I have considered contacting hesco and golen about a quote on just a short block with a stock cam. That way you could port the head you already have and reuse lifters, push-rods, springs, and rockers. I think if they knocked enough off their long block price, you could come out pretty good.
I too like the idea of receiving a block that has already been machined and built by someone who has build many more than you. Its kinda intimidating having to finding a good machinist to trust and risking that your own engine building skills are up to the task.
My biggest fear is to have many hours and dollars invested in a motor and go through all the work to swap it in and find out something was not right with it months later. However It would feel nice to have built your own motor and know every detail about it with confidence.
