Sasquatch, I simply meant that being a competent modern water cooled race specialist does not neccessarily make you a competent pre-74 engine builder/restorer.
They may be excellent mechanics but an engine rebuild is not cheap so you want to try and get it right first time. Race engineers do have a tendency not to do things the same way a restorer would do them also. That is not always a bad thing, but at least get them to do it how you want and achieve the look you want. You're going to be a very grumpy wookie if you start showing people your shiny new engine and all you get back is 'That's wrong' and 'that should be...' which is what will happen with the geeks on here.
So the devil is in the detail - if they don't know the detail then you may have to hold their hand along the way and be very specific about all the little intricacies - do some research yourself first and then share that with them - speak to Mike Birtwistle and others and ask if he has pictures of perfect engine bay's for a 73 E - he will have, he collects everything!
Best of luck with the build, they have a good reputation and I'm sure they will pull it off - I'm guessing things may slow when race season starts though so you will have time.
All the best you big freak.
PS Peter will still be quicker than you.
