thanks so much. great info.

apologies if this reply duplicates my previous reply - first one went to moderator for review for some reason.

bought this engine for 100 bucks complete, and my intention w it is just to learn. i want to build a 350, and thats one i'd sink more $ into.... so with this one, i was thinking i wanted to get it running and maximize reusing existing parts where feasible. but soudns like I'd probably have to spend quite a bit. so probably the best thing is to get my "100 buck's worth" reassembling and learning on it without trying to really get it running. And then take the thing to an engine shop and 'trade it in' for a few bucks (literally) toward the puchase of a 350 block that i really want to spend money building up.