When I rebuilt my side oiler it seem's like 90% of the work was getting the various parts ready. There is a TON of measurements you have to take before you can order parts, some of which are custom. Get the measurements wrong and your screwed, you can't return custom parts, you get ONE shot at them.
Then there was the multiple trips to the machine shop, and double checking HIS work with more measurements when I got the stuff home. Was the crank ground exactly like I wanted? Was the bore? Did I even HAVE the proper tools to measure this stuff and was I doing in the correct manner? Whew, it was nerve wracking man, a lot of sleepless nights over the block, the crank, the pistons, the heads. What "parts" am I going with and why? Flat tappet cam breakin procedures? Will it all work together or did I make a bad choice on some part? Ring gap file? I aint got no ring gap file, say WHAT?! Surprising how many tools a guy needs, when your doing it from scratch.
A "kit" makes a LOT of sense, ready to assemble, yup, makes a lot of sense. Heck, thats the bulk of the work right there! The final assembly is a piece of cake compared to the prepartion work to get to that point.
It is a terrific feeling driving the car and knowing, "I built that motor, this is SO awesome".
If nothing else, mail your block to Keith, let HIM do the measurments, prep the block, spec the parts and send it all back. And don't go off trying to save a few bucks by buying some parts from a "cheaper source" or "on sale" after you get that block and stuff back. SINGLE SOURCE this stuff baby, single source, whatever the source may be, don't screw around trying to second guess a few parts from this guy or that. Do a package deal, it's by far the best way.
You know, if you buy enough parts, from the same source, he might just loosen up enough to throw a few tips your way that are simply priceless. Some of this you can't find in "books", some of it is specific to YOUR build. Those "secrets" are invaluable.
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