JW51,
I would like to encourage you to do some independent research rather than relying on self proclaimed "experts". I'm no "expert", just a highly interested amateur with an interest in engines since I was a teenager in the 1950s. Using my quest for brake upgrade information as an example you can see how a narrow versus wider search compare:
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1196340/2/Huck_brake_dual_MC_upgrade.htmlhttp://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/341390/If I were restoring a poured bearing engine today I would give serious consideration to an insert bearing conversion. I would look for a machine shop that specializes in that conversion and has good customer reviews. In my youth I had a neighbor with an engine shop and he was on contract with an obsolete Ford parts supplier. He had done extensive research and made some interesting discoveries that allowed him to streamline his antique engine rebuilding process and keep costs down. One example that I specifically remember is that he used readily available, inexpensive Oldsmobile pistons in Model A Ford engines.
Also, it helps to find the shop that will actually be doing the work. For example when I was doing my restoration in the 1970s I was in Egge Machine for something. There I saw a reground camshaft in a carton labelled Tomaedur Engine Company. Egge was charging $49 (1970s dollars) to have that camshaft reground. I took 2 camshaft cores directly to Tomadeur. The shop foreman looked at them both, picked out the better of the 2 and reground it while I waited. That took about 10 minutes and he charged me $7. That shows the markup when someone says "I can send it out". We don't need to send it out. We can take it there ourselves. By the way, that camshaft is still doing great nearly 40 years later.
