Should have added, that the water pump shows it is a second series or later engine. Also, the 1955 second series service manual includes a discussion about shims and adjusting clearances with them in a different section than the section referred to above.
Here's the latest. The shop that bored the block was going to assemble the crank, rods & pistons and cam --- doesn't want to do it using shims. The "old guy" I hauled the block to for line boring doesn't think it's necessary and suggests using shims, however he'll bore it if I want.
I drove a 180 miles each way today and still don't have a clear feeling for what to do. I'm leaning toward making the trip again to bring the block home, gathering all the other parts back from the first shop and assembling it all myself.
Now it's time for a whiskey and to think it all over again.
