Everything we do with our cars is expensive now days, we have $1,000 carburetors, intake manifolds, headers etc… If you need to justify the cost of building your car it can’t happen. If you justify it by building it the way you want you will be much more successful and satisfied with your results. Me personally I have found that if I compromise I’m never happy with it…
I don’t compromise much, I can’t afford stuff that fails. That said imagine for a second how would you feel paying 50% more than you see on summit website just because you are far away for every single thing.
I also have billet carbs, very nicely ported heads, and everything best I can afford. This hobby is a money pit but it doesn’t justify wasting money on stupid moves that bring zero results. I try to research before I make a move that’s all.