Writer & Car Enthusiast
Gabriel Decker
Car Stories: Sharing stories of our passion
"It is a rare young man who isn't interested in cars, and it is not hard to get a club started...Actually building your own car is but the beginning (Edmonds)." Today the statement includes just as many women as it does men. Hot rodding, custom cars, restomods, and their owners convey a message of who these owners are. People have a love for metal, paint, and lots of chrome. The desire can start at home, or by seeing a car cruising down the Interstate. Desire is on part of the equation. Each person builds their message of who they are when the car hits the driveway, and they pick up their tools.
Marvin
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Marvin is a 1973 Corvette Stingray that I recently purchased. Luckily, my wife saw the need in my eyes and I used our son's desires to own a Corvette too. Tracy let me purchase the car knowing it did not have an engine. Within a week of getting the car home, I had a 350 crate motor in the garage to be prepped, cleaned, and painted. This was September 2014.
I have found people that are willing to help me put Marvin back on the road, not for their benefit, but just to help another old car guy out. The other day a man I met working at the auto parts store stopped me just to ask how the Vette was coming along. My son's friend who owns a Vette contacted me about helping get it on the road for the Hot Springs Corvette show coming up in a week. Because of this car I have made new friends, found forums for Corvette enthusiasts, and enjoy the new friends I have met along the way.
This page is designed for not only me to share my stories of cars I have, but to encourage others to tell me their stories too. Information can be emailed to me, or click on the blog page to send messages directly to the blog. Either way, I will get them posted and we can share our stories, both good and bad, about the cars we love to hate and hate to love.
The Engine
​After 3 months of cleaning, painting, repainting, detailing, buying accent pieces, and staying focused on the little details, the engine is complete. Januarary 5th the engine was placed in the car.
The engine did not go easy, Corvettes are known for long noses, and high fenders. Cherry Pickers are rigid and engines are heavy. We had to go in from the passenger side of the car to get the engine to sit on the mounts. Pushing, pulling, tugging, jerking, and some prayers later the engine slid into place and mated with the transmission. It was dark, we were cold, but found a new energy once it was mated with the tranny!