Yesterday I dropped by the local machine shop who's been doing my bottom end work over the years, while PRH has been handling my cylinder heads.

It's down to just the owner now and all he's doing is basic block and head machine work:
- he doesn't do assembly any longer
- his balancing work was done by an older guy who has stopped working due to health issues
- and the local crank specialist to whom he'd farm out his crank grinding has also retired

My purpose for stopping by was to introduce him to a long-time friend about an hour west of me who was looking for someone to do some basic block & head machine work, so he's still good to cover that. I'd also wanted to check with him about balancing my backup engine's rotating assembly, only to find out I'll need to find someone else.

These guys are the last of a dying breed and replacing them is gonna be tough.