[Ryan1969Chevelle]

A few micro updates:

A FB friend in FLA offered up a spare manual steering box, which I would like for spare. (I am pretty careful not to buy stuff just to have it, but this is pretty reasonable).

I did a little more disassembly of the core engine.
Head gaskets measure 0.050"
Piston dishes 2.465 X 0.084"
Pistons 0.045" in the hole, the cast replacement Pistons have a compression height reduced by 0.015" and they must have not decked it much at all:-)
End play 0.007"
Timing cover is pitted under the water pump:-( I want the Dick Miller Racing split cover for cam swaps in future:-)

I received a partial quote for the main machining processes and a complete Comp Cams valve train, and the prices were in line with my spread sheet:-) I will visit again this week to firm up as much of the rest of the engine build as possible. Some decisions are made after disassembly of course but I will have costed out the worst case scenarios as well as best case scenarios. I get pretty aggressive in situations like this as "to my way of thinking" there is no reason not to do the homework upfront and make a good plan including costs and timing that works for both parties:-) I am sure my scope of work document forced a few potential engine builders to increase their verbal price by 33% to 50% when pen hit paper, and this although frustrating and time consuming is exactly what should happen, UPFRONT!!!!! No hurt feelings, and not at my expense.

Step off soap box, now:-)

Ryan