How much does it cost to rebuild a Slant 6

IMO, for a stock rebuild I would not get hung up the older vs. newer head from all I can read. Port flow is not much different, it is just that the later head has more possibilities for improvement due to some chamber details. The older heads are not more prone to crack or warp or have valve seat issues that I know of.

Read the cylinder head article by Doug for on www.slantsix.org; he 'feels' it has the possibility of better fuel economy for the later head but there is no hard data discussed. You can get a sure (and more) combustion efficiency increase by just a simple compression increase of 1/2 point by a simple head shave operation.

But, if you are going to port it a lot and up the HP, then I would indeed go with the newer head.... just my view. It is more important for stock use to get the guides and valves worked over properly and get a good valve job; our local machinist put in a nice steep angle valve pocket grind (like a pocket reaming) to clean out some of the pocket irregulaties.

My cam came from Doug Dutra; he has some special grinds on file with a cam grinder. He also has lifter regrind machinery so can provide a fresh set of re-ground lifters for a good price. Ask him for his torque cam: .435" lift and 264 duration, with either 110 or 112 lobe sepration angles. Per Doug, the 110 is better for the 2 BBL and the 112 for the 1 BBL. I'll PM you the price I paid; I don't want to openly say it as he has the right to price as he sees fit.

This cam will use stock springs A-OK or the inexpensive replacement ones. I like the softer stock sping pressure levels; keeps the pressure off of the cam lobes and lifters, and you just don't need the higher spring force at the low-medium RPM's of a stock engine. They are more prone to valve sticking in a dirty/gummed/varnished engine as the spring force is low, but that is not an issue for a new rebuild.

Sounds like you have the right guy for this work; our local guy is similar. I have to take a pix of the shop front someday; it is a classic! But the place is PACKED with machines, parts etc. It will be a sad day when all the older machine shop guys retire.

BTW, I assume you got new cam bearings installed? DON'T skimp on this!