Engine rebuild competition qualifications

This morning I went to qualify for the Ford 5.4L SOHC V8 engine rebuild competition. There were some 25 guys (and gals) out of the 500 we have in the school. We had to take a practice engine (4-cylinder) head off, take the piston out, the caps, the crankshaft, put everything together properly and torque it to specs. Instructors were checking each step and timing the total. Droping any significant part was 60 secound penelty, dropping a wrench was a 30-second penelty.

I felt like a misfit, guys seemed so much more knowledgable and experienced, I NEVER ever took, or put in, the piston in the cylinder.

Anyway, I drew number 14, fairly in the middle, three people were tested at the time.
While waiting (watching was not allowed), we ocasionally heard things being dropped. John, my classmate, said he even dropped a whole engine when he was turning it upside down on the mount! people were coming back after some 20-30 minutes all sweaty and tired. I thought I will be sorry for having my usual several layers on.

When my turn came, I was trying not to rush, and pay attention not to drop anything. The piston cap had hard time comming off, I lost little time there, the piston itself did not want to come off. I noticed the other guy was ahead of me. From that moment on everything went smooth and fast. I finished good few minutes before the guy.

Well, I will know on Monday if I qualify, I am hopeful.

Humbly, I will say that I will NOT qualify if the Superman, He-Man, Spider-Man and their twin brothers were competing agaist me, otherwise I should be in. We will see.

The teacher/judge seemed impressed.

Oh, and the King-Kong ain't got shit on me!