I've done a lot of parts gathering lately and a little parts making.
I have most of my motor now.
stage 2 on-center block 4.015 bore
BMS 3.59 stroke forged crank
Oliver billet rods (new)
Peterson single stage external oil pump
ATI balancer
JW flywheel
Jesel rockers
Isky lifters
Milodon gear drive
and lots of little odds and ends. Just needs pistons, rings, bearings and a cam.
I also decided to build my own sheetmetal valve covers and throttle body elbow.
I drew them up in cad.
Machined the flanges from 3/8" flat bar in the mill.
And tonight I cut the .090" aluminum sheet and bent it at a friends shop. Just some more touch up work on the valve covers and a couple strips to bend up for the plenum, then everything is ready to weld. I completely understand why sheetmetal valvecovers cost what they do, these are a lot of work to get everything to fit right and I still have a couple hours of welding for each one.
The aluminum is actually covered in a protective cover of clear pvc, so the marks you see are in the pvc, the aluminum is scratch free.
I've also made some header flanges and an oil pan flange. Yep, I'm making my own oil pan also. I'm sick in the head, or just too cheap to pay the big bucks for someone else to make it.