289/302 engine builder recommendations? Go crate?!?

[Dangerous Doug]

Thanks, guys. Bear in mind, I'm no cheap-o. I'm building an ERA and paid extra for the niceties of powder-coated frame and will go with the racing rear suspension, et cetera. Note that I am using the 289/302 SB Ford since it is "correct" for my 289 FIA body style.

I have a few other misgivings about this quote. First, my block is currently 0.030" over, but no lip (I have not measured taper). I bought it intending to take it 0.040" over max as recommended by all the resources I've read on the 289/302 blocks. Machine shop wants to bore it out to 0.060"---not due to need, but that taking it out another 0.005" then honing out another 0.005" would be too difficult. Also, discussed AFR heads, but got quoted DART (nothing against DART, BTW) and I assume some of that $3500 is porting and polishing heads that I didn't spec.

There is no dyno in the shop, as far as I can tell. The guys I'm talking to are a custom hot rod and machine shop---so they make their dough on machine work. All the parts seemed reasonably priced. There is no guarantee on the 400 hp. Nevertheless, these guys are highly recommended by several of the local hot rodders.

So, I'm rethinking this engine strategy. I don't want to sacrifice too much of what I want (hp wise, I'd like to be above 370 hp, I'm stuck on AFR heads...) but I don't want to throw good, hard-earned cash into unnessary machine work.

I'll have to give Keith Craft a call. Hhmm, I wonder what they'd quote me using my block...