I paid $80, $10/cut, to open up my intakes to 1.94. It's not a giant difference, say 10HP? If you back cut your 1.84's you'll be ok. Not life or death. But it's a PITA to remove your heads, buy another head gasket and intake gaskets, just to cut for larger valves. If you're not doing it now, don't plan on doing it on these heads. Run 'em until you have the "gigabucks", and shell out for some really good aftermarket heads. do you have a feeler gauge, and a good .001" accurate caliper? you'll need them if you don't have them. (for lots of stuff.) Yea, I'd look into another machinist, a lot of them out there have that mindset, it's an expensive hobby for sure.

honestly, i agree with sonix on this one.

if you were willing to drive a little ways, i'd say go to John Wooley at Brooks NAPA in Warner Robins. he's been VERY good to me and is willing to work with you...but i know it's like a 2 hour drive or something from savannah. and he's not overpriced like your guy is.

Well bro, when it comes down to it these heads arent forever. I will... buy better ones down the line but right now I have other priorities for awhile. When it came down to it i wanted a nice cam that i could use for sometime. and reliable heads to get me by... as for the measuring tools. I am an aircraft mechanic so i have a complete excess to awesome tools, like optical micrometers, calipers, borescopes you name it... but hey Matt, Eric was telling me about a dude here that might do it, but also he metioned sinced I have a nice drill press there is a tool from Crane or Comp that will be all i need to make my heads work out. (too bad I couldnt use my buddies LS1 heads :P since he just bought dart lS1 aftermarket ones lol ) i will call around to get this done... Sucks now because I have to wait for the springs and I still have to buy matching retainers, and etc.

im such a newbie when it comes to the valve train.... can you help me find what retainer kit i need if I indeed need one? why are the springs i bought considered "single" if there is another spring inside of it?

it's a dampner spring. your stock springs have that inner spring too. it helps prevent valve float from high rpm operation and damage to the springs from harmonics...or something like that.
i believe your stock retainers will work fine as long as they aren't worn out.

yea, the comp tool is ~$60, $40 for the cutter, $20 for the arbor. That's for cutting your guides down. You can use it in your drill press, but remember, only if you *need* it eh?

here is a dumb question... what RPM range is this hotcam? how do i determin what my redline should be?

shift point should be at or around 6K.