thanks,
edwards auto machine shop in timonium, md seems to have closed down.
someone suggested ordering a rebuilt head from
metric motors
Remanufactured Cylinder Heads
$1050 for a rebuilt head + $600 core deposit, which will not be returned if my head is cracked or irreparable
$110 to ship each way, 74lb UPS
that's $1760 + whatever a shop will charge to swap heads,
unless i do ship mine back and get $490 back...
i'm going to keep looking for other shops or maybe forum members in a 3 hour radius of NYC. it's just a little hard to trust a shop without a recommendation from someone in the forums