But near the end of a long winter, a spirit of doubt freed from the melting ice blew like a chill breeze through a crack into Denny’s garage. And when he broke bread with his faithful wife, Brenda, that noon, words of doubt flowed from his mouth.
“The Hot Rod Gods,” he said, “have let me down.”
When the faithful Brenda suggested his faith might yet be rewarded, Denny’s reply was seasoned with taste of bitter herbs: “It ain’t gonna happen.”
Two used small block Chevy engines he had hoped to transfigure into one had failed, for in the wisdom of the gods, their time had come. (“Metal to metal, scrap to scrap.” — NAPA 1:11).
His faith shaken, Denny began to seek answers in the world of men. He first sought help from Little Man, then Sam. Finally did he seek out Curly, a faithful man who knew at once his friend needed more than mere mechanical restoration. (“Men do not live by engines alone.” — Jeg’s 3:22.)
In a dark corner of Curly’s ark-like barn — a barn which holds two of everything created BE (Before E-Check) — was the engine that would fill the bill.
Its wider valves would breathe more air and fuel into the pistons. Its roller rocker arms would reduce friction and increase horsepower. Its gear drive would deliver direct power more steady than from a chain.
And Curly knew that in restoring it, Denny would also restore himself.
Inspired by the Hot Rod Gods, Curly blessed Denny with the engine at a rock bottom price — a financial faith sacrifice akin to a traditional tithe.
His faith restored, Denny showed his thanks and celebrated in the spirit of abundance with an offering of higher compression pistons — pistons that Bruce ordered and Tommy prepared so quickly that their rare Friday afternoon delivery was like manna from heaven.
Thus blessed again by the Hot Rod Gods, a hot flush of shame did cross Denny’s face.
“You didn’t abandon me,” he said aloud to the Gods, although his dog Cooper also overheard him. “You were just leading me to the place I need to go.”
And because the Gods threw in 75 horsepower above what the engines he had sought to transfigure would have produced, their faithful servant could go wherever he wanted to go more quickly.
“I should have had more faith,” Denny said.
And his faithful wife spoke the words of so many wise women: “I told you so.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0368.
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