Now that we are bringing in Riley 2-ports into this thread, it should be noted that in 1954 Harry Warner was asking $330 for a 12-port head set-up for the Chevy 216 and early 235 engines.
In 1960, a 21-year-old service station mechanic, making about $2 per hour, paid $405 for a 12-port head (with valves, springs, rocker arms, valve cover, side plate, head bolts, etc) for a 261 from Bob Toros. Toros had acquired the patterns for the original "Wayne head" from Harry Warner and modified them for the 18-bolt 235s and 261s. Of course, once the 265 and 283 V-8s became established, the demand for Chevy six equipment declined somewhat.
If one assumes a 5% inlation factor, $330 in 1954 wolud be well over $4,000 in 2006. It is not easy to get much high-tech casting and machining for "only" $4,000 now in 2006. What does a good machinist or mechanic make now?
Are there any inliners with machine shops in China? An Enco mill is a lot less expensive than a Bridgeport, but it's not made in the USA.
Hoyt
II #922
