It's been my experience that some machine shops will price a job unreasonably high because they don't really want to do it; it's something they don't do regularly and takes some new thought to do. Maintaining the correct timing gear clearance on a Chevy 216/235/261 is not something most machine shops deal with on a daily basis. I'm not even sure it can be done using standard size gears; with under size gear/gears it wouldn't be a problem but where to get the gear/gears. You'er better off finding an old machinist who is knows these engines and loves them.
