History the story of the olds 324 engine and the really nice guy on hamb....

hello guys ..
hope you are free , because it will take many time to read ....
i'll try to tell you the story about a little french guy and a real good guy on hamb...
please be nice with my poor english , i hate translator , i learned english in college 35 years ago , but never used it ...
here we go :
the little french guy it's me : eric 50 years old i have a 1956 oldsmobile 98 since 4 years . this one came from florida...
the nice guy : PAUL55 on hamb ...from michigan...
i'm perhaps wrong , he is not a nice guy .. this man is a real good guy , and you will know why if you read all....
when i purchased this car , the engine seems good , just a little bit hard to firing when hot,but i fixed it with rebuilt all ignition parts...
i drived it every week end while 2 years , but now the engine eat a lot of oil , and the gearbox don't put the 4th gear..
here in france , mechanics don't know old us v8 engines , so i wanted to buy a good engine from usa..
searched everywhere , finded a "professionnal" engine builder , but i didn't trust him ,
too many bad advises about him...
a good friend of mine who has 4 1950' chevy + a 1934 hot rod tell me to search on a us forum to find the engine i wanted..
so, i googgled " oldsmobile forum " and finded the lovely HAMB forum i didn't know before...
writed "oldsmobile "on parts for sale research and finded this one :
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...plete-324-oldsmobile-engine-030-over.1077078/
that's exactly what i wanted...
texted the seller, and he said : yes it's still avaible , and yes i can put it in a crate for shipping to france..
at this time , i didn't had enough money to buy this engine +cost shipping+ taxes ..
i asked the guy if i buy engine without all small parts like starter , generator , fuel pump , etc ...he will be able to lower the price...
and he said : yes i can do that for you..
that's too bad i can't buy the full package , so i selled one of my pinball to have enough money to buy the complete engine...
PAUL was really patient with me and answered all questions i asked..
he said : i know it's difficult for you european buyers to find us parts and i can help you if you want..
pinball was selled , and i had enough money to buy this great engine.
i also wanted a new gearbox; and finded one in oregon.
paul helped me again , he putted the gearbox next to him for a complet rebuilt..
i asked him to find more parts like new radiator hoses , new oil pressure switch , new
thermostat housing, and hi finded all i wanted ... cheap...
i wanted a brand new carb, finded one on ebay...
Paul helped me again with this carb , he see some damages on it i didn't see...
he finded a good one for me cheaper than ebay....
at this time , gearbox from oregon needed a complete rebuilt, torus drive was really in bad condition , Paul helped me again to find a new torus drive , thanks paul ....
i buyed an intake manifold and ship it at his home..
PAUL painted it same color as engine for free.. thanks paul...
PAUL asked me for the waccum linkage.
he built brand new waccum line for free..thanks PAUL...
we texted over 200 messages since 4 last months...about the engine and trans....
hope you understand whithout this guy i can't do all he does for me ...
it was a big pain in the ass to do bank transfer from france to usa..
paul was a nice guy again , and he waited a long time i find the solution for payement...
thanks paul...
the good guy from michigan sended me a lot of pics of the engine ..
i finded a french company to ship the engine and trans in france..
unfortenatly ,this company is in california..
Paul shipped the crate in california for me ..
thanks paul ...
i want everybody to know PAUL is a nice guy , he helped me everyday with my project..
paul's father helped us to find the right carb i need , thanks ...
a pic of the engine :


gearbox :



Paul i reconize you as a friend now...
you worked hard to save my car..
like i said before , be sure i think of him everytime i'll drive my car with this engine on it ..
the end of this story ...
The little french guy with his poor english , and the nice guy from michigan will stay in touch for a long time...
hope you like this story, it was important for me you all know how it's difficult for us french guys to play with your old us cars , and wanted everybody know how PAUL is a good guy....
Thanks again Paul , thanks HAMB ......

 

Ooo La La!!!

 

Viva la Paul!

 

Heartwarming story! Thanks for sharing and kudos for Paul!

Ray

 

Outstanding story and well written.

@paul55

Come on down and take a bow!

 

Congrats on getting what you were looking for alot of good people still left on this earth great job Paul

Sent from my SM-G930V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Love this story, thank you Paul for helping this fella!!

 

It’s one thing to help a neighbor but it is quite a different thing when it is someone thousands of miles away. Guys like Paul renew my faith in humanity. And let’s not forget Paul’s father, he got involved too, well played guys!

 

That is a great story! I also have a old car friend in France. I originally met him when he bought one of my knobs and then one thing led to another and I help him find the parts he needs and he sometimes has purchases shipped to me and I re-ship them to France. He lives in Alsace. He does not speak English and I don’t speak French, but we discovered we both speak German, although it is not a first language for either of us. It makes for some interesting conversations. You sent us the Marquis de Lafayette, so we must help you Frenchmen keep your old cars running. It is the least we can do.


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

Eric, thank you for the kind words! Been a pleasure working with and getting to know you!

 

You went above and beyond, sir!

 

Amazing story , thanks for sharing. Great work Paul helping a fellow gear head keep a old car on the road .

 

And people ask me why I love cars, car guys, and hot rodding...

Great story. Awsome job Paul!

 

JUST. WOW.

 

Nice story, thanks for sharing. Good on you Paul!

 

Just think when we were kids we had PenPals and sent letters to different countries. Now we are older and we now have CarPals and send parts to each other.

 

Great story.
Its so refreshing to hear positive.

 

Appreciate the kind words, guys!

 

Hi all
Didn't think so many people answer and so many Who liked this story when writed this story. (True story )..
Since i was like 10 years old, i loved old us cars i saw on magazines.
But didnt have enough money to buy one of your lovely car since too many years .
I played with some of old french cars ; but they didn't "smeeled like us cars "at m'y eyes.
This 1956 oldsmobile made my dreams came true, (tears came in my eyes when i purchased this sexy girl)
Unfortunatly his original engine is at the end of life now. .(all frame and body are in really good condition .rust free. ...)
Paul saved this car with his engine,
We all are right paul worked hard to help me. ...
Some of my friends said i'm crazy for buy new engine and trans from usa ;
They said i'm crazy to send à ton of dollars at this Guy i dont know before.
But i trusted him since first time i texted him.
I understanded he was the wright Guy i needed and said "i know you won't waste your time we me ; and i'm sûre we Will make à good deal"
That's done now .
Just wanted put a special add for PAUL 's father Who learned his soon hot Rod way of life..
Hope someday i can meet Paul and his family, perhaps they come in France or in few years i'll go in usa. ...
To be continued. ..

 

Thanks for reaffirming that the Hamb is made up of great people, Paul!

 

GREAT JOB,PAUL! VIVE LA FRANCE!

 

Great job, Paul. Thanks for being honest and helpful to someone you didn't even know, at the start. You're an American ambassador of goodwill.

 

Hey all. ..
Engine and trans are in France now.
They are nicer than the pics Paul sended.
My younger daughter taked a pic when i oppened the crate. .
I am so happy now.
Paul is à real good mechanic.
Perfect job. ..

 

Beautiful!!

 

Great story Eric. Glad you found the HAMB.
Just bought 40 Mercury taillights here on the HAMB and had them shipped to Holland (Pays-Bas for you) without any troubles.

Hennie

 

Engine is into the car now.
Tomorrow is firing Day !!

 

It's great to hear from and about Good People. Cheers. Bigern

 

Great story, I have been away from old cars for awhile and I thought I better get my feet wet again. I( just acquired a 1950 Oldsmobile with the 303 engine and will be working on that now .

 

I knew paul"s dad back in the 50 's. Good people.