lwriddell

bought first rod when I was 12 years old, installed a 57 Olds J-2 w/ slim-jim turbohydramatic,57 Morris Minor w/ MGB racing motor w/ twin Webbers @ 16, 1957 Chevrolet station wagon w/ 348 tri-power@ 17, 1962 Plymouth Sport Fury w/ 361 Torqueflite@ 18 (lost mt left leg when I totaled it), 1962 Plymouth Sport Fury convertible w/ 318 2 4bbl's Torqueflite to replace totaled coupe, 1957 Corvette w/fuel injection, 1957 Chevrolet 2 dr sd w/324 4bbl 4sp custom, 1957 Ford Ranchero 312 T-Bird 4bbl Fordomatic, 1960 T-Bird w427 4bbl C-6 4.10, 1967 Plymouth Sattlite 273 4bbl Torqueflite,1968 Plymouth Roadrunner 383 4bbl Torqueflight, 1969 Plymouth Sport Fury 383 4bbl Torqueflight, 1965 Plymouth Barracuda Fastback 273 4bbl Torqueflight, 1966 Ford Galaxy XL convt 427 2 4bbl C-6, 1970 Plymouth Duster 340 4bbl Torqueflight, 1963 Corvette Split window 327 4bbl TH350, 1964 thru 1978 Corvettes 350 4bbl's TH350/TH400, 1970 thru 1976 Lincoln MK's 430/460 C-6, A100 COE Dodge conversion van 413 4bbl Torqueflight, 1970 thru 1978 Chevrolet c20 PU's 350 4bbl TH350/TH400's, 1980 Pontiac Firebird 400 4bbl TH400, 1989 Dodge conversion van 360 FI Torqueflight, 1987 Buick Rivera 3.8 T-Type turbo SS Baritz Top.
I never had a car that I did'nt modify.
I bought my first service station @ 18 while in the hospital recouperating from losing my leg ( 15days in the hospital )
I bought the second service station a couple of months later.
I worked for General Electric for 3 years, first as a tool maker trainee, then as a quailty control inspector.
I sold speed equipment for a warehouse in upstate NY.
I owned a NAPA and Tru Value store, a commerical and residental construction business, and worked as a commerical construction supervisor/project manager, managed an excavating company.
I hurt my back in 1989, worked until 2000, retired due to several unsucsfull operations.
I have 2 daughters, who love their cars and 2 sons 14 & 17 who help me on my current projects. The boys keep me going, teaching them how to think, figure out how things are supposed to work, how to fix, repair, and saftely modify. Teaching them welding and body work has been very rewarding. Cruise-in's are a good place to show them right vs wrong!