Large parts ordered from Ken Enya (before Christmas)

rsv1cox wrote:Interesting post Mike and eye candy for Enya guys like us.  You could start your own museum or go into business selling Enya's with a history.  I would never let Ken's desk engine go though.  Quite a catch.  

I think it will be one of my most special Enya engines, even before the Enya 90-4C that Ken personally signed for me when I did a tour through the Enya manufacturing plant in Tokyo Japan (before they moved to where they are today)

I'll print out the email that I received and store it with that engine for providence (proof) that it was from Ken Enya's desk.
And that little Enya 049-II will defiantly be a keeper! As Chuck Heston said, " You'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands!"

As for the Enya 90-4C:
I purchased the engine after the personal tour was over and watched the woman place the engine and everything else into the box.
I asked if I could purchase that engine as I was able to watch it being finally assembled into the storage (engine) box?
Ken said o.k.
So, I gave Ken my credit card and then asked him to sigh the box for me.
It's the largest Enya I have in my collection.





First time out of the box in more than 20years.
Funny thing how I got it home.
I wrapped it up in plastic (in the same bags our injectors are shipped in).
Stuffed it in with some injectors in the aluminum case I take back and forth from Cat in Pontiac,IL to Isuzu factory.
These injectors are "working masters" to verify our master match up to Isuzu's in Japan for discharge rates, lift and gap.

I had paperwork on the injectors to get them by customs. A quick flip, open the case, hand over the paperwork and the get waved on and the Enya 90-4C passed customs without a problem. (I kept it cool like it was just another inspection.) Also helps if you are dressed fairly nice and not in blue jeans and a Tee shirt.

I was fortunate enough that working for Caterpillar I was able to go over to Japan 4 times a year (for a week at a time) because of the contract my division (Fuel Systems) had with Isuzu.
We were supplying Isuzu our new fuel injectors for their "diesel" engine for their Isuzu Trooper (contract went for 5 years)
And when the original contract was over, we had a contract for 3 years for (core)parts.

I set up and asked for a tour of the Enya facility about two weeks before I knew I was going over to Japan.
My boss never let me know until two weeks in advance when I was going over to Japan.

My different Cat badges.
As I was the only ASQC certified Quality Engineer in the Pontiac Plant.
As far as I know, I was the only hourly employee that also had a company credit card (which expired in 2017)
And almost had the same access as the plant manage (just missing one badge in the group)

The badge with the square holes were for management.
The badge with the round holes were for the engineers.
And the badge without any holes was for hourly workers (to clock in/out)
And of course, the photo camera badge, so I can carry around the plant the company cell phone.
I blacked out the badge number for security reasons.



It was a great job, but Cat management was pushing me to go from hourly to management.
Going management, no pay increase, more workload, do extra work for "comp." days to make up for sick days and you'll get the comp days "if" your boss approves.
Talked to some former hourly workers that went management ---- they told me not to do it if I could!
Management kept squeezing until I got fed up and told them I was retiring! Gave them 1 year notice (I retired one day before end of UAW contract).
My replacement was a "newbie" management kid I had to show him what I did for over 15 years in one month and I was taking two weeks off for vacation as Cat was not going to pay me for not using my vacation (like years ago). Either take the time off or
loose it!

One year after my retirement Cat asked me to come back as a "consultant" doing the same job I was doing when I retired, and they were going to pay me 1/3 less than what I was making working as a Cat employee.

Looking back, I've had a good life and made mostly good choices.
And have a hobby that I enjoy --- and can keep me busy.