[Dan Bennett]

This brings back memories of too much too soon. In 1996 through conversations I had with Jere Stahl, the pro stock team I was working with decided to go this route.

The only person we could find that was even slightly interested was a wheel maker (of all people) who had just bought a 5 axis and was willing to try but not sure if it could be done. "I need to make chips 24/7" was what was his motivation.

The plan was to digitize the best port(s) on the best handground heads we had and use that as the program for all ports on a new head. The plan failed because the inhouse engine builder was very protective of his position and status and threw wrenches into the plan anytime he could.

And looking back along with knowing what we now know, that plan was probably flawed. I have the impression that even with the most precise standarization that could be done, different cylinders are going to want different things.

So many things have changed for the better. I can't tell you how many times both the head builder and the manifold constructor would say variations of "I wasn't in the mood" or "I just haven't been feeling it" when contacted about long delays in delivery of what they'd already been paid for.