this. so much this.
as soon as machine work enters the chat you can throw away any idea of "budget build" or "back yard hot rod". anything more than maybe skimming a set of heads any trip to the machinist is dollars.
hit a swap meet, buy a used intake and carb for $150 throw down for a summit cheapy cam kit and you'd be in high cotton on a beer budget.
it's the whole: just because you can, doesn't mean you should.