My humble suggestion would be to first evaluate the goal of the project. It sounds as if someone has a lot of $$ already invested in the hard components. However, just as a novice buying a Gibson guitar doesnt make them a skilled player, buying the tools doesnt necessarily make the most horsepower.

The trick to building anything is to be able to know what your shortcomings are and to compensate correctly. For instance, you may buy a neat tool to measure the crankshaft index and you may use it correctly. But then, if the crank index is wrong, you need to know how to correct the error...perhaps the way to correct the error is to send it to a professional who does hundreds of the same process.

If engine building were as simple as a ring compressor and a torque wrench, there wouldnt be such a wide spread between the performance of two "identical" engines. The real distinguishing mark is the attention to detail and the small "tricks" developed over multiple builds.

Given that, if you are doing a street engine with no exact performance measure besides the seat of the pants, build it yourself for the enjoyment, satisfaction, learning, and frustration....you'll be a better person for it. If you are serious about the last itty bit of horsepower, your first engine is not going to come near the pros.

mike in tucson