engine rebuild questions

[Tom Tom Turbo]

my 100K mile T is getting treated to new inerds, but I have never even had the valve covers off this one, so I am at a loss on where to start. Here are the basic facts: I will be running 22-25# with a PTE-44, stock IC with dutt neck, alky, Jimmy's trans build-up with 3200 Vigilante, and 009 injectors with a switch to 50's or 55's on the horizon. The car is a daily driver and sees the track 5-10 times per year. Here is what I am stumped on:

1. Cam- no roller, but which grind?
2. Heads- champ. irons or big-valved, ported 8445s with LT1 springs?
3. Billet mains- do I need all 4? girdle is kinda expensive for my budget
4. Pistons- the dreaded JE vs. Speed Pro battle, which one?
5. Rings- total seal or not?
6. Machine work- can any machine shop prep this stuff? I have a guy who builds 6 sec. Hemi's for a living and he said he would assemble my 109, but he doesn't want to do the machine work because he has other projects to tend to. What shop in central/southern IL or IN can someone recommend?

Sorry for the long post, but I am really lost as to what to do.

 

[Russ Merritt]

Here's what I would do.....

206/206 cam
Champion Iron heads
Billet caps, none. ARP main studs and rod bolts
Speed Pro hyper pistons
Speed Pro rings
Good machine work. Most important part.....

You could do more but this would get you by fine.....