Getting The Quench I Want - Two (2) Ways To Do It.

[firebird_1995]

^ brings up a good point. Correct assembly takes time. Make sure you ask your shop (if you haven't already) what equipment / procedures they use, go visit the shop, see how clean it is. If at any minute you feel like they are putting you off, leave and find someone else. Don't be surprised if you have to go through 3 or 4 shops to find someone who meets the criteria. And in the end, it's worth it.

[97 6speed z]

Balancing the rotating assembly is the first step after cleaning, then you test fit for clearance on the rails. Clean it again after grinding and assemble a rod and pistion. I usually only do two of them on the initial assembly. Deck the block if needed or at least put the correct finish on it. Clean it again and fit the rings. Finial lube and assembly is next if you parts have been checked for defects. I do this on any motor. The more money the motor cost the better i balance it (0.5-1.5grams for the race junk under 5 for stock). It takes a lot of time to do just a stock motor correctly, most shop use so many shortcuts or never change stones or fluids on any interval.

Noice, you and I are on almost the same wavelength here, but I balance the rotating assembly much later in the process, after clearancing the block for the new stroker crank, (using the new rods hung on the stock 4.000" pistons). If I don't have any "issues" with clearancing, then I send the block out for machining, trial assemble and check everything for fit, and then have the rotating assembly balanced.

[97 6speed z]

^ brings up a good point. Correct assembly takes time. Make sure you ask your shop (if you haven't already) what equipment / procedures they use, go visit the shop, see how clean it is. If at any minute you feel like they are putting you off, leave and find someone else. Don't be surprised if you have to go through 3 or 4 shops to find someone who meets the criteria. And in the end, it's worth it.

Firebird 1995, many friends and I have been using these guys for years: http://www.champion-performance.com/ all block machining is 100% CNC, and they haven't missed a machining spec in years. I have complete confidence in these guys to cut the block to whatever I tell them to cut it to.