The Shovelhead engine has always been my favorite.  Other than the brand new SPORTSTER I'd bought back in 1977,  the 45 cu. in. SERVICAR I had for a short time in '80, and the '56 PANHEAD I'd owned from 1980-83,  all my other bikes had delivered their power by the awesome SHOVELHEAD mill.  The Shovelhead had been born in 1966 and had powered HD bikes until 1983.  Well.....1984 really, but only for 1/2 of that year, and they were kind of mutants, utilizing some of the shovelhead components mixed with the new EVOLUTION type engines.  So, most people say the Shovel lived from '66-'83.  One day,  while at Donny's shop putting some money down on the frame,  they must have seen me coming and known that I'd bite when they wheeled out a newly rebuilt SHOVEL onto the showroom floor for sale.  It had chrome everywhere, and was nice and clean, rebuilt from head to toe, and calling my name!  I asked Janet,  Donny's beautiful, friendly and highly functional store manager what they wanted for the engine.  The price was right in my range,  and I knew then and there that I'd have to have it.  Instead of paying off the rest of my bill for the frame,  I put 1/2 the money I'd brought towards the frame, and the other 1/2 toward the engine.  That beautiful shovel was MINE!!!!  As we did the paperwork, adding the engine to my bill,  not one, not two, but at least 5 different customers came by to look at the engine, and all of them asked if it were for sale.  NO GO AMIGO!  That baby was all mine.   Even in later days, when I'd gone to the shop for other parts and to make payments,  there always seemed to be someone there asking about the availability of that engine.   When Janet politely told one customer that the engine had been sold, and to me.....he offered me $500. more than I had paid for it!  I was convinced, I'd made the right choice again,  and that this project was going to be one of a kind, and very admirable.

A FALL FROM GRACE.....AND A LADDER