I should add that Marlin's engines have always gotten the cheapest gas possible, 87oct Arco/QuickStop/Fastrip/A+/Beacon/yadda yadda yadda, and he rarely changes his oil. What, maybe 20,000+ oil intervals? And yet each and every time I would start up his truck, no matter if it was a cold morning or not, it would fire up immediately, much faster than any EFI engine I've ever cranked.
His engines have always amazed me. Especially since I've gone through 6, yes 6 4A-GE/GZE engines this century, and I always took great care of my engines, and yet his just kept on going.
Marlin's engines are the most reliably and most longest lasting rebuilt engines in the world, I know from experience and I never worry when I am in his truck. We will all miss the 'R' engines, as they are truly our grassroots backyard powerhouses, but it's time to move on to some OBD-II performance and get with the program! 
I really don't think it has anything to do with the engines BigMike, I just think Marlin is touched by the gods, but of course that only makes you half touched by the gods so he gets the better luck. It is just genetics, nothing you can really do about it man.
