ARF 180cc or 195cc heads are around $2100 for a pair, (from their website) what's a valve job with seats, guides & cc'd for older heads go for? Might not be that much more
I am a fan of a gear vendors overdrive unit, I have one on a '54 1 ton with a TH400 and 4.10's. They are expensive, it may be cheaper than a 700R4 built for towing or a 4L60e with a controller.
Mine would do the same. When I loosened the fuel cap and parked down hill it would not loose prime. Turned out to be the "cold start" advance on the injector pump. Your results may differ.
A few ago I had doors and a nose/grille section for my '37 shipped by greyhound bus from CA to MA. I had to pick them up at the terminal. Don't recall how much the shipping was, but must have been cheap (because I am).
When I've done a fuel pump, I pull the rod out and use some grease to keep it in place. It only costs a little grease and a gasket. Past performance is no guarantee of future success, your results may differ.