Dustman,
I built a 261 for my '50 pickup and have had very satisfactory results. The short block I just had a competent machine shop do a quality rebuild, using more modern pistons etc. I got my cam from Tom Langdon but I see he isn't offering them any longer. It was the "Bull dog" cam and it was ground by Delta Cams that are out in Washington, I believe. I like Patrick Dykes but I have to say that I first ran his "3/4" cam and it was OK but the cam ground by Delta was superior, for sure. We upgraded the valve springs, did a good valve job and milled about .040 off the head. I found an old McGurk intake at a swap meet and ordered 2 of the Holley-Webber carbs from Tom Langdon with the linkage and air cleaners. That has worked wonderfully. It makes great power and will still get 20+ mpg down the highway. We used a set of Fenton cast iron headers with plain old glass pack mufflers - I have to say - it sounds great. It is hard to remember all the details - this engine has been a work horse and we drive it all the time. It is my wife's favorite vehicle and we probably have over 90,000 miles on the truck (including a fair amount of 1/8 mile drag racing). Oh, the rear end is out of a '78 full size Blazer with 4.11 gears and a Tremec TKO 3550 5 speed trans.
