[soule64]

Thanks again for all of the great advice - I really appreciate all it. When I started this build I did establish a budget and so far I am right where I want to be with it. I did contact a couple of local engine builders yesterday about producing a 383 shortblock out of the core. One place wanted $3k and the other wanted 1,700. Even the smaller number seemed a little high since a 'BluePrint' shortblock was the same price at Jegs. Not sure of the quality of 'BluePrint' though, nor do I have any idea of the quality of work from the local guys (I am still kind of new to Huntsville). I guess for right now I will heed some of the advice given so far and stick with it, clean it up and replace the suspect components. Worst case - if it continues I can always transfer the new stuff to a good shortblock - same stuff that I would have bought for it anyway. Thanks again for all of the advice. Hopefully in the future I might be more of a 'provider' than an 'asker'. Also, I am taking lots of pictures as I go for a sort of start-to-complete-finish build thread for anyone that might be interested.