<<jeez- sounds like too much work! im just gonna bolt in the 140hp subie and
go! no offense, but i dont have the time, patience or tooling to go your
way.>>

Brian,
    I used a Dremil rotary tool with an assortment of bits for the porting,
cleaning, etc., sand paper, set of oil gallery cleaning brushes, hand valve
spring removal tool, flywheel lock, hand tools. Nothing special.

The machine shop did the valve job and other machining.
I just bolted on the rest.
The total time should take about a month or less, depends on if you have a
quality machine near or distance from CA, where Demello Machine Ship is
located.
While the machining is being done, do the cleaning on the engine.

My biggest challenge was getting the piston pins out and back in and lifting
the engine by myself (it gets heavy).

"There are two roads to go by, I chose the one with the WBX at the end and
that has made all the difference."

Details, details, details.

One thing I have learned with regards to engine building is "Do what it takes
to do it right, the first time"

As far as time, buy a core and build it over time and take a weekend to swap
out. I would have done that if my tranny had not failed

You can choose your own level of details

Robert