check to see what I fouled up.  Drove it, no problem.  Asked her to show me what the problem was and we proceeded to head for Route 1.  Sure enough, every single car on the road was passing us but, I HAD to ask her why she was letting them!   Turns out she expected the car to know what she wanted, like a husband.  I told her to step on the gas, for christ's sake!  By the time that we reached the top of the hill, I told her to look at the speedometer.  Her 1973 speedometer "only" went to 120 and we really didn't know how fast we were going.  I should mention, the car DIDN'T have a trailer towing rear, it was a "turnpiker" at about 2.58, if I recall correctly.  Never had a complaint again.   Never did get paid for the work.  Lesson learned. ... View more